4 Days | 100+ Speakers | 100+ Sessions | In-Person
JCON EUROPE 2026 is just around the corner and once again brings the international Java community to Cologne. At the Cinedom Cinema, attendees can expect an extensive program with over 100 sessions as well as three central keynotes that will open each conference day.
Three Keynotes at a Glance
Java: 30 Years and Beyond
Tuesday, April 21 | 10:15 AM | Cinema 5
Speaker: Sharat Chander (Senior Director & Head of Global Devleoper Programs, Oracle)
Following Java’s 30th anniversary last year, this keynote looks both back and ahead. It highlights the origins of the platform since May 23, 1995, the people behind Java, and the key milestones in its evolution.
At the same time, it focuses on the future: What lessons can be drawn from three decades of Java, and where is the ecosystem heading? With Sharat Chander, the stage features a speaker who has been closely connected to the Java community and the Oracle ecosystem for more than 25 years.
Scaling Data in a Sovereign AI Platform
Wednesday, April 22 | 10:00 AM | Cinema 5
Speakers:
Johann Strauss (CTO AI Solutions, Dell Technologies), Markus Kett (CEO, Cyrock.AI)
This keynote demonstrates how a sovereign AI platform can be scaled from initial pilot projects to business-critical applications. Dell AI Factory and Cyrock.AI showcase how AI strategy can be translated into concrete architecture.
The focus is on both organizational and technical aspects: from governance and role models to the integration of modern infrastructure. Among other things, it illustrates how a high-performance data and inference layer is built on Kubernetes—optimized for cost, energy efficiency, and scalability.
Participants will gain a practical blueprint for building an enterprise AI platform, including architectural principles and strategies to reduce total cost of ownership while ensuring regulatory compliance.
Code Is Cheap. Software Isn’t.
Thursday, April 23 | 10:00 AM | Cinema 5
Speaker: Markus Eisele (Product Manager & Developer Advocate, IBM Research)
With the increasing use of AI tools, software development is undergoing fundamental change. Code can now be generated faster than ever before—yet the real challenges remain.
This keynote explores why writing code has never been the core problem. What truly matters is understanding system behavior, complexity, and maintainability—especially in large, long-lived Java systems.
The focus is on concrete approaches for the effective use of AI in the development process: from clearly defined requirements and controlled changes to handling generated code. The goal is to use AI as a productive tool without losing control over architecture and quality.
Workshops and Tickets
In addition to the main conference, new workshops have recently been released. Availability is limited.
Members of Java User Groups (JUG Pass), JAVAPRO readers and authors, as well as former attendees, are eligible for complimentary JCON 3 Day Full-Conference passes.*
For commercial participants, the JCON 3 Day Full-Conference Pass* is priced at EUR 699 (plus VAT).
Workshop tickets are currently available for EUR 15.97 (plus VAT).
📢 Ticket Code: JAVAPRO
* The conference pass does not include access to workshops or the Premium Track AI (separate upgrade required).
Community & Code in Cologne
JCON EUROPE 2026 offers four days of knowledge transfer, practical use cases, and exchange within the Java community. The conference combines technical depth with real-world applications and provides space for networking and discussion.
Further information: www.jcon.one
