Ready to plan a year of creativity, community, and maybe a little commerce? Here’s a curated, city-hopping guide to the best 2026 craft conferences and markets around the United States, events where you can shop, learn, network, and in many cases sell your handmade goods. Pack your portable displays, comfy shoes, and a stack of business cards. Let’s go!
Raleigh, North Carolina – QuiltCon
Dates: February 19–22, 2026
The Modern Quilt Guild’s flagship show is a mecca for modern makers: world-class exhibits, workshops, lectures, and a bustling vendor hall. Great for learning and inspiration, with plenty of opportunities to shop and connect with fabric brands, pattern designers, guild leaders, and longarm pros. If you’re a quilt-adjacent seller (patterns, notions, fabric kits), this scene is your audience.
New York, New York – NY NOW (Winter)
Dates: February 1–3, 2026
If you’re ready to wholesale your handmade line to boutiques, NY NOW is a heavyweight. It’s a trade-only market at the Javits Center, with a robust Handmade section where retailers place orders for upcoming seasons. Plan polished line sheets, minimums, and lead times. Portable displays that pack flat and set up quickly are a lifesaver here.
Puyallup, Washington – Sewing & Stitchery Expo
Dates: February 26–March 1, 2026
The largest annual gathering of the sewing community brings thousands of sewists together for classes, demos, and serious shopping. Ideal for attending with your maker friends, and also for selling if you offer sewing, quilting, or embroidery products. Expect full days—your cart (and your heart) will be full.
Ventura, California – Craftcation Conference
Dates: April 8–12, 2026
Part business bootcamp, part creative retreat at the beach. Craftcation blends hands-on workshops (think block printing, natural dyeing) with small-business classes on pricing, wholesale, email marketing, and storytelling. Come to level up your skills, refresh your creative energy, and leave with a realistic plan for your shop or studio.
Washington, DC – Smithsonian Craft Show
Dates: April 22–26, 2026
A prestigious, juried show featuring exceptional contemporary craft across many disciplines. If you’re looking to sell, know that acceptance is competitive and applications open well in advance. Even if you attend as a visitor, it’s a masterclass in display, branding, and pricing at the highest level. Bring a notebook and snap layout ideas for your own portable displays.
Chicago, Illinois – One of a Kind Spring Show
Dates: April 24–26, 2026
Hosted at THE MART, this juried retail show draws shoppers who are primed to buy handmade. Booths are well-appointed and traffic is strong, so plan clear pricing, good lighting, and an easy checkout workflow. Apply early; if accepted, design a booth that sets up fast and fits neatly into rolling tubs and portable displays.
Greenville, South Carolina – Artisphere
Dates: May 8–10, 2026
A top-ranked fine art and fine craft festival in a charming downtown setting. It’s juried and competitive, but the rewards—high attendance, engaged collectors, and strong community support—make it worth a shot. Even as an attendee, you’ll come away with display ideas and fresh connections.
St. Louis, Missouri – Creativation by Namta
Dates: May 15–19, 2026
Think of this as the creative-industry summit for art materials and craft retail. It’s largely trade-focused (ideal if you run a craft business, sell supplies, or want relationships with manufacturers), with education, product launches, and retailer meetups. Great for scoping trends and sourcing materials at scale.
Santa Fe, New Mexico – International Folk Art Market
Dates: July 9–12, 2026
A soul-stirring celebration where artists from around the world sell their work directly. Most U.S. makers attend for inspiration and shopping rather than selling, but it’s a phenomenal place to refine your eye, study color and pattern, and learn how artisans tell powerful product stories.
Houston, Texas – International Quilt Festival
Dates: November 19–22, 2026
The country’s largest annual quilt show fills the George R. Brown Convention Center with hundreds of vendors, jaw-dropping exhibits, and classes. If your business serves quilters, this is a must-go for market research and shopping; if you’re exhibiting, prepare for big crowds and multi-day stamina.
Bonus: Pinners Conference (Multiple Cities)
Kansas: February 6–7, 2026 • Utah: November 5–7, 2026
Pinners blends Pinterest-inspired classes with an artisan shopping floor. It’s a fun girls’ trip and a solid booth opportunity for giftable handmade goods. Watch their calendar for other city stops (AZ, TX, GA often appear).
How to Pick the Right Events (and Prep Like a Pro)
Match your goals.
- Learn & network: Craftcation, QuiltCon, Creativation.
- Retail sales (direct to shoppers): One of a Kind Chicago, Artisphere, Pinners cities.
- Wholesale (sell to stores): NY NOW (and keep an eye on other wholesale markets as they announce).
Mind the timelines.
Juried shows (Smithsonian, Artisphere, One of a Kind) open applications months in advance. Set reminders to check prospectus pages, and line up photography, pricing, and booth renderings early.
Design packable, repeatable booths.
Invest in portable displays that break down quickly, fit in your vehicle, and look polished: grid panels with slip-on covers, nesting risers, folding pedestals, and roll-up banners. Use lightweight crates as both storage and risers. Build a 60-minute setup checklist and practice it at home.
Plan your money flow.
For wholesale shows, you’ll be writing orders for future delivery; for retail shows, you’ll need change, packaging, and QR codes for quick tap-to-pay checkout. A small POS, portable power bank, and tidy cable management go a long way.
Turn shows into year-round marketing.
Offer a show-exclusive bundle, collect emails with a simple tablet form, and photograph your booth when traffic is light. After each event, send a “thank you” note and a limited-time offer to new subscribers.
Your 2026 Crafty Road Trip, Sorted
From coastal retreats to high-energy trade floors, these events offer a full spectrum of possibilities—learning, selling, and serious fun. Map out two or three anchor shows that fit your goals, build a booth kit centered on portable displays, and commit to following up with every promising contact. Your craft can take you places in 2026—literally.
