Updated 2026
Quilting Fabric Release Calendar
When new fabric collections actually get previewed and hit stores — plus a real, current change to the Quilt Market schedule worth knowing about.
2026 Schedule Change Worth Knowing
International Quilt Market — the trade-only show that's run a spring and fall edition for decades — has discontinued its fall edition. That role is being folded into Houston International Quilt Festival (November 12-15, 2026). The spring edition continues as planned: April 10-12, 2026, in St. Louis, Missouri. If you've heard buzz that "Quilt Market is cancelled," this restructuring is what people are referring to — it isn't gone, it's consolidating.
2027 dates had not yet been publicly announced as of this writing.
How the Fabric Release Cadence Actually Works
Fabric manufacturers (Moda, Riley Blake, Robert Kaufman, Windham, Michael Miller, and others) preview upcoming collections to shop owners and press at Quilt Market and major festivals — this is the "announcement" moment quilters see referenced online. Retail arrival follows a few months later, once production and shipping catch up to the preview: a collection shown in spring commonly reaches shops by mid-to-late summer, and one shown in fall commonly ships in early-to-mid the following year.
That gap between "announced" and "available to buy" is why a fabric line can generate excitement online for months before your local shop or a retailer like Connecting Threads or Fat Quarter Shop actually has it in stock.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Quilt Market still happening in 2026?+
Partially. Spring Quilt Market is confirmed for April 10-12, 2026 in St. Louis, Missouri. The fall edition of International Quilt Market has been discontinued — that trade-show role is being absorbed into Houston International Quilt Festival, running November 12-15, 2026 at the George R. Brown Convention Center.
What is Quilt Market, and why does it matter for new fabric?+
Quilt Market is the quilting industry's trade show — open to shop owners and press, not the general public — where fabric manufacturers (Moda, Riley Blake, Robert Kaufman, and others) preview upcoming collections to retailers before they ship. It's the reason quilters see new fabric lines get "announced" months before they're actually available to buy.
How long after a fabric line is announced does it actually arrive in stores?+
Typically a few months. A collection previewed at a Quilt Market or Festival event commonly reaches quilt shops and online retailers 2-4 months later, once manufacturing and shipping catch up to the preview.
Where can I see newly announced fabric collections?+
Manufacturer websites and their social accounts post new collection previews close to Quilt Market and Quilt Festival dates. Retailer newsletters (Fat Quarter Shop, Missouri Star, Connecting Threads, and others) are also a reliable way to hear about new lines as soon as they're available to order.