Call for Proposals — KCD Gujarat 2026

We are thrilled to announce the Call for Proposals for KCD Gujarat 2026. We welcome practical, technically valuable sessions grounded in real-world experience, lessons learned, and open source collaboration.

Whether you're a seasoned maintainer, platform engineer, SRE, developer, student, or first-time speaker, your unique voice is welcome here.

🗓️ DATES TO REMEMBER:

• CFP Opens: Saturday, June 5 at 11:00 PM IST (UTC + 5:30)
• CFP Closes: Tuesday, July 14 at 11:59 PM IST (UTC + 5:30)
• CFP Notifications: Monday, July 27
• Schedule Announcement: Friday, July 31
• Event Date: Saturday, September 19

🎙️ Session Formats

We accept a variety of formats to support deep technical learning. For full session guidelines, diversity rules, and prerequisites, visit https://www.kcdgujarat.com/cfp.

• Lightning Talk (10 mins): Short, focused presentations or quick technical tool/project demos.
  
  
• Session Presentation (25 mins): Standard format for deep dives, architecture case studies, and operational insights (~20 mins talk + 5 mins Q&A).
  
  
• Panel Discussion (35 mins): Moderated discussions exploring a focused topic from diverse professional and community perspectives (Max 4 panelists + 1 moderator).
  
  
• Workshop (90 mins): Hands-on, interactive sessions where attendees actively build, configure, or troubleshoot alongside you.
  
  

🎯 Session Topics & Submissions

KCD Gujarat broadly aligns with the KubeCon + CloudNativeCon ecosystem tracks. Suggested topic areas include:

• AI Inference + Agentic
• Application Development + Delivery
• Cloud Native Experience
• Cloud Native Novice
• Connectivity
• Data Processing + Storage
• Emerging + Advanced
• Observability
• Operations + Performance
• Platform Engineering
• Security

For detailed category descriptions, please refer to: KubeCon + CloudNativeCon Suggested Topics

What we're looking for

Authenticity, clarity, technical depth, and real-world relevance over polished marketing narratives. Production case studies, failure stories, open source contributions, accessibility perspectives, and beginner-friendly educational content are highly encouraged.

What to avoid

Sales pitches, marketing talks, and product demonstrations disguised as educational content. Vendor-neutral, community-focused sessions are strongly preferred.

First-Time Speakers

You don't need to be a well-known industry expert to submit! The review process evaluates content quality and relevance, not social media following or prior speaking experience.

Code of Conduct

By submitting, you agree to the CNCF Code of Conduct.

Commitment to Inclusivity

Please review The Linux Foundation's Inclusive Speaker Orientation and Inclusive Language Initiative. 

KCD Gujarat is committed to creating a welcoming, inclusive, harassment-free experience for everyone.

Questions?

For any CFP-related questions, please contact the KCD Gujarat organising team at contact@kcdgujarat.com.

📋 Speaker Information

• In-Person Only: All speakers must attend and present in person in Ahmedabad. Remote or pre-recorded sessions are not accepted.
  
  
• Speaker Pass: Accepted speakers receive a complimentary ticket to the event. We do not cover travel or accommodation costs.
  
  
• Media Release: Sessions may be professionally recorded and published online after the event.