If you’ve been part of the woodturning world for a while, you might be familiar with the annual symposium hosted by the American Association of Woodturners (AAW). If you’re not aware of this wonderful affair, let us introduce you to one of the largest woodturning events in the world! Read on for some answers to common questions about the AAW Woodturning Symposium.
The AAW Woodturning Symposium is a gathering where woodturners of all levels of expertise come together to share their passion for the craft. The symposium boasts a line-up of more than 80 demonstrations from woodturners around the world. This year, there are demonstrators coming from nearby—some even from Minnesota—but also from Colorado, South Carolina, Canada, Germany, England, and France, as well as many other places.
These demonstrators will be presenting on topics like bowl and plate turning, pen and spindle turning, and hollow forms. There will also be specialty demonstrations on things like sculpting, embellishment, and segmenting. These demonstrations would be a wonderful place for any woodturner to learn something new and level up their skills.
It is also worth noting that, if you are unable to attend in person, virtual options will be available for 20 of the 80 demonstrations. Livestreaming will take place June 13-15, and recordings of those demonstrations will be available to watch until September 24, 2025. Last year, more than 2000 people attended in person, and another 1000 participated online. Don’t wait to join this wonderful community of woodworkers!
The symposium is open to anyone who has an interest in woodworking or woodturning. Many events, like the Instant Gallery and Trade Show, are free and open to the public, while other events, geared toward more experienced woodturners, require a paid registration.
There are also some family-friendly events, including a free youth program, where children ages 10-18 can learn to use a lathe. Youth are able to enter this program if they attend the symposium with an adult who is a paid registrant. Advanced registration is required for the youth program.
Registration for the symposium opened on April 11, so don’t wait to get your tickets. And big news: The AAW just extended the early bird deadline by two weeks! You now have until Friday, April 25 to save an extra $50 on registration.
The event itself will take place June 12-15. On Thursday, June 12, registration starts at 3pm and welcome remarks will take place at 5pm. There will also be a preview of the Trade Show on Thursday evening. The main events, however, start on Friday, June 13, at 8am. There will be several concurrent demonstrations to choose from in each time slot, as well as a panel option, and demonstrations run until 5pm both Friday, June 13, and Saturday, June 14. Each evening, social events will take place after 5pm.
The Symposium wraps up on Sunday, June 15, at 12pm, after morning demonstrations.
Each year, this event is held in different regions of the United States. This year, for the first time in ten years, the AAW Woodturning Symposium is being held in the Midwest, in our own backyard, at the Saint Paul RiverCentre in Saint Paul, Minnesota!
Local woodturners couldn’t ask for a more convenient and accessible location to learn more about woodturning and see what others in the woodturning world are up to, and those traveling from great distances will hopefully enjoy the location as well as the event.
The Saint Paul RiverCentre is located a short walk from the host hotels and the Gallery of Wood Art, which includes a vintage lathe collection, historic pieces, and a gift store featuring regional artists. The RiverCentre is also next to the Roy Wilkins Auditorium, Xcel Energy Center, and the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts.
There are many options for registration, as woodturners will have different interests and needs when it comes to attending the symposium. If you are already an AAW member, you can register for the Member Registration, which allows participants access to all 80 demonstrations as well as every other event happening during the three-day period, as well as the online recordings of the virtual demonstrations.
If you are not an AAW member but have been considering it, now might be a good time to purchase the Non-member Registration, as it includes a year-long AAW membership in addition to the registration for the symposium. That way, you can attend the symposium and then see if the AAW membership is a fit for you!
There is a discount for group registration, so if you have some woodturning friends who would like to register as a part of a local chapter, you can receive $40 off the original price. And if you aren’t part of a local chapter, now might be the time to join one, both for the discount and for the camaraderie and connection you will gain with other like-minded woodworkers.
There are also options for a spouse or partner to register for the event, or for a woodturner to purchase a single-day admission. You can also choose to attend just the banquets and award ceremonies, if that is something that interests you (or perhaps this option might interest a loved one who wants to see you earn an award but doesn’t want to attend the other events of the symposium.)
