Ontario
Artspace Book and Zine Fest
(Peterborough, Ontario)
Canzine:
Festival of Zines and Underground Culture
Currently held in Toronto, Vancouver, Winnipeg (along with the Anarchist Bookfair), and Calgary
Hamilton Comic Con
"features exhibitors, comic books, movie cars, cosplay contests, celebrity autographs and photo-ops, so much more!"
(Not a free event)
Indigenous Comics Symposium
"The UTSC English Department, in collaboration with the University of Manitoba and Indigenous publishers Highwater Press and Kegedonce Press, are excited to present an all-day symposium on Indigenous Comics."
Kazoo! Festival
"Supporting emerging musicians and building community by creating inclusive and diversely curated experiences that connect artists and audiences." (Guelph, Ontario)
London Comic Con
Takes place at RBC Place, London Ontario Canada. "London Comic Con is the largest Pop Culture celebration in SW Ontario showcasing Hollywood Celebrities, Comic Books and Creators and fandom genres of Cosplay, Sci-Fi, Anime, Horror and Gaming."
Toronto Asian Zine Fair
Created to provide Asian Artists a space to showcase their work and voice.
TCAF: Toronto Comic Arts Festival
Every springtime at the Toronto Reference Library
Toronto Comicon
"Located in the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, the show will be boasting unique exhibitors, presentations, workshops, and many celebrity guests."
(Not a free event)
Toronto Queer Zine Fair
"Seeks to make space for traditionally marginalized voices in the zine community. "
Windsor Zine Fair
"Zines, Papercraft & DIY Culture in Windsor, Ontario."
Instagram
The Word On The Street:
Toronto Book and Magazine Festival
Not exclusively for comics, but nevertheless celebrates literature, literacy, and community, and features several Canadian comics publishers and cartoonists.
Zine Dream: Small Press Art Fair
Takes place in Toronto, Ontario
British Columbia
Canzine Vancouver
https://brokenpencil.com/category/canzine-vancouver-news/
VanCAF: Vancouver Comic Arts Festival
Fan Expo Vancouver
"three day pop culture event in Vancouver, BC, running in the Fall. The event is brought to you by the same team that produces the long-running FAN EXPO Canada event in Toronto."
(Not a free event)
Capital City Comic Con
(Victoria, BC)
Alberta
Canzine Calgary
https://brokenpencil.com/category/canzine-calgary-news/
Calgary Expo
"a place for fans from every corner of the nerd universe to gather and celebrate what makes them geeky in a positive, safe, and elevating environment – science fiction, comic books, film, television, horror, fantasy, animation, pop culture, and so much more!"
(Not a free event)
Edmonton Expo
"a three-day pop-culture convention held in annually in Edmonton, Alberta at the Expo Centre. Attendees can shop hundreds of vendors and exhibitors, check out panels and workshops, meet their favourite stars and creators, and celebrate what makes them geeky with thousands of other fans in cosplay."
(Not a free event)
Panel One Comics Creators Festival
A festival that showcases Canadian cartoonists, and includes children's programming for families! (Calgary, AB)
Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan Entertainment Expo
"We are bringing in exciting North American television and movie entertainers, as well as pop culture and comic book creators to provide a cultural experience in Saskatchewan that has yet to be attempted on this scale."
(Not a free event)
Manitoba
Canzine Winnipeg
https://brokenpencil.com/canzine-winnipeg/
Filipino Canadian Comics Symposium
Took place March 18, 2022 and included a free online event with creator panels, giveaways, and more.
Prairie Comics Festival
Lovely comics festival that takes place at Winnipeg’s Millennium Library.
Winnipeg Comic Con
"Winnipeg Comiccon was launched in the fall of 2019. While this will be our first venture in Central Canada, over the last 15 years, our organization has hosted over 40 pop culture conventions in Ottawa, Montreal, and Quebec City. This annual event dedicated to pop culture takes the form of a fan convention with multi-genre content: comic books, sci-fi, horror, anime, video games and the entertainment world."
(Not a Free Event)
Quebec
Expozine
"Montreal’s annual small press fair, is Canada’s largest and one of North America’s largest too! Over the course of one weekend each fall, some 270+ different vendors and creators of all kinds of publications (in both English and French) present and sell their works to some 15 000 visitors."
FBDM: Festival BD de Montréal (Montreal Comic Arts Festival)
Montreal Comic Con
"Interested in participating? Pop-culture fan convention that showcases sci-fi, horror, anime, video games, tabletop games and comic books, everything is there
(Not a free event)
Quebec City Comic Con
"Over the past five years, Quebec City Comiccon has evolved into the capital’s most anticipated destination for fans of bandes dessinées, comics, video games, movies and television, anime and everything related to world of fantasy fiction."
(Not a free event)
Nova Scotia
Dartmouth Comic Arts Festival
"a FREE all-ages event celebrating comics & cartooning! Come meet dozens of artists and vendors as they display and sell their wondrous wares at this annual event."
Hal Con
Since 2010, this community-focused conference has brought some of the biggest names in the sci-fi, fantasy and gaming world to Halifax, Nova Scotia.
(Not a free event)
New Brunswick
East Coast Comic Expo
"East Coast Comic Expo is an all-ages convention organized by dedicated Fanboys and Fangirls to celebrate comic books and comic book culture. We'll have industry professional writers & artists joining us to celebrate, along with local vendors and many talented local creators and artisans as well." (Moncton, NB)
SappyFest
"a community-run organization led by a volunteer Board of Directors. We promote art and culture in Sackville, New Brunswick, and Atlantic Canada, focusing on the organization and presentation of Sappyfest, a three-day music and arts festival. The annual festival brings the community together to experience a multi-disciplinary program of regional, national, and international artists. Built on a foundation of non-hierarchical programming, Sappyfest facilitates meaningful conversations and lasting connections between artists and audiences of all ages and backgrounds. We provide employment and volunteer opportunities for students and young people, creating valuable experiences within the arts and cultural sector."
More resources for comics festivals across Canada and elsewhere!
Angoulême International Comics Festival
(Angoulême, France)
Bluestockings Digital Comics Fest
"Join us for our Digital Comics Fest spotlighting zines, comics, panel discussions, and workshops from queer and trans people and sex workers!"
Canada Comic Con
"Your key to access geeky fandom across the provinces"
(Generally, not a free event)
Canadian Fan Cons
Schedule of various Canadian comic conventions and expos
(Generally, not a free event)
Indie Comix Fest
(Mumbai, India)
Fan Expo Canada
"The largest Comics, Sci-fi, Horror, Anime, and Gaming event in Canada and the 3rd largest Pop Culture event in North America."
(Not a free event)
Festival Workers Association
"a group of artists, publishers, festival organizers/staff, and their allies. We want to make festivals better by identifying the challenges they pose for art workers. Our focus is to build solidarity, and ultimately create more transparent, inclusive systems for vending events. We believe in the future and better alternatives. We're non-hierarchical, anti-racist, and queer-friendly. We welcome your thoughts, participation, and support."
USA Festivals
CAKE Chicago Alternative Comics Expo
(Chicago)
Cartoon Crossroads Columbus
(Columbus, Ohio)
FLUKE
(Athens, Georgia)
Indie Comic & Art Expo
(Denver, Colorado)
Indigenous Comic Con
(Abq,NM, Nov., 2018)
Massachusetts Independent Comics Expo
(Boston, MA)
MOCCA Arts Festival
(New York, NY)
Short Run Comix and Arts Festival
(Seattle)
SPX
(Bethesda, Maryland)
Submit festival resource!