Annual Calendar
Quilt Shows 2026
Every major US quilt show with confirmed 2026 dates — QuiltCon, AQS QuiltWeek, Houston International, Sisters Outdoor, Pennsylvania National, Mid-Atlantic Quilt Festival, and more.
The 2026 US quilt show calendar
2026 is shaping up as a full year on the major US quilt show circuit. Eleven nationally-significant shows are confirmed, plus dozens of state and guild-level events. The headline events are QuiltCon in Raleigh, NC (February 19–22), AQS QuiltWeek Paducah (April 22–25), the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show on Saturday, July 11(the world's largest outdoor quilt event), and the Houston International Quilt Festival (November 19–22), which remains the world's largest quilt show with over 50,000 attendees and 1,500+ juried quilts.
Each show has its own personality and audience. QuiltCon is modern and design-forward; Paducah is traditional and competitive; Houston is enormous and international; Sisters is bucolic and free. The schedule below is ordered chronologically — find your show, plan your trip, book early.
February 2026
AQS QuiltWeek Daytona Beach
Daytona Beach, Florida
AQS's winter show — escape the cold and quilt by the beach.
QuiltCon
Raleigh, North Carolina
The premier modern quilting convention — bold solids, negative space, and the cutting edge of contemporary patchwork.
Attendance: 4,000+ · Since: 2013
Mid-Atlantic Quilt Festival
Hampton, Virginia · Hampton Roads Convention Center
Mancuso's February show in coastal Virginia — early-year quilting for the Mid-Atlantic.
April 2026
AQS QuiltWeek New England
Hartford, Connecticut
AQS's New England spring show — drawing quilters from the entire Northeast.
AQS QuiltWeek Paducah
Paducah, Kentucky · Schroeder Expo Center
The longest-running major quilt show in America — Paducah is the spiritual home of the AQS and a bucket-list trip for serious quilters.
Attendance: 30,000+ · Since: 1985
July 2026
August 2026
September 2026
Pennsylvania National Quilt Extravaganza
Oaks, Pennsylvania · Greater Philadelphia Expo Center
Mancuso's Pennsylvania show — the major fall event for Northeast quilters.
AQS QuiltWeek Columbus
Columbus, Ohio
AQS Ohio show — fall quilting in the heart of Amish country.
November 2026
Planning your 2026 quilt show year — FAQ
What are the biggest quilt shows in 2026?+
The five biggest US quilt shows in 2026 are: Houston International Quilt Festival (November 19–22, the largest in the world), AQS QuiltWeek Paducah (April 22–25), QuiltCon (February 19–22 in Raleigh, NC), Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show (July 11 in Oregon), and Pennsylvania National Quilt Extravaganza (September 17–20). Plus four AQS regional shows in Daytona, Hartford, Grand Rapids, and Columbus.
When should I book hotels for 2026 quilt shows?+
Major show cities sell out hotels months in advance. For AQS Paducah (April), book by January. For QuiltCon (February), book the moment the city is announced (usually the previous summer). For Houston (November), book by August. The closer to the convention center, the earlier rooms go. Look for show-rate blocks the show organizer publishes — those are usually cheaper than rack rates.
When does class registration open for major 2026 shows?+
Class registration for AQS QuiltWeek shows opens 3–4 months before each event. QuiltCon registration opens the previous October. Houston Festival registration opens in July or August for the November show. Watch each show's website and email list. Marquee instructor classes often sell out in the first hour.
Can I attend a major US quilt show without taking classes?+
Yes — most major show admission tickets include access to the exhibit floor, vendor mall, and the juried quilt show without requiring class registration. Classes are paid separately. Many quilters attend without taking any classes, focusing on the juried show, vendor shopping, and social time.
Are there free quilt shows in 2026?+
Yes. The Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show in Oregon (July 11, 2026) has free admission to its outdoor display — only the optional VIP preview and the preceding Quilters' Affair workshop week cost money. Many state guild shows charge $5–10 admission or nothing. The major commercial shows (Houston, Paducah, QuiltCon, AQS regionals, Mancuso) all charge multi-day admission, typically $15–25 per day.