Kubernetes 101: New Contributor Orientation

An introductory session for people new to contributing to Kubernetes.

About

Kubernetes 101: New Contributor Orientation is a guided introduction to contributing, aimed at people who want to start but do not know where to begin. The session uses Kubernetes as a roadmap for how a very large project actually works: how the community is structured, how the people in it communicate, and where a newcomer fits. It also covers how to avoid common pitfalls such as the “good first issue” trap, and where the better opportunities tend to hide.

Come away with a concrete plan for your first move in the Kubernetes ecosystem.

Details

When
Tuesday, November 10, 2026, 16:40 to 18:00

Where
Salt Palace Convention Center, Level 2, Room 255 A

The session runs as part of the ContribFest track at KubeCon + CloudNativeCon North America 2026. Your KubeCon registration covers it, and no separate sign-up is needed.

Speakers: Kat Cosgrove, Rey Lejano, Kaslin Fields, Arpit Agrawal, and Chris Short.

Getting started before then

These resources are worth reading first, and they stay useful afterwards:

You can also drop in at the Kubernetes Meet and Greet , which helps new contributors find a SIG or WG to join.