Students and youth can register for a discounted price, and the best news of all is that registration for the Tradeshow, Exhibitions, and Gallery is free for the public! This might be a great time to bring along a friend or family member who is interested in woodturning but who does not need all the particulars that will be included in the demonstrations. Note that those who are attending the free events will still need to register for free admission, as these events require a wristband.
All registration can be done through the AAW Woodturning Symposium website. Contact information for the AAW can also be found at this site if you have any questions.
Perhaps one of the most exciting things about the AAW Woodturning Symposium is the Instant Gallery. It is called this because every registered (paid) attendee is welcome to bring three pieces to display. This results in a huge number of unique pieces being exhibited for others to examine.
If you are interested in selling your pieces, you can also do that from the Instant Gallery. When you register your pieces, you will include your price and contact information, and interested parties can contact you directly. This might be a good place to gauge interest in your items if you have never done so before.
Woodturners can also sign up for critiques on their pieces displayed in the Instant Gallery. There are certain critiques called Intimate Critiques, which are conducted in a one-on-one format. You can sign up for a timeslot during the lunch break on Friday or Saturday, during which you will meet with an experienced woodturner or curator.
There is also a generalized critique that takes place on Sunday morning, during which about 25 pieces will be chosen for examination. Anyone can opt in to the critique by checking the box on their registration form, but this does not necessarily mean that your piece(s) will be critiqued, depending on the number of people who “enter” the evaluation, which is conducted by a panel of professional woodturners and artists.
There are a number of special exhibits in addition to the instant gallery, so be sure to check some of them out!
Each year, the AAW Woodturning Symposium includes a Professional Outreach Program (POP), which is an international event that showcases both well-known and rising artists from around the world. There is also a POP artists exhibition that features two upcoming artists and their work. These artists will also speak during the Artist Showcase panel discussion.
Additionally, there is a POP Merit Award Show, which features work from whoever earned the POP Merit award at the previous symposium. This award honors the careers of professional woodturners and their impact on other woodturners.
All of these special POP exhibits are free and open to the public.
The AAW Member Exhibition features work from woodturners who are members of the American Association of Woodturners. These woodturners have the opportunity to earn two awards: the Master’s Choice award or the People’s Choice award.
There is also a Live Auction comprised of work donated by members of the AAW. You can donate items if you wish by filling out a donation form at the Instant Gallery registration desk. Proceeds go to funding AAW projects.
The exhibition and auction are also both free and open to the public, so there is plenty to see and do even if you or your family members are not paid attendees.
The trade show is another general admission or free event. At the trade show, you’ll find vendors showcasing new woodworking and woodturning equipment. You can also find wood, tools, and other supplies you might need for woodturning. Vendors and manufacturers will be on hand to answer questions, and many offer special discounts during the symposium, as well as giveaways!
If you are coming to the trade show, be sure to stop and see us there. Hunter Tools Systems will have a booth with many of our special carbide tools on display. The AAW Symposium website wrote an article about about Mike and his woodturning journey, as well as his recommendations for other things to see in St. Paul, but it has since been removed from their website.
In addition to the galleries and exhibitions, there are a few different social events, if that is something that piques your interest! The Tradeshow and Gallery Hall will host opening receptions that include hors d’oeuvres and drinks, and there will be social receptions on Friday and Saturday evenings. At the Friday and Saturday receptions, light refreshments and a cash bar will be available so you can relax and mingle with other woodturners.
There will also be a banquet that includes a keynote presentation, awards ceremony, and silent auction, but this social event requires a paid ticket. Awards include the AAW’s Honorary Lifetime Member, POP Merit Award Artist, Chapter accomplishments, and AAW Member Exhibition Master’s Choice and People’s Choice winners.
If you can’t make this year’s Symposium, we’ll miss you, but there’s always next year! The 2026 Symposium is slated to be held in Raleigh, North Carolina on June 4-7. The committee is accepting applications for next year’s demonstrations and Professional Outreach Program (POP) artists, so if you think you have something special to share with the wood-turning world, don’t hesitate to apply!
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