Enter the 2026 AQC Challenge

A judged quilt competition Sponsored by Expertise Events Pty Ltd RULES, TERMS AND CONDITIONS Judging will be based on: 1. interpretation of theme 2. excellence in design 3. craftsmanship DEADLINE FOR ONLINE ENTRIES: February 5, 2026 FIRST PRIZE: $3,500 cash RUNNER-UP PRIZE: $1,500 cash VIEWERS’ CHOICE: $500 cash Please note there is a $30 entry fee for each quilt entered in the challenge. AQC CHALLENGE RULES 1) The theme of the 2026 competition is ‘Connections’ 2) There is one category only. 3) Entry is open to all. 4) Entries can either be based on a traditional or contemporary design that reflects and interprets the theme ‘Connections’. 5) The entry must have been completed between July 2025 and the deadline. 6) All entries must be original. If the entrant has drawn inspiration from another artwork such as a photograph, that source must be acknowledged in the entry form. If the entrant has drawn inspiration from copyright artwork it is the entrant’s responsibility to secure permission from the copyright holder to use the artwork as inspiration in their entry. Expertise Events Pty Ltd has no responsibility or liability if an entrant contravenes copyright; this liability and responsibility will be entirely held by the entrant. 7) An entrant may apply any techniques including piecing, appliqué, embroidery, whole cloth and/or manipulated fabric, etc. Any materials may be used, but the final result must be flexible in nature and consist of three layers of fabric held together with stitching. 8) Each entry must measure 90cm (36in) square – a 2cm variance is allowed. 9) Each entry must have an 8cm strip of Velcro hook tape attached to the top back edge and the bottom back edge, in each corner, of the quilt. NO hanging sleeve is required. 10) A label with the entrant’s name, address, telephone number and email must be securely sewn to the back of the quilt. 11) Each entrant may submit up to two quilts. 12) All entries must be submitted via online entry form on the Australasian Quilt Convention website www.aqc.com.au no later than February 5, 2026. Judging: All juried quilts will be called for, then a panel of three judges will then select approximately 30 finalists upon seeing the actual quilts. The organisers reserve the right to decide which quilts will be included in the exhibition. The judges’ decision is final. The organisers reserve the right to refuse any work that does not match the images submitted to the judges. Any work which requires special hanging conditions, or includes delicate or fragile embellishments, sharp or dangerous objects or which cannot be easily folded will not be selected. Digital Images: Each entrant must send two high res (please ensure file size is between 2MB and 4MB each) jpgs for each quilt entered. One must be a full view of the quilt and the other must be a clear and close-up view showing the details of the work. All images must be submitted electronically via the online entry form. There must not be any modifications including any colour correction. Entrants must identify each individual digital image with his/her surname and quilt title in that order. Digital images submitted will be used for the initial jury selection and publicity and promotion and all other purposes as Expertise Events Pty Ltd see fit in their absolute discretion. The finalists’ quilts may also be photographed for publicity and promotional purposes. Copyright & Moral Rights: The entrant retains copyright in the quilt and the photographs which the entrant submits with their entry save and except that the entrant grants Expertise Events Pty Ltd the right to reproduce the digital photographs submitted for the purposes of the internal judging process and/or publicity and promotion. By entering the competition an entrant gives permission to Expertise Events Pty Ltd (Expertise Events) to photograph their quilt and agrees and acknowledges that all copyright in the photographs that Expertise Events take of an entrant’s quilt both current and future in time is that of Expertise Events. The entrant further grants to Expertise Events a licence to produce, reproduce and publish in whole or part throughout the world an entrant’s statement as is submitted on the entry form which may be used in articles, ads, promotions, catalogues, books, websites, CDs, current event news coverage, television productions, and/or multimedia productions for and about the Australasian Quilt Convention, special exhibit ‘AQC Challenge’ at other craft events organised by Expertise Events or for and about quilting and creativity in perpetuity from time to time. Insurance: Any insurance cover required is the responsibility of the entrant for delivery to Expertise Events or whilst in transit throughout the competition and return delivery back to the entrant at the end of the competition. Quilts will not be covered under any insurance policy of Expertise Events. Should the quilt owner require insurance against theft, damage or other misadventure, this is solely the responsibility of the entrant and the entrant should effect such insurances as they require. Entry Deadline: All completed entry forms and digital images must be submitted no later than February 5, 2026. There is a $30 entry fee for each quilt entered in the challenge. Length of exhibit: The participating quilts must be available for nine months, from March 2026 to end December 2026 and will remain in the possession of Expertise Events for this period. Quilts will be returned to entrants in December 2026. Venues for the exhibition include: Australasian Quilt Convention, Melbourne April 9 – 12, 2026 and selected Craft & Quilt Fairs around Australia. Any other venues shall be notified at a later date by Expertise Events. Dates and venues may change and details will be advised. Who can enter: An entrant’s quilt may be the work of more than one person as long as all parties who contribute to it are nominated on the entry form as being the entrant. There is a limit of two entries per person or group. Full-time employees of Expertise Events or its subsidiaries are not eligible to enter. It will be up to the entrant to make an enquiry with Expertise Events on 02 9452 7575 or aqc@expertiseevents.com.au to ensure receipt of delivery. SENDING QUILTS FOR FINALIST SELECTION, JUDGING & PHOTOGRAPHY Deadline for receiving quilts: Juried entrants will be asked to send their quilt for finalist selection. The selected works must be sent by the entrant, at his or her own expense, to arrive no later than: February 25, 2026 at the offices of Expertise Events, PO Box 236, Frenchs Forest NSW 1640 Australia. If sent by courier, use the physical street address: Expertise Events, Unit 4 No. 1 Skyline Place, Frenchs Forest NSW 2086 Australia. Non-finalists entries will be returned. Packing and transport of entries: Quilt entries must be able to be folded and packed flat for transport. The promoters of this competition will not accept any entry which requires special handling, special packing or specific transportation. All quilts will be packed in cases for transport for the duration of the tour. Shipping information: Complete shipping information will be sent when an entry is juried into the finalist selection group. Entries must not include seeds or other unprocessed plant material or unprocessed animal material such as shells, raw wool, feathers and so on, which is prohibited under Australian quarantine/customs laws. Entries sent from outside Australia must include paperwork to satisfy customs requirements and be labeled as exhibition display goods of low/no commercial value. PLEASE DO NOT SEND ACTUAL QUILTS UNLESS NOTIFIED. INITIAL JURIED SELECTION OF QUILTS WILL BE SENT IN FOR FINALIST SELECTION. IMPORTANT DATES TO NOTE: AQC 2026: April 9 to 12 February 5, 2026 Closing date for online entry February 11, 2026 Notification of juried entrants to send actual quilt entries for finalist selection February 25, 2026 Deadline for receiving quilts juried in for judging April, 2026 Non-finalists entries will be returned April 8, 2026 Announcement of the first and runner-up prize winners April 13, 2026 Announcement of winner of Viewers’ Choice December, 2026 Quilts returned to owners