Past eventHeld October 7–9, 2026
SOAR Summit 2026
Appalachia's premier event where leaders, entrepreneurs, educators, employers, policymakers, students, and community champions from Eastern Kentucky gather to build together.
The Corbin Arena and the Corbin Center, Corbin, Kentucky
- Held
- October 7–9, 2026
- Venue
- The Corbin Arena and the Corbin Center, Corbin, Kentucky
- Attendance
- 1,200+ attendees
TL;DR
- SOAR Summit 2026 took place October 7–9 at The Corbin Arena and the Corbin Center in Corbin, Kentucky.
- The event was billed as bringing together over 1,200 leaders, entrepreneurs, educators, employers, policymakers, students, and community champions from across Eastern Kentucky.
- Programming included the EKY Experience interactive showcase, TenTalk storytelling sessions, and FOCUS Sessions participant-driven workshops.
About
SOAR Summit is Appalachia's premier event where people doing work across Eastern Kentucky come to build together, sharing real solutions and driving progress. The event is organized by SOAR with major regional sponsors including Appalachian Regional Healthcare, Appalachian Wireless, the Appalachian Regional Commission, KCTCS, and University of the Cumberlands.
Who was in the room
Leaders
Business, nonprofit, and government leaders from Eastern Kentucky
Entrepreneurs
Founders and small business owners
Educators
K-12 and higher education professionals
Employers
Human resources and talent leaders
Policymakers
State and local government officials
Students
College and emerging professionals
Community Champions
Civic and nonprofit sector leaders
Featured speakers
1 listedJohn Sitilides
Partners on record
5 listedVenue & travel
Venue
The Corbin Arena and the Corbin CenterGetting there
Located in Corbin, Kentucky, in the heart of Eastern Kentucky's development corridor.
Questions people ask
8 answeredSOAR Summit 2026 took place October 7–9, 2026.
SOAR Summit took place at The Corbin Arena and the Corbin Center in Corbin, Kentucky.
SOAR Summit 2026 was billed as drawing over 1,200 attendees.
The summit convenes leaders, entrepreneurs, educators, employers, policymakers, students, and community champions from Eastern Kentucky.
The EKY Experience was an interactive showcase presented by Appalachian Regional Healthcare, billed as featuring entrepreneurs, innovators, small businesses, community organizations, and partners shaping Eastern Kentucky's future.
TenTalk was a fast-paced storytelling experience presented by Appalachian Wireless and the Appalachian Regional Commission, billed as one where speakers share two slides, their passion, and a message that matters.
It is most useful for Eastern Kentucky entrepreneurs, educators, employers and community leaders who want local contacts and practical ideas, since it reported more than 1,200 attendees and included participant-driven FOCUS Sessions and the EKY Experience showcase. Attendees from outside Appalachia or investors seeking a national audience would get less, as the program and sponsors such as Appalachian Regional Healthcare, Appalachian Wireless and KCTCS are regional.
Community and economic development gatherings in small-town Kentucky usually see business casual, with comfortable shoes for an arena and showcase setting and a jacket for October mornings.
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