The 2026 SOAR Summit, presented by Appalachian Wireless and the Appalachian Regional Commission, returns to Corbin, Kentucky, October 7–9, with a renewed focus on what has always mattered most: the people of Eastern Kentucky.
For more than a decade, the SOAR Summit has served as a place where leaders, educators, entrepreneurs, employers, elected officials, students, nonprofit organizations, and community members come together to discuss the future of our region.
Along the way, the Summit has grown into Appalachia’s Premier Event, attracting attendees from across Kentucky and throughout the nation. But growth alone is not the goal.
The purpose of the Summit has never been to simply host a conference.
Its purpose is to create connections, share ideas, strengthen partnerships, and help communities discover practical solutions that can improve lives and expand opportunity across Eastern Kentucky.
As planning began for the 2026 Summit, SOAR listened carefully to feedback from attendees, sponsors, partners, community leaders, and others.
The message was remarkably consistent.
- People wanted more opportunities to hear from the individuals and organizations doing the work right here in Eastern Kentucky.
- They wanted more examples of what is working in communities across the region.
- They wanted practical ideas they could take home and put into action.
- They wanted more opportunities to connect with one another.
- And they wanted a Summit experience that felt intentional, focused, and energizing.
We listened. And we made changes.
This year’s Summit has been intentionally designed to create a more meaningful experience for attendees while staying true to SOAR’s role as a convener, connector, and catalyst for regional progress.
More Eastern Kentucky Voices
One of the most significant shifts for 2026 is a renewed emphasis on showcasing local and regional leadership.
Across Eastern Kentucky, people are solving problems, launching businesses, creating jobs, revitalizing downtowns, supporting students, expanding healthcare access, preserving culture, and building stronger communities.
Those stories deserve a stage. And they’ll do just that at the KCTCS Stage at the Corbin Arena.
The Summit will place a greater emphasis on highlighting the people, organizations, and communities that are creating real impact throughout the region and sharing lessons others can learn from and replicate.
Because some of the most powerful ideas are already happening right here at home.
More Participation, Less Presentation
The 2026 Summit is designed to be more interactive and engaging.
Rather than relying heavily on long presentations and panel discussions, attendees will find more opportunities to participate, ask questions, exchange ideas, and engage in meaningful conversations.
The goal is not simply to provide information.
The goal is to create opportunities for learning, collaboration, and action. Because the best ideas often emerge when people come together to share experiences and perspectives.
More Practical Learning
Attendees consistently told us they wanted content that was actionable.
Not just inspiration.
Not just theory.
Ideas, strategies, and examples they could take back to their communities, organizations, businesses, schools, and agencies.
This year’s programming has been intentionally designed with that goal in mind.
Sessions and workshops will focus on what works, how it works, and how others can adapt successful approaches in their own communities.
The emphasis is on practical solutions that help communities move forward.
More Opportunities to Connect
Some of the most valuable moments at the Summit happen between sessions.
- A conversation over coffee.
- A chance introduction.
- A new partnership.
- An unexpected idea.
Those connections often become the foundation for future projects, investments, collaborations, and opportunities.
The 2026 Summit will include expanded opportunities for networking, relationship building, and engagement throughout the event.
Because strong communities are built through strong relationships.
A Reimagined Experience
This year’s Summit has also been redesigned to create a more focused experience.
The schedule has been streamlined.
Programming has been intentionally curated.
The result is a Summit that is easier to navigate, more engaging to attend, and more impactful for participants.
Every aspect of the event has been designed with one question in mind:
How can we create the greatest value for the people and communities we serve?
New Opportunities to Participate
The 2026 Summit will also offer more opportunities for attendees to contribute directly to the experience.
The return of TenTalks will provide a platform for Eastern Kentuckians to share ideas, innovations, lessons learned, and perspectives that can help shape the future of the region.
The EKY Experience, presented by Appalachian Regional Healthcare, will transform the traditional expo hall into an immersive environment showcasing the innovation, talent, culture, industries, and opportunities that make Eastern Kentucky unique.
These experiences are designed to ensure that attendees are not simply observing the future of Eastern Kentucky.
They are helping build it.
Building Eastern Kentucky. Together.
The future of Eastern Kentucky will not be built by one organization.
It will not be built by one community.
And it will not be built by one leader.
It will be built by people willing to share ideas, build relationships, solve problems, and create opportunities together.
That is why this year’s Summit is different.
Because the challenges facing our region are too important for any one person or organization to tackle alone.
And because the opportunities ahead are too significant not to pursue together.
If you care about the future of Eastern Kentucky, there is a place for you at the table.
Join us October 7–9, 2026, in Corbin, Kentucky, for the 2026 SOAR Summit, presented by Appalachian Wireless and the Appalachian Regional Commission.
Registration is now open.
Whether you are a community leader, entrepreneur, educator, student, employer, elected official, nonprofit professional, or simply someone who believes in the future of Eastern Kentucky, we invite you to be part of the conversation and the work ahead.
Learn more. Participate. Register.
Because the future won’t build itself, it starts with you.