Final Two Weeks of Early Bird Pricing for the Maker City Summit
January 31 – February 1, 2026
Early Bird tickets are available for The Maker City Summit, a weekend gathering of makers, dreamers, and doers. For the past decade, this Summit has been a space to share ideas, build businesses, and celebrate Knoxville’s creative spirit.
This year’s theme is 10 Years of Making Space.
Space for creativity. Space for community. Space for the next big thing.
What to Expect
The Summit brings together painters, potters, brewers, bakers, performers, fabricators, and more. Through workshops, keynotes, and breakout sessions, attendees will learn how to grow their business, attract customers, and build sustainable brands. Whether you’re a seasoned entrepreneur or just getting started, there’s a seat saved for you.
Keynote Speakers
The Maker City is proud to welcome an extraordinary lineup of keynote speakers whose influence extends across design, culture, entrepreneurship, and community building.
Debbie Millman – A designer, educator, writer, and brand consultant whose influence has been felt globally. Millman hosts the award-winning podcast Design Matters, co-founded the first-ever Master’s in Branding program at the School of Visual Arts, and serves as President Emeritus of AIGA. Her work in branding and cultural commentary has guided generations of creative professionals to lean into meaning, purpose and design that lasts.
Phillip Collins – Founder of the platform Good Black Art, Collins is a marketer, entrepreneur, collector and advocate who has built new pathways in the art world for emerging Black creators. Born in Oak Ridge and based in New York, his global experience spans marketing, curation and cultural equity all channelled into making meaningful art-ownership accessible.
Sarah Sewell – Founder of Flourish, an e-commerce training community for product-based business owners, Sewell leverages 15+ years of experience in online retail and creative entrepreneurship to help makers turn their passions into sustainable businesses. Her down-to-earth style and practical guidance make strategy feel personal and possible.
James Victore – Artist, designer, author and educator whose bold, boundary-pushing work appears in the collections of the Museum of Modern Art and other institutions. Known for his provocative yet generous voice, Victore teaches creatives how to embrace authenticity, risk and their “weirdness” in service of powerful work and purposeful careers.
Breakout Session Topics
Led by proven business professionals, this year’s sessions will give makers the insights and tools to thrive in a rapidly changing creative landscape.
- eCommerce – Sell smarter and reach wider audiences.
- AI: Intellectual Property & Where Creative Worlds Collide – Protecting creative work in the digital age.
- Trendspotting – Keeping an eye on what’s next for maker promotions.
- Build It Right: Business Structures – Choosing the right foundation for growth.
- Bots & Boundaries – Setting limits while embracing automation.
- Ideas, Ideas, Ideas – Sparking and sustaining creativity.
- 10-Year Arc – Reflecting on a decade of Knoxville’s maker movement.
- AI Automations: Should vs. Should Not – Making smart choices about new tools.
Event Information
WHAT: 2026 Maker City Summit
WHEN/WHERE: January 29 – February 1, 2026
Friday, January 29 5:30 PM – Maker Soirée & 10-Year Celebration at Able Trade
Saturday, January 30 & Sunday, February 1 – The Maker Exchange, at WFP
PRICING:
Early Bird (until October 31): $85
General Admission: $95
Day-of Admission: $115
Student Tickets: 50% off (contact hello@themakercity.org for code)
Scholarships: Available upon request
The Maker City Summit is more than a conference. It’s a celebration of creativity, connection, and community.
