Review QuiltCon2026

I know this review is a little late in arriving but traveling after the convention paired with some early March deadlines resulted in everything being pushed until now. That being said, let's dive right in. First, I want to talk a little bit about the location - while QuiltCon will be in Atlanta in 2027, Raleigh is a popular location for the convention and I can see why, so I am going to give you a little bit of an overview, so the next time it’s there you will be prepared. 

Raleigh, NC as a convention location has a lot of advantages, including many dining options around the convention center, which is incredibly helpful when you have so many people in one location (and is a great way to support the local economy), a surprising number of parking options (the parking garage I used was one of the most expensive and was only $25 for twenty-four hours), and while there are hotels nearby it is very easy to stay a little farther out and save considerably on your hotel costs (my drive in and out took 15-20 minutes and what I saved in hotel costs made up my spending budget). 

As for the convention center itself, the building was large, clean and had a wide range of food choices inside, all of which are positives. There were a few drawbacks - the layout of the building is very confusing when you first try to navigate it, and I found looking at maps really didn’t help. This is because the convention center is built on a city block that is on a hill so “ground level” changes throughout the building, affecting exits and how different levels connect. By the second day I was able to easily move from the entrance to the main floor and all the various exits, but there were a few things I still have no idea where they were. The other issue, and this should not be an issue at future conventions, is that the air conditioning was not working due to a fire on the roof a few months earlier. It got very warm on the main floor at times. 

So what about the Convention itself? I had a great time and am going to break the review down into two sections: the Vendor Floor and the Quilt Show. And I am going to start with the vendor floor just like I did at the show. I personally really enjoy the vendor floor, not because I want to spend a ton of money (though I spent more than I was planning to) but because it gives me a chance to see so many different products in person that I normally wouldn’t be able to, and to find tools I haven’t seen anywhere else (and have been looking for - I picked up some new rulers!). I always recommend doing a quick run through the vendor floor first because items do sell out, and if you want to see the full range you need to go through early. The other big advantage is if you are looking to purchase a new machine every brand is represented at the show, and by and large they all have good deals. This is the perfect chance to really test drive the machines and compare pricing options. There are also a lot of free make and takes (a number of which are hosted by the different fabric companies, who are not selling so it's a no pressure environment). But best of all are all the demos that are going on at the different booths. These are all free (though some of them you have to sign up for in advance if they take a more workshop approach) but they are a great way to learn new techniques, different ways to use tools you may already own and so much more. For example, I gave a demo in the Benartex booth on No Waste Flying Geese Using Precuts (you can find the handouthere.)

 Part of the vendor floor leading to the quilt show is the Demo Stage. This is a large area that is set aside for larger presentations, and unlike the lectures there is no additional cost for these. I had a great time attending some of these and learned a lot, especially during the thread presentations. This was also a great location to sit for a little while and rest your feet while still learning something new. 

Now onto the second part, the Quilt Show. The majority of the quilts were displayed on the main floor opposite the vendor floor but the Community Quilts and I think one of the special exhibits were on display somewhere else in the building (I never found them, but I know lots of people did). Personally I would have preferred to have fewer special exhibits if it meant all the quilts could have been displayed in one area. If you aren’t familiar with how the QuiltCon quilt show works, all the quilts are first juried into the show, and then judged by the three judges selected that year. Unlike other areas of quilting that rely primarily on workmanship, modern quilting relies heavily on aesthetic choices, because the quilt is being judged on how well it fits an abstract theme such as “negative space” or “minimalism”. Because of this you find that the craftsmanship of the quilts is excellent but aesthetically they may not appeal to you. For this show I found it was a real mix, I had some that I was incredibly drawn to (see the slide show) while there were others that I could admire the techniques used but just couldn’t find them visually appealing, and that is okay, these quilts are art and everyone has a personal reaction to art. If you would like to see the quilt show for yourself I have a video tour up on Instagram, broken down into four parts. You can find them pinned at the top of my instagram feed or you can find the links to the individual videos:

Part 1: Categories- Piecing, Small Quilts, Minimalist Design

Part 2: Categories- Modern Traditionalism and Youth 

Part 3: Categories- Group and Bee

Part 4: Categories- Applique, Improvisation, Use of Negative Space, Handwork, Windham Fabrics Artisan Cotton Fabrics Challenge and American Patchwork + Quilting Diamonds Quilting Challenge Categories plus Best in Show.

Are you all ready to head to QuiltCon in 2027? 

Here are my top tips to help you make the most of your trip:

1. Have comfortable supportive shoes, you will be spending a lot of time standing and walking on concrete. 

2. Make sure you have a bag that will comfortably hold the basics along with small purchases. (Bonus if it is easy to identify.) 

3. Remember to pace yourself and take breaks. I highly recommend taking in a presentation or two at the demo stage during the course of your day. I will also say it can be worth it to spend the extra money on somewhere a little nicer for lunch to get a real breather away from the crowds. 

4. If you have friends that you want to meet up with there, make plans in advance.  There are a ton of people and you may not see each other, otherwise. 

Will you be at QuiltCon 2027 in Atlanta?