Embodiments of the disclosure include a method for providing stream processing with runtime adaptation includes registering one or more events, wherein each of the events is associated with a stream processing application. The method also includes monitoring, by a processor, for an occurrence of the one or more events associated with the stream processing application, wherein each of the one or more events is associated with one or more runtime metrics. The method further includes receiving an event notification, wherein the event notification includes event identification and an event context and executing an adaptation of the stream processing application.