The cloud-native community gathered among the historic canals and vibrant tech scene of Amsterdam for KubeCon + CloudNativeCon Europe 2026! From March 23–26, Amsterdam was buzzing with the latest in Kubernetes, platform engineering, and, of course, all things Calico.
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Relive the Highlights: KubeCon Amsterdam 2026
Missed the action or just want to relive the energy of the RAI Amsterdam floor?
Check out our event retrospective below to see the best moments from the Tigera booth, our AI workshop, and the Calico community in action.
Whether you were a long-time Calico user or just starting your cloud-native security journey, Tigera hosted a packed schedule that made the KubeCon experience both educational and unforgettable.
🌍 Our International Team was on the Ground
Traveling from Vancouver, San Francisco, Toronto, Cork, London, and Cambridge, our team came together in Amsterdam to welcome the community. From first-time attendees to KubeCon veterans, our crew spent the week sharing tips on everything from eBPF security to the best bitterballen in the city.
Securing the Future: AI Agent Workshop Recap
The biggest shift in the ecosystem this year was the rise of Autonomous AI Agents. As these agents moved into production, our sessions focused on how to ensure they were secure, compliant, and observed.
Our featured workshop, Securing Autonomous AI Agents in Production, dived deep into how to implement zero-trust security for AI workloads and protect the underlying infrastructure that powered them.
“This is my 5th Kubecon. My 1st KubeCon was in Valencia in 2022. It’s a great event, so it’s always worth coming back for.”
Top Tip: “Take your time and talk to all vendors and wear comfy shoes!”
THE CALICO AMSTERDAM SOCIAL
After a deep dive into AI security, attendees found a place to decompress and network with their peers at our exclusive Happy Hour. Hosted at one of Amsterdam’s most iconic spots, the event provided relaxed vibes, great views, and even better conversations with the creators of Calico.
📅 Monday, March 23, 2026
What are you looking forward to in Amsterdam: “Proper Dutch fries with mayonnaise and a particular fried item called ‘bitterballen.’ (goes really well with a cold beer!)”
🎧 Highlights from the “Silent Disco” Demo Stage
Amsterdam activity she’s looking forward to: “Visiting the Van Gogh museum and the Anne Frank house.”
Expert Advice: “Be sure to make time to chat with people in an adhoc basis.”
Amsterdam activity he’s looking forward to: “Visiting Vondel park.”
Pro Tip: “Buy compression socks!”
The Tigera Booth Experience
Booth #400 served as a hub for both technical deep-dives and high-energy networking. We ensured KubeCon was as fun as it was informative. Visitors stopped by for:
- Daily Silent Disco: Live demos of Kubernetes topics via wireless headphones.
- Quizzes & Prizes: Technical challenges where users competed for exclusive swag. Over 280 fine folks competed to WIN!
- The SWAG: Our legendary Calico-themed t-shirts and “Amsterdam-exclusive” surprises.
Veteran Tip: “The din of 10 thousand people talking can be overwhelming, consider getting some attenuators.”
🎁 Loot: Quizzes, Swag, and Prizes
No KubeCon was complete without the loot. At the Tigera booth, attendees tested their skills through daily technical quizzes for a chance to win premium prizes (including the highly-coveted LEGO sets) and collected our brand new Amsterdam-themed stickers.
“I quickly learned that the currency of the cloud native world is stickers and LEGO sets.”
Travel Tip: “Leave some space in your suitcase for all the cool swag you can pick up!”
KubeCon Must Do: “Make sure you come to Tigera’s booth, our T-Shirts are the best at KubeCon!”
Pro Tip: “Enjoy it. Speak to people and enjoy the interaction.”
📍 Event Summary
- Workshop: Held Monday, March 23
- Happy Hour: Hosted at The Harbour Club
- Booth Location: #400 at the RAI Amsterdam Convention Centre
Want to follow up on what you saw? Book a 1:1 Meeting with a Calico Expert to discuss your specific security and observability challenges.
Thoughts on KubeCon: “What brings me back is the opportunity meet with the Calico community, engage with partners, make new connections and get a sense for where the industry is headed.”
Amsterdam Goal: “Hoping to get a taste of European hospitality.”
