Conference Description
What the event is about:
AutoCon 5 is a major in-person conference and workshop series dedicated to advancing the adoption and practice of network automation. Held in Munich, Germany, in June 2026, the event is organized by the Network Automation Forum and is positioned as the only conference persistently questioning why full adoption of network automation has not yet been achieved. The event combines hands-on technical workshops with a multi-day conference program, featuring keynotes, technical sessions, leadership tracks, and community-driven content. Its core purpose is to bring together practitioners, leaders, and innovators to share real-world experiences, frameworks, and tools that accelerate the automation of network operations, bridge the gap between network engineering and software development, and address both technical and organizational barriers to automation at scale.
Subject Matter:
Main topics include network automation frameworks (notably the NAF Framework), AI and machine learning in networking, observability, configuration management, source of truth systems, CI/CD for networks, digital twins, compliance, workflow automation, and operationalizing automation in production environments. Technologies and tools discussed include Python, PyTest, Nornir, NAPALM, Jinja2, YANG, gRPC, NetBox, Ansible, Prometheus, Grafana, GitHub Actions, and AI agents. The agenda covers both technical deep-dives and leadership/business sessions.
Niche:
The event operates within the Network Automation and NetDevOps niche, focusing on the intersection of network engineering, software development, and IT operations for large-scale, automated, and programmable network infrastructures.
Target Audience:
AutoCon 5 is designed for network engineers, automation engineers, NetDevOps practitioners, network architects, software engineers working in networking, IT operations leaders, technical managers, and executives responsible for network infrastructure. Attendees are likely from enterprises, service providers, cloud companies, vendors, and consultancies with a strong interest in automating network operations.
Problems the Event Helps Solve:
The event addresses challenges such as slow or partial adoption of network automation, lack of standardized frameworks, integration of AI/ML into network operations, operationalizing automation at scale, compliance and security in automated environments, bridging skill gaps between network and software teams, and building business cases for automation investments.
Commercial Intent Signals:
AutoCon 5 is focused on education, community building, networking, thought leadership, and showcasing practical solutions. There are strong signals of lead generation and product marketing via sponsors and workshops, but the primary emphasis is on knowledge sharing, skills development, and advancing the state of network automation.
Key Messaging & Positioning:
Recurring themes include “WHY HAVEN’T WE SEEN FULL ADOPTION OF NETWORK AUTOMATION, YET?”, “practical network automation training”, “real-world success stories”, “operationalizing network automation”, and “community created NAF Framework”. The event positions itself as both a technical and strategic forum for overcoming barriers to automation.
Sponsors / Vendors / Technologies Mentioned:
Notable sponsors and vendors include NetBrain, Cisco, Itential, NetBox Labs, EfficientIP, Opsmill, Flock9, IP Fabric, Network to Code, Kentik, Codaxy, OpenText, Arista Networks, Forward Networks, Nokia, HPE, Flint SI, and Packet Coders. Technologies referenced include Python, Ansible, NetBox, Prometheus, Grafana, gRPC, YANG, Jinja2, Nornir, NAPALM, GitHub Actions, and AI/LLM tools.
Format & Experience:
The event is in-person, held at The Westin Grand Munich. It features two days of hands-on, workshop-led training followed by a three-day conference with single and multi-track sessions, including technical, leadership, and framework-focused content. The experience is highly interactive, practical, and community-driven.
Final Classification:
– Event Category: Network Automation / NetDevOps Conference & Workshops
– Primary Audience: Network engineers, automation practitioners, and IT leaders
– Primary Problem Solved: Accelerating and operationalizing network automation adoption at scale
– Commercial Goal of the Event: Education, community building, networking, and thought leadership (with secondary lead generation/product marketing)
– 5 relevant keywords: Network Automation, NetDevOps, AI in Networking, NAF Framework, Infrastructure as Code