Key Takeaways
- CloudFest 2025 took place for the 21st year at Europa Park in Rust, Germany, drawing nearly 9,000 cloud industry professionals.
- Attendees gathered for a four-day convention full of keynotes, exhibits, workshops, and even some playtime after-hours.
- We spoke with Roger Williams from Kinsta and Dainius Kavoliūnas from Hostinger Horizons for insights from this year’s event.
CloudFest 2025 once again took Germany by storm: From March 17-20, it brought together the internet infrastructure industry’s biggest names as more than 8,000 attendees from around the world gathered to connect, collaborate, and share insights.
Held for the 21st consecutive year at Europa Park, one of Europe’s largest amusement parks nestled near the renowned Black Forest. For those few days, CloudFest was a temporary home for cloud industry leaders, innovators, and professionals.
It also embraced the “work hard, play hard” mentality: Beyond the conference halls, attendees had the chance to unwind at themed social events, including the annual World Server Throwing Championship. Or if they preferred, they explored more than 100 attractions, including ghost castles and rollercoasters, which remained open during the convention.
While entertainment is a major draw, the real excitement lies in the lineup of keynotes, panels, and exhibits. Attendees heard from top industry figures, participated in master classes, and explored the exhibition hall, which showcased the evolution of the cloud industry.
Among the thousands of attendees was Roger Williams, Partnerships and Community Manager, North America at Kinsta, a premium managed WordPress hosting provider.
“CloudFest 2025 reinforced what we anticipated going into the event: The cloud conversation is evolving beyond performance and infrastructure,” said Williams. “The appetite for smarter partnerships is growing — ones that reduce complexity and create space for differentiation in a crowded marketplace.”
Williams noted that managed hosting continues to show its value as a strategic lever for MSPs and digital agencies, who are now more focused on client success rather than infrastructure.
He added that, although the infrastructure behind the scenes is crucial to understanding and innovating, many companies are looking for more seamless ways to provide effortless services to their clients.
Themes and Keynotes at CloudFest 2025
CloudFest 2025 covered a wide range of topics, from web hosting and customer support to sustainability and innovation. Each day had a distinct theme:
- Day 1: How agencies can boost profits and strengthen customer relationships
- Day 2: Innovation with empathy, covering topics like sustainability and regulation
- Day 3: The importance of creating solutions with a human touch
One notable keynote came from author and activist Cory Doctorow, who tackled the concept of “enshittification” on March 18.
The term, coined by Doctorow, describes the decline in the quality of online platforms and services over time. He argues that platforms act as middlemen, exploiting both sides to maximize their own gains, which leads to a decline in service and user experience.
Another notable keynote speaker featured a fun improv event for cloud professionals, where the audience joined actresses Gina Louise Phillips and Julie Nolke in helping unlock “powers of spontaneity, active listening, and creative problem-solving.”
Most keynote sessions were between 15-20 minutes long with a packed schedule across all four days, offering attendees unlimited options to choose from. But Williams said one of his favorite parts of the event was being able to connect with fellow professionals.
“What stood out most this year were the meaningful conversations we had,” he said. “Not just at the booth, but throughout the event and even at the informal gatherings and after-hours meetups.”
The Cloud and Artificial Intelligence
AI was, unsurprisingly, the most popular underlying theme of CloudFest 2025. Still, not everyone is convinced that its current applications in cloud computing and hosting are truly transformative. Dainius Kavoliūnas, Head of Hostinger Horizons, shared his thoughts.
“While the industry is eager to position AI as a transformative force, much of what’s being showcased — predictive load balancing, automated security protocols, and smart scaling that adapts to traffic patterns, to name a few — feels more like incremental improvement than true innovation,” Kavoliūnas said.
For example, Kavoliūnas noted that end-user AI tools like website builders, automated troubleshooting, and SEO assistants have already been around for some time and are only becoming more efficient and user-friendly instead of fundamentally changing the landscape with new innovative ideas.
That’s not to say CloudFest’s AI topics missed the mark. Kavoliūnas said he believes the true innovation lies in AI-driven software creation, and this was definitely a key focus at the event.
“Vibe coding tools like Hostinger Horizons now enable individuals and entrepreneurs to build and deploy web apps using natural language prompts, while the technical complexity stays behind the scenes,” said Kavoliūnas. “If real disruption is coming, I’d bet it will start there.”
It’s a topic that thousands of attendees may be discussing at next year’s event, too.
While the dates for CloudFest 2026 haven’t been announced yet, it’ll likely return to Europa Park in Germany. Check the official website to secure tickets as soon as they’re available.
