Experiencing FOMO? Photos That Capture Quilt Week 2026 in Paducah

Paducah, Kentucky, is bustling with thousands of quilters this week, so let’s take a look at what is happening at this massive quilt show!

The Main Show

The entire town of Paducah embraces Quilt Week, but the big show is what brings most of us into town for the week.

Awards Ceremony

The evening before the show officially opens, events begin with the award ceremony a few blocks from the convention center, where contestants learn if their quilts received additional recognition. 

Winning Quilts

Each of the sixteen categories has awards for first, second, and third place, as well as honorable mention. Additionally, there are judges’ choice awards and major awards drawn from all the other winners.

Best of Show

This year’s best of show is Color My World, made by Karen Kay Buckley, whom I was lucky enough to run into at the end of the day on Thursday. We had a lovely conversation, and it was fun to hear more about her appliqué process.

Modern Quilt Winners

I’m ecstatic that my quilt, 100 Days of Apple Cores, received honorable mention in the modern category and has one of the lovely, show-specific Dogwood ribbons.

Special Exhibits and Events

Several special exhibits round out the show in both the upstairs show space and the Dome Pavilion. Here is a sampling of just a few special exhibits:

Beyond Tradition: Abstract Quilts from the National Quilt Museum

Stars, Stripes, and Stitches

Cherrywood Challenge 2025: Abyss

Game Night

A friend suggested attending game night, and my name was selected to participate, so I was added to a team to play quilty versions of Charades, Pictionary, and Password.

New for 2026

Everything evolves over time, and quilt shows are no exception. Here are a few things I have noticed with the 2026 show:

Murals

If you have ever walked along the street between the convention center and the dome pavilion, you will be happy to see that there is now a paved walkway!

Logistics

If you have ever walked along the street between the convention center and the dome pavilion, you will be happy to see that there is now a paved walkway!

Along with the new walkway, some of the adjoining parking lot was reworked, and the food vendors were moved to the end of the convention center instead of having it in the front.

Crowd Sizes/Distribution

This year, I noticed a shift in crowd sizes, or at least the distribution of those crowds. I took this photograph just a couple of minutes before the show opened on the first day, and while the crowd looks relatively dense, the people waiting to get into the main show floor used to extend much further down the hallway.

A New Dome Pavilion

There is also a new structure for the Dome Pavilion. You may notice that the lighting in this space isn’t as nice now that there are no skylights. I’m curious to see if it has better temperature control than the last structure.

National Quilt Museum

The National Quilt Museum had truly exceptional programming this week, with a highlight being Tula Pink’s visit for two meet-and-greet/book-signing events. 

Tula Pink Meet and Greet 

Tula Pink has an exhibit this year, and she was kind enough to come to the show, too!

I also had a chance to visit one of my mini quilts, Converging Curves, which is on display in the miniature section of the main gallery.

I’ll share the phenomenal lineup of exhibits in an upcoming post.

Yeiser Art Center

In the heart of downtown, the Yeiser Arts Center hosts the annual Fantastic Fibers show, celebrating all forms of textile art. I’m excited to share a bit more about this show in the coming weeks, but if you’re in town in the near future, this is a must-see exhibit!

Shopping

No quilt show is complete without some shopping, and in addition to the fantastic vendors, several local businesses around town cater to the quilting community.

Hancock’s of Paducah

Muppin’s Sewing Emporium

Paper Pieces

Are you in Quilt City this week?

If you are at the show this week, please comment on your favorite parts of the experience and let everyone know your must-see and must-do activities!