Join quilters and creators from around the world in Houston for the 2026 International Quilt Festival, taking place November 12–15, 2026 at the George R. Brown Convention Center. Classes and other educational programming begin Tuesday, November 10.
If you’re coming to Houston for several days of quilts, classes, shopping, and the inevitable fabric haul that somehow requires its own suitcase on the trip home, your choice of where to stay matters. Downtown puts you closest to the convention center; Midtown gives you more neighborhood life, easy transit access, and the option of a furnished apartment with more room to spread out.
The International Quilt Festival/Houston runs Thursday, November 12 through Sunday, November 15, 2026, at the George R. Brown Convention Center, 1001 Avenida de las Americas in Downtown Houston. Classes and events begin November 10.
Festival hours are 10 a.m.–6 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Sunday. Daily admission is currently $18, with children 10 and under admitted free. If you enroll in classes, Festival admission is included with your enrollment. Advance tickets are already on sale.
Quilts, Inc. says the Houston show features more than 1,200 quilts, 600-plus vendor booths, and more than 200 classes, lectures, and events. You can browse the 2026 class catalog and enrollment information before you arrive.
One important change for longtime attendees: there is no Preview Night in 2026. Quilts, Inc. also discontinued International Quilt Market, the separate industry trade show that traditionally preceded Festival. Festival itself is very much alive, including its enormous vendor floor, so you will still have ample opportunity to buy fabric, thread, patterns, machines, tools, books, and things you absolutely did not know you needed until approximately five minutes ago.
There are two particularly convenient approaches: stay Downtown within walking distance of the George R. Brown Convention Center, or stay just south of Downtown in Midtown and use METRORail, rideshare, or a short drive to reach the show.
Quilts, Inc. currently lists three official host hotels for 2026: Marriott Marquis Houston, Hilton Americas-Houston, and Four Seasons Hotel Houston.
The Marriott Marquis and Hilton Americas are connected to the convention center by skywalks, making them the easiest choices if your priority is getting from your room to the show floor with as little Houston weather as possible. As of September 2026, the Festival room blocks list rates of $299 at the Marriott Marquis, $298 at Hilton Americas, and $285 at the Four Seasons, before taxes and subject to room-block availability. Booking cutoffs fall between October 14 and October 20.
The Four Seasons is nearby but is not connected to the convention center. Quilts, Inc. also notes that there will be no Four Seasons Festival shuttle in 2026 because of Downtown construction. Check the official 2026 Festival hotel page before booking because room-block availability can change.
If you would rather have a furnished apartment than a conventional hotel room, Lodgeur Midtown is at 3550 Main Street in Midtown Houston, just south of Downtown.
You book a Lodgeur furnished apartment much like a hotel stay, but you get an apartment to yourself. That extra space is particularly handy after a day at Quilt Festival—and even handier once the fabric, notions, patterns, and other purchases begin accumulating.
Lodgeur Midtown is at Mid Main Lofts, directly beside the Ensemble/HCC METRORail station. Current property amenities include free gated garage parking, fast WiFi, memory-foam beds, an in-unit washer and dryer, workspace, a swimming pool, and a 24/7 fitness center.
For attendees who want extra desk space during their trip, Lodgeur also offers a Large One-Bedroom with Office, sometimes called the Digital Nomad Suite. You can see that layout and the other apartment types in Lodgeur’s Midtown virtual tours and floor plans.
For Quilt Festival visitors who do not need to be physically connected to the convention center, Midtown offers a useful combination of space, restaurants, parking, and transportation. At Lodgeur Midtown, you can expect:
Rates for both hotels and furnished apartments vary by dates and availability, so compare the total trip cost, not just the headline nightly rate. Parking, dining, and having a kitchen can make a meaningful difference over a multi-day convention.
Lodgeur Midtown sits beside Ensemble/HCC Station on the Red Line. Ride north toward Downtown, then transfer in the Central Station area to an eastbound Green or Purple Line train. The Green and Purple Lines stop at Convention District Station, the closest rail station to the George R. Brown Convention Center.
A regular METRORail fare is currently $1.25. For routes, service changes, and real-time arrivals, check Houston METRO’s George R. Brown Convention Center information or the RideMETRO app before heading out.
You can also ride the Red Line into Downtown and walk from Main Street if the weather cooperates. November is usually kinder than August in Houston, which is admittedly not the highest possible bar.
The Red Line is especially useful if you extend your Quilt Festival trip. From Midtown, it runs directly through Downtown, the Museum District, Hermann Park, the Texas Medical Center, and NRG Park. You can reach attractions such as the Museum District and Houston Zoo without needing a car.
Read Lodgeur’s guide to using Houston METRORail from Midtown for more ideas, but check METRO before traveling for the latest schedules and service information.
After eight hours of quilts, classes, and shopping, having dinner within a few blocks starts to feel less like a perk and more like urban planning genius.
The address at 3550 Main Street currently has a Walk Score of 93, classified as a “Walker’s Paradise.” Midtown puts plenty of restaurants, bars, coffee shops, and neighborhood businesses within walking distance.
Close to Lodgeur Midtown, Home Slice Pizza serves New York-style pizza, subs, salads, and slices at 3701 Travis Street, while Winnie’s at 3622 Main Street remains a neighborhood favorite for sandwiches, cocktails, and weekend brunch.
For more choices, browse Lodgeur’s updated guide to Midtown Houston restaurants and bars.
Traveling with someone who does not share your perfectly reasonable desire to spend several consecutive hours discussing batting, thread weight, and seam allowances?
They have options.
Midtown makes it easy to reach the Museum District, Downtown, Hermann Park, and other central Houston destinations. Lodgeur Midtown also has an outdoor pool and fitness center for anyone whose personal vacation itinerary does not include 600-plus vendor booths.
Lodgeur’s walkable Houston weekend itinerary and guide to independent shops around Midtown are good starting points for anyone exploring while you are at Festival.
If a convention center full of fabric has somehow failed to exhaust your appetite for interesting materials, Texas Art Asylum is still operating at 1719 Live Oak Street in EaDo.
The creative-reuse center sells donated art and craft supplies, including the sort of odd materials that can turn into your next project before you have entirely figured out what the project is. Check the Texas Art Asylum website for current shopping hours before making the trip.
If you are deciding between a hotel and a furnished apartment, it helps to see the space first. Lodgeur has 3D virtual tours and floor plans for its Midtown apartments, including studios, one-bedroom apartments, one-bedroom apartments with office space, and two-bedroom layouts.
You can also see current amenities and availability on the Lodgeur Midtown property page.
Quilt Festival is one of those events where being comfortable at the end of the day matters. If being connected to the convention center is your priority, the official Downtown host hotels are the simplest option. If you prefer a furnished apartment, free garage parking, a walkable neighborhood, and easy access to both Downtown and the rest of central Houston, Midtown is worth comparing.
Whatever you choose, book sooner rather than later as the November 12–15 Festival approaches. Hotel room blocks have October cutoff dates and remain subject to availability.
And leave a little empty space in your suitcase. We both know why.
Know of a Houston quilting stop, restaurant, transportation update, or Festival detail we should add to this guide? Email marketing@lodgeur.com and we’ll update the guide.
