We are delighted to be returning to the Festival of Quilts once again - it is always the highlight of our year!
The Festival of Quilts 2026 is heading back to the NEC Birmingham from 30 July to 2 August, and we are very happy to be going along for the ride. It is four full days of quilts, workshops, talks and serious shopping at Europeʼs largest patchwork and quilting event.
You will find Quilt Direct on stands K44/K45 in Hall 7. We will be there every day with live demonstrations, friendly advice and plenty of ideas to help you get even more enjoyment from your quilting, embroidery and piecing.
You can head over to our Festival of Quilts page on our website for more details about the demonstrations and how to book, plus our special guests, and the products that we will be bringing along. quiltdirect.co.uk/foq2026
When and where to find us
The festival runs from Thursday 30 July to Sunday 2 August 2026 at the NEC, Birmingham, in Halls 7, 8 and 9. Doors open 9:30am–5:30pm Thursday to Saturday and 9:30am–4:00pm on Sunday, so you can easily make a full day of it.
Our home for the show is stands K44/K45 in Hall 7. Whether this is your very first visit to Festival of Quilts or you already know exactly where you like to start, we would love you to add us to your route and come and say hello!
What to expect on our stand
This year our focus is on live demonstrations and practical, real-life quilting help. You will be able to stand right by the action, watch techniques step by step and ask all the questions you donʼt always get to ask online.
We are also delighted to be hosting three special guests on our stand – Lynn from AccuQuilt, Kimberly from OESD and Patricia from Quilterʼs Rule – alongside our own Quilt Direct team, including Karen, our AccuQuilt expert, and Jo, our embroidery expert. Across the four days weʼll be showcasing AccuQuilt, OESD, Quilterʼs Rule, Acorn Products and the new TenSisters range in a rolling programme of demos on the stand and in selected workshops. It is a lovely mix of familiar favourites and something new to discover.
Live demonstrations with our leading brands
AccuQuilt – Cut Smarter, Quilt Faster
Weʼre delighted that Lynn from AccuQuilt will be joining us on the stand this year, alongside Karen, our in-house AccuQuilt expert. If youʼve ever wished cutting was quicker, more accurate or just a little kinder on your hands, make sure AccuQuilt is on your list. The AccuQuilt die-cutting systems are designed to speed things up while giving you beautifully precise pieces for everything from simple squares to more intricate blocks.
On the stand, Lynn and Karen will show you how the dies work, how many layers you can cut, and how AccuQuilt fits into both traditional and scrappy projects. They will be very happy to chat through how it might work with your quilting style and help you decide which system and dies would suit you best.
OESD – Machine Embroidery and Quilting in the Hoop
Weʼre equally excited that Kimberly from OESD will be with us on the stand and in the classroom this year, alongside Jo, our in-house embroidery expert. OESD is our go-to for high-quality machine embroidery designs, stabilisers and supplies that make embroidery more enjoyable and less temperamental. At Festival of Quilts, weʼll be concentrating on both decorative embroidery and quilting in the hoop with a domestic embroidery machine, so you can see just how much more your machine can do.
Weʼll have OESDʼs Designs On Demand service available on the stand, so if you spot a design you love, we can arrange for your chosen embroidery or quilting designs to be sent straight to your inbox, ready to stitch when you get home. Itʼs a lovely way to browse, ask questions and go away with exactly the right designs for your machine and projects. Kimberly and Jo will walk you through stabiliser choices, hooping tips and how to keep your stitches looking clean and even. Youʼll see quilting-in-the-hoop samples being stitched right in front of you and have the chance to ask about anything from thread choice to design placement.
Quilterʼs Rule – Ruler Quilting with Patricia
Weʼre very pleased that Patricia from Quilterʼs Rule will be joining us again this year. Quilterʼs Rule specialises in templates and rulers that help you stitch controlled, repeatable designs on a domestic or sit-down machine, and Patricia is brilliant at showing just whatʼs possible.
On stand K44/K45 she will be demonstrating different rulers, how to hold and guide them safely, and how to combine shapes to build up more complex designs. If youʼve been curious about ruler work but a bit hesitant to dive in, this is a very easy way to see it done and pick up confidence-boosting tips on everything from hand position to planning your quilting paths.
Acorn Products – Pressing and Piecing for Flatter Blocks
Pressing isnʼt the most glamorous part of quilting, but it really does make a difference. Acorn Products are all about helping seams lie flatter, reducing bulk and giving you a smoother surface for quilting and appliqué, and their piecing glue works hand in hand with the pressing solution for impressively accurate results. During our Acorn demos, weʼll share simple ways to improve pressing, show you before-and-after samples, and talk through how better pressing can help with things like point matching and wobbly borders. Youʼll also see how using Acorn piecing glue to position pieces before sewing can make your patchwork more precise and your seams nest beautifully. If youʼve ever wondered why your blocks donʼt quite sit as flat or as accurately as youʼd like, this is one to watch.
TenSisters – EasyPiecing Grid for Accurate Patchwork
Weʼre also excited to introduce the TenSisters EasyPiecing Grid at Festival of Quilts 2026. Itʼs a simple fusible grid that helps keep your squares straight and seams accurate, which is especially helpful for quilts with lots of small or repeated units.
On the stand weʼll show how the EasyPiecing Grid works from laying out your squares to sewing and pressing. It teams up beautifully with AccuQuilt-cut pieces, giving you quick, accurate cutting and equally accurate piecing for busy, pieced quilts without the fuss.
Plan your visit to Festival of Quilts
Scan the QR code to explore our Festival of Quilts webpage, where you'll find all the details you need to plan your visit and make the most of the show.
Booking tickets and planning your day
Festival of Quilts tickets are available to book in advance, with options for single and multi-day visits, and advance prices starting in the mid-teens. Itʼs a busy show, so itʼs worth having a quick look at the programme before you travel, especially if youʼre booking workshops or talks as well as saving time for the competition quilts, galleries and stands.
When youʼre sketching out your day, highlight the quilts and galleries you really donʼt want to miss, then drop K44/K45 in Hall 7 onto your map. Calling by between classes or earlier in the day works well if you would like to catch specific demos and have time to chat.
What to bring to make the most of your visit
A little bit of planning goes a long way. You might like to bring:
- Photos of current or planned projects on your phone
- A short wish list of tools, techniques or problem areas you would like help with
- Measurements or notes for any upcoming quilts you are planning
- All of this helps us give more tailored suggestions while you are on the stand.
- Comfortable shoes, a lightweight bag and somewhere to jot down ideas, whether thatʼs a notebook or notes on your phone, also make a full day at the show much more enjoyable
Tickets
If you haven't already purchased your tickets for the Festival of Quilts 2026, please use our discount code QUILTDIRECT for £2 off standard adult/concession tickets for Thursday, Friday or Saturday.
Book your standard day tickets here.
Stay connected with Quilt Direct
If you canʼt make it to Birmingham this time, you will still be able to explore our Festival of Quilts brands and products online. After the show we will share highlights of our demonstrations and featured ranges on our website, in our newsletter and on social media.
If you would like to be first in line for Festival of Quilts updates from Quilt Direct, do sign up to our newsletter or follow us on your favourite social channel.
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