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Unlocking BackstageCon: Insights for KubeCon + CloudNativeCon 2026

5 min read CNCF BlogOct 7, 2026Reviewed for accuracy
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Practitioner — Hands-on experience recommended

BackstageCon exists to bridge the gap between Backstage adopters, contributors, and maintainers. It’s a platform for sharing experiences and insights that can significantly enhance how teams build software. As organizations increasingly adopt Backstage, understanding its capabilities and the community's collective knowledge becomes crucial.

The conference features a single track of breakout sessions and lightning talks, ensuring a focused experience from opening to closing remarks. Topics are organized into four key tracks: AI agents and context in Backstage, technical deep dives, developer experience and workflows, and lessons learned from deploying Backstage. This structure allows attendees to engage deeply with relevant content and network with peers during breaks, fostering collaboration and learning.

If you're planning to attend, be aware that many sessions assume familiarity with Backstage fundamentals. It’s advisable to skim through the documentation, especially around the Software Catalog, Software Templates, and plugins, to maximize your experience. The event takes place on November 9, 2026, and will be a great opportunity to explore the latest AI features that have been integrated into Backstage over the past year, including discussions around the Model Context Protocol (MCP).

Key takeaways

  • →Explore AI features that are transforming software development workflows.
  • →Engage in discussions about the Model Context Protocol (MCP) for AI agents.
  • →Network with Backstage adopters and contributors to share best practices.
  • →Attend sessions on technical deep dives to enhance your Backstage knowledge.
  • →Prepare by reviewing Backstage documentation, especially Software Catalog and plugins.

Why it matters

BackstageCon provides a unique opportunity to learn from real-world implementations and challenges faced by other teams. This knowledge can lead to more effective adoption and usage of Backstage in your own organization, ultimately improving your software development processes.

When NOT to use this

The official docs don't call out specific anti-patterns here. Use your judgment based on your scale and requirements.

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