AQS QuiltWeek returns to Paducah with exhibits, classes and citywide events
FOX23 News at 9 p.m
PADUCAH, Ky., (KBSI) — American Quilter’s Society QuiltWeek will return to Paducah April 22-25, 2026, bringing thousands of visitors to the Paducah-McCracken County Convention & Expo Center for one of the largest quilting events in the country. The event is also scheduled for April 21-24, 2027.
QuiltWeek features hundreds of contest quilts and special exhibits, along with classes and lectures led by nationally and internationally recognized quilting experts. Attendees can also explore a large vendor marketplace offering fabrics, sewing machines, patterns and quilting supplies from major brands and designers.
More than 800 quilts are on display during the event, including around 400 featured in special exhibits, showcasing a wide range of styles, techniques and creative approaches from quilters around the world.
For many participants, the quilts represent more than just craftsmanship. Organizers say each piece can reflect personal experiences, emotions or moments in a quilter’s life.
“I can look back at a quilt that I’ve made during a time that might have been difficult in my life… you’ve put your heart in all those stitches… it’s stitch therapy,” said American Quilter’s Society Executive Director Michelle Collinsworth.
Others say their connection to quilting comes from the creative process itself.
“I don’t quilt for other people, I just quilt for myself… I just like the design process… and the sewing process… there isn’t one part of it that I don’t enjoy,” said award-winning quilter Karen K. Buckley.
Buckley’s latest quilt, which earned Best of Show, took more than a decade to complete. She said she flew in from Pennsylvania the morning after learning she had won.
“I was sitting there with my hands on my face and the tears were running… I can’t believe this,” Buckley said.
Organizers say QuiltWeek continues to draw visitors year after year, with many describing the event as a welcoming and creative community.
Events extend beyond the convention center, with pop-up activities and programming held throughout Paducah, including exhibitions and events at the National Quilt Museum.
Organizers say a Quilter’s Field Guide will be available to help visitors navigate the event, including information on travel, dining, shuttle routes and parking. A schedule of local events tied to QuiltWeek is also available.
