Before digging into the apps and shows, here are a couple resources (if you’re not familiar with them) to amplify your comic making or zine archival knowledge.
Sequential Artist Workshop, a nonprofit arts org based in Gainesville, FL, offers online and in-person programs. Most notably are their 6-month and year-long graphic novel intensive programs which are available on a sliding scale, and can be great motivators for anyone who wants to get a long-term projects off the ground (regardless of your skill-level or history with the medium). SAW also offers free workshops online every Friday, led by a different artist every week.
Next is the Library of Virginia’s digital zine collection which also includes links to other zine resources, including a not very updated list of fests, but some cool books about zines, and a link to ZineLibraries.
Finally, returning to last month’s spotlight: ZineMap has added an event tab on their map! Be sure to check it out and support this free, open resource.
Show Applications
At least, these are the applications we could find! But, you can find more on The Show List using the season predictor columns.
Heavy Manners Zine Fair (Los Angeles, CA, April 11, 12) apps due by March 2
South Bend Zine Fest (South Bend, IN, June 13) apps due by March 9
A2CAF (Ann Arbor, MI June 13-14), call for comic vendors due by March 14 (kids & family-friendly event) A2CAF has two events, one in summer and one in fall
Small Press Expo (Bethesda, MD, September 12, 13) lottery open until March 15
Street Cat Zine Fest (Chillicothe, OH, July 11) apps due by March 22
Cboro Zine Fest (Chapel Hill/Carrboro, NC, May 3) apps due by March 23
Santa Fe Zine Fest (Santa Fe, NM, May 30) apps due by March 25
PictoBeach Bazaar (Rockaway Beach, Queens, September 19) apps due by April 3
Berkeley Springs Art Book Fair (Berkeley Springs, WV, June 6) apps due by April 3
Denver Comic Arts Festival (Denver, CO, May 9) apps due by April 10
Athens Art Book Fair (Athens, GA, June 26, 27) apps due by April 26
Los Angeles Anarchist Book Fair (Los Angeles, CA, April 25, 26) apps due by April 1
Dublin Comic Arts Festival (Dublin, Ireland, April, July, October, and November) apps rolling depending on event date
Denver Zine Fest (Denver, CO, September 13), apps run April 6 - May 31
Shows to Attend
This definitely isn’t every show happening in the Spring of 2026, but it’s what’s currently on the radar for applications and you can find more on The Show List (button below)
Portland Small Press & Art Book Fair (Portland, OR, March 5-7)
Western Mass Zine Fest (North Adams, MA, March 7)
Riso Expo Philly (Philadelphia, PA March 8)
Flemington Zine Fest (Flemington, NJ March 14)
P.I.E. (Pittsburgh, PA, March 15)
SPACE (Columbus, OH, March 28-29)
FLUKE Comics & Zine Fest (Athens, GA, March 28)
Reed Zine Fest (Portland, OR, March 28)
Tucson Zine Fest (Tucson, AZ, March 28)
Tally Zine Fest (Tallahassee, FL, March 28 )
Zine Jamboree (Ypsilanti, MI, March 28)
Toronto Zine Library’s Paper Jam (March 28)
Miami Zine Fair (Miami, FL, April 1)
Zine Machine (San Marcos, TX, April 4)
LV NM Zine Fest (Las Vegas New Mexico, April 10, 11)
STAPLE (Austin, TX, April 11, 12)
Super Exclusive Expo (Chicago, IL, April 11, 2026)
Gainesville Arts & Zine Expo (GAZE, formerly Panel Palooza, Gainesville, FL, April 11)
Heavy Manners Zine Fair (Los Angeles, CA, April 11, 12)
S.P.I.C.E. (Savannah, GA, April 17, 18)
Brooklyn Independent Comics Showcase (Brooklyn, NY, April 18, 19)
Lancaster Zine Fest (Lancaster, PA, April 18)
Milwaukee Zine Fest (Milwaukee, WI, April 18)
Luna Moth Zine Fest (Manchester, NH, April 18)
Anchor Archive Zine Library Fest (Canada, April 18)
Print and Resist (Madison, WI, April 25)
Paper Hearts Zine Fest (Decatur, GA, April 26)
CAKE (Chicago, IL, May 2-3)
Santa Rosa Zine Fest (Santa Rosa, CA May 2
Flint Zine Fest (Flint, MI May 2)
Montreal Comic Arts Festival (Montreal, CA, May 15-17)
Fanzineist Vienna (Vienna, Austria, May 22-24)
Olympia Zine Fest (Olympia, WA, May 30)
Bubbles Con (Richmond, VA, May 30)
VANCAF (Vancouver, CA, July 4-5)
Brooklyn Art Book Fair (Brooklyn, NY, July 10-12)
Midwest Perzine Fest (Chicago, IL, July 11)
Prairie Comics Festival (Winnipeg, Manitoba, Sept 5-6)
Thought Bubble Comic Convention (Yorkshire, UK November 9-15)
Other Opportunities
No dates set yet, but FY27 grants from the Illinois Arts Council will open this year. This is one of few state arts councils that offers grants to individual artists (no 501©3 required)
Ohio Arts Council grants (also available to individual artists) are open with deadlines in March, and April
GEIST Magazine call for submissions due by March 12, 2026
Pile Press has open submissions for short fiction, poetry, comics, photography, and art. This bi-annual journal is for women and non-binary creatives. Deadline is March 15, 2026
Call For Publishing Nerds! Book/Zine Reviews wanted by Wild Ramp Publishing, deadline March 31, 2026
RisoLAB Residency! Applications for the 2026-27 AIR program are open! All applications are due by 11:59 PM on April 5th, 2026
Pile Press submissions are open through March 15 for their current journal, with the title/theme CHUNK
Cornish Center For Cartoon Studies Residency Fellowship applications are now open. Residency dates: October 16-November 16, 2026. Application deadline is April 3rd.
Now Place Art & Publishing/Community Residency application is open through March 10. The residency runs from April through July in San Francisco, CA.
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