When people register for a conference, they often think about the agenda.
- The speakers.
- The sessions.
- The workshops.
And those things matter. But ask someone what they remember most after attending a great event, and you’ll often hear a different answer.
- A conversation.
- A connection.
- An idea.
- A relationship.
- An opportunity they didn’t see coming.
Sometimes the most valuable thing you take home isn’t something you learned from a stage. It’s someone you met.
Connections Create Opportunity
Across Eastern Kentucky, progress has always been driven by people working together.
- A business owner finds a new partner.
- A community leader discovers a successful program they can bring home.
- An educator connects with an employer.
- A nonprofit finds a collaborator.
- A student meets a mentor.
These moments happen when people come together.
That is one of the reasons the SOAR Summit has become Appalachia’s Premier Event.
Every year, the Summit creates opportunities for people from different industries, communities, and backgrounds to connect around a shared commitment to the future of Eastern Kentucky.
More Than an Agenda
The 2026 SOAR Summit, presented by Appalachian Wireless and the Appalachian Regional Commission, has been intentionally designed to create opportunities for engagement.
Attendees will experience:
Practical Workshops
Learn from people implementing solutions and creating impact across Eastern Kentucky.
The Return of TenTalks
Hear bold ideas and fresh perspectives from Eastern Kentuckians who are helping shape what’s next.
The EKY Experience
Explore an immersive showcase of innovation, talent, culture, industries, and opportunity from across the region.
Expanded Networking Opportunities
Connect with leaders, educators, entrepreneurs, employers, students, nonprofit organizations, and community members who share a passion for building a stronger Eastern Kentucky.
Every aspect of the Summit is designed to encourage learning, collaboration, and connection.
The Value Happens Between Sessions
Some of the most important moments at any Summit are not listed on the agenda.
- They happen during a conversation over coffee.
- While exploring the EKY Experience.
- During a workshop discussion.
- Or when two people realize they care about solving the same challenge.
Those moments often become the beginning of something much bigger.
- A new project.
- A new partnership.
- A new idea.
- A new opportunity.
An idea unearthed at this year’s Summit that may take the stage next year.
Building What’s Next
The challenges facing Eastern Kentucky are real. But so are the opportunities.
Building a stronger region requires more than great ideas.
- It requires relationships.
- Trust.
- Collaboration.
- And people willing to come together around a shared purpose.
That is what the SOAR Summit is designed to do.
Not simply host conversations. But help create the connections that move communities forward.
Join Us in Corbin
The 2026 SOAR Summit will take place October 7–9 in Corbin, Kentucky.
The Summit will conclude with the Principal Officer Plenary Session, presented by the University of the Cumberlands, on the KCTCS Stage at the Corbin Arena.
If you care about the future of Eastern Kentucky, there is a place for you at the Summit.
Registration is now open.
Learn More. Participate. Register.
Because the future won’t build itself, it starts with you.