Brno Patchwork Meeting 2026: Europe’s leading textile artists shone in Brno

May 4, 2026 / 1:01 PM

From April 24 to 26, 2026, Pavilion A1 at the Brno Exhibition Center once again became the hub of European patchwork, quilting, and textile art. The Brno Patchwork Meeting international exhibition offered visitors more than 700 quilts by nearly 200 artists from around the world, 42 exhibiting companies, and nearly 30 galleries representing both individuals and art groups.

The exhibition presented a comprehensive overview of contemporary textile art—ranging from classic patchwork and modern quilts to experimental and abstract textile art. Many of the collections were created specifically for the Brno Patchwork Meeting and made their debut here before heading to other European exhibitions. The exhibition attracted nearly 3,500 visitors.

Galleries that inspired the entire continent

This year’s edition featured an exceptionally strong international presence. The global SAQA collection titled “Blue” and the traditional French EPM collection drew significant attention. Lovers of classic patchwork were captivated by the 10th-anniversary works of the Polish guild and the creations of the Patchfanynky club, this year’s “Star of Czech Classics.”

The guest country was Denmark, featuring a selection of the best works by local artists. Galleries from Germany, France, Lithuania, Hungary, Switzerland, and the Netherlands were also present. Notable highlights included the “Dream Cloaks” collection by Dutch textile designer Marijke van Welzen and the Swiss guild’s “Round Robin” project.

Czech designers were also well represented—Jana Dohnalová, Jana Haklová, Zuzana Dolínková, and Andrea Landovská presented their galleries. Club projects were brought by the Bohemia Patchwork Club Prague and the 1st Moravian Patchwork Club with their “Birds” collection. The younger generation also returned to the exhibition in the form of a gallery by students from the Secondary School of Design in Lysá nad Labem.

As is tradition, the program also included specialized workshops led by leading European artists.

On Friday, German instructor Heike Rosenbaum offered a Mandala course, Hungarian artist Szilvia Kerekgyarto presented the technique of invisible hand appliqué, and Danish instructor Karin Ostergaard focused on machine-made drawings and images.

Saturday belonged to Jana Dohnalová and her course “Start Free-Quilting,” and on Sunday, Anna Králíková led the “Dodecagons” workshop.

The courses gave visitors the opportunity to learn new techniques directly from experienced artists and take home not only inspiration but also new practical skills from the exhibition.

The jury and visitors honored the year’s best quilt works

Saturday afternoon was traditionally dedicated to the awards ceremony for the international competitions. Awards were presented for the best works in two main categories—the creative competition “50 SHADES” and the traditional “SEWING ON PAPER” competition.

In the 50 SHADES competition, focused on monochromatic quilts, Lithuanian artist Maryte Collard won with her work Winter Morning. Second place went to Sylvia Ignatowska from Poland, and third place to Monika Malinová from the Czech Republic. Kateřina Jimrišková received the special student award.

Ivana Musilová and Monika Vágnerová won the traditional "Sewing on Paper" competition with their quilt titled "Memories of Morocco." Second place went to Marcela Kočířová, while Simona Chaloupková and Monika Vágnerová took third place.

A panel of experts consisting of ten international specialists evaluated both the technical execution and the overall artistic impression. The winning designers received their awards from the exhibition’s partners—STRIMA Czech, HAIŠMAN, BROTHER Sewing Machines, and the PRYM brand.

New competition themes were also announced for next year: the creative competition will focus on MUSIC, and the traditional competition will be titled CLASSIC CURVES.

Sunday afternoon was reserved for the final ceremonial moment of this year’s event—the announcement of the winners of the visitor competition in the Czech and International Quilt categories. It was here that the visitors themselves had their say, having voted for their favorites among 35 selected quilt works over the course of three days.

The quilt Pink Dahlia by Eva Linhartová took fifth place, fourth place went to Spring Delight by Lenka Kopačynská and Monika Vágnerová, third place was awarded to Autumn in Nelepč by Jaroslava Grycová, and second place went to Kateřina Kovářová for her quilt Flower Bed. The overall winner of the visitor competition was the quilt From Grandma’s Basket by the Patchfanynky club.

The prizes for the competition were once again donated by the exhibition’s partners—STRIMA Czech, Haišman, BROTHER Sewing Technology, and the PRYM brand.

Jana Štěrbová: Patchwork Must Inspire

Jana Štěrbová, the current Art Director of the exhibition, is the driving force behind the Brno Patchwork Meeting; she was there at the very inception of the project back in 2006 in Prague. “An exhibition needs not only technical infrastructure but also a creative and artistic concept. And that is precisely my role,” said Jana Štěrbová. This year, she also drew attention with her own creative work. Her art quilt *Kapří Svět* was selected among thirty European works for a prestigious exhibition in Chemnitz, Germany—the European Capital of Culture. The work, inspired by Třeboň, the Svět Pond, and the traditional craft of working with carp scales, will be acquired by the city of Třeboň for its museum after the European tour concludes.

According to Jana Štěrbová, the main goal of the exhibition is inspiration. “If visitors go home with a desire to create, to buy new fabrics or a new sewing machine, then the exhibition has served its purpose.”

Patchwork That Made a Difference

The Brno Patchwork Meeting has always had a strong charitable component. This year, the exhibition supported the Ronald McDonald House Czech Republic Foundation, which helps families of seriously ill children stay together during long hospital stays. “Our mission is to ensure that families can be together. That’s the simplest way to put it,” said Hana Nikodémová. The main driving forces behind the event were the ladies from the Bohemia Patchwork Club Prague and the 1st Moravian Patchwork Association, who created original hand-sewn outfits for the foundation’s mascot—the well-known bunny.

Fair director Martin Škarka praised the patchwork community’s long-standing willingness to help. The Brno Patchwork Meeting thus demonstrated once again that patchwork is not just about sewing, but also about solidarity and humanity.

BPM SWAP: A Second Chance for Clothing

This year’s program also included BPM SWAP—a space for exchanging clothing, shoes, toys, and household items. Visitors could give their items a second chance while taking home new and interesting pieces. SWAP naturally aligned with the philosophy of patchwork—creating meaningfully, sustainably, and with respect for both materials and people. Additionally, everyone who brought clothing received a ticket to the fair itself.

Brno Remains the European Center of Patchwork

This year, the Brno Patchwork Meeting once again confirmed its exceptional standing on the European textile art scene. It brought together leading artists, experts, exhibitors, and thousands of visitors who came seeking inspiration, new techniques, and a chance to connect with the community.

As Jana Štěrbová says: “A quilt loves daylight.” And it is precisely Pavilion A and the Brno Exhibition Center that have remained the place where textile art has been given the space to truly shine.