Major National Show
QuiltCon
The premier modern quilting convention — bold solids, negative space, and the cutting edge of contemporary patchwork.
QuiltCon is the annual convention of the Modern Quilt Guild — the largest gathering of modern quilters in the world. Held in a different US city each year, QuiltCon brings together the designers, teachers, and quilters who shaped the modern quilting movement: Latifah Saafir, Heather Givans, Cheryl Arkison, Carolyn Friedlander, and many others. The juried QuiltCon quilt show is the defining showcase of modern quilt aesthetics — bold solids, asymmetric design, negative space, improv piecing.
If your quilting taste runs to Kona solids and improv rather than reproduction calicoes and traditional sampler blocks, QuiltCon is your show. Workshops sell out months in advance; book early.
What to expect at QuiltCon
- 1Juried quilt show with cash awards and category winners
- 2100+ workshops taught by nationally-known modern quilting instructors
- 3Vendor floor focused on modern fabric designers (Ruby Star Society, Cotton + Steel, Carolyn Friedlander)
- 4Member-only Modern Quilt Guild meetings and networking
- 5Lectures and panels on modern quilting history and contemporary practice
- 6Sponsor-hosted demonstrations and trunk shows
History of QuiltCon
The Modern Quilt Guild was founded in 2009 by a small group of Los Angeles quilters who felt that modern quilting deserved its own community separate from the dominant traditional quilting culture. QuiltCon launched in 2013 in Austin, Texas, with 1,500 attendees. By 2026 it draws over 4,000 quilters from every US state and many countries, with a juried show featuring 400+ quilts.
Follow QuiltCon on social
Quilters attending and posting about QuiltCon use these hashtags on Instagram and elsewhere:
Frequently asked questions
When is QuiltCon in 2026?+
QuiltCon 2026 runs February 19 through February 22, 2026, in Raleigh, North Carolina.
Where is QuiltCon held?+
QuiltCon is held in Raleigh, North Carolina.
Who organizes QuiltCon?+
QuiltCon is organized by The Modern Quilt Guild (https://www.quiltcon.com). The show has run annually since 2013.
How big is QuiltCon?+
QuiltCon draws approximately 4,000+ attendees annually. It is one of the major national US quilt shows.
What's the history of QuiltCon?+
The Modern Quilt Guild was founded in 2009 by a small group of Los Angeles quilters who felt that modern quilting deserved its own community separate from the dominant traditional quilting culture. QuiltCon launched in 2013 in Austin, Texas, with 1,500 attendees. By 2026 it draws over 4,000 quilters from every US state and many countries, with a juried show featuring 400+ quilts.
Other quilt shows you might consider
AQS QuiltWeek Paducah
Paducah, KY · Apr 22
The longest-running major quilt show in America — Paducah is the spiritual home of the AQS and a bucket-list trip for serious quilters.
Houston International Quilt Festival
Houston, TX · Nov 19
The largest quilt show in the world — 1,000+ vendor booths, thousands of quilts, 50,000+ attendees.
Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show
Sisters, OR · Jul 11
The largest outdoor quilt show in the world — 1,300+ quilts displayed across the buildings of downtown Sisters, Oregon, for one Saturday in July.
AQS QuiltWeek Daytona Beach
Daytona Beach, FL · Feb 18
AQS's winter show — escape the cold and quilt by the beach.
Plan your full quilting year
See every major US quilt show in 2026, plus quilt-along calendars, swap schedules, and shop hops.