El Valencia Comic Book Fair 2026 Once again, Hall 7 of Feria Valencia will become one of the major cultural hubs of the year in Spain. From February 27th to March 1st, thousands of fans, families, and professionals will gather at an event that combines the publishing industry, artistic creation, and creative leisure activities centered around the ninth art.
With more than one hundred national and international authorsWith eleven themed exhibitions, specific spaces for manga, anime, children's and youth comics, board games and role-playing games, as well as a stage dedicated to content creators, the Salon reinforces its identity as a meeting place between generations and cultures, with special attention to African, Asian and Palestinian comics.
Dates, venue and nature of the event
The appointment is celebrated From Friday, February 27th to Sunday, March 1st at Feria Valencia, with Hall 7 as the main exhibition and activity space. For three days, the venue is transformed into an intergenerational meeting point where people from all walks of life come together. European and American comics, manga, anime, webtoons, role-playing and board games, cosplay, and illustrationas well as spaces for publishers, bookstores and author signings.
According to data from the Ministry of Culture, one in seven citizens in Spain consumes comics, and the Valencia Comic Fair is consolidating its position as one of the main showcases of this reading boomThe organization emphasizes that this is an event that combines entertainment with social reflection, dialogue between cultures, and the professionalization of the sector.
The opening hours will be 11 a.m. to 20 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, Y de 11 a.m. to 19 p.m. on Sunday, with a continuous program of talks, signing sessions, competitions, concerts, workshops and book presentations spread across different stages and rooms of the pavilion.
The organization insists that the Salon is not limited to being a great leisure showcase, but has established itself as business platform for the comic book industry, with the presence of invited international publishers, a rights market and professional meetings that go beyond the simple visit of the general public.
Large cast of international authors
One of the main attractions of the Valencia Comic Fair 2026 is the presence of important figures in European, American, African and Asian comicsIn the European sphere, names like the French stand out. David B., which comes with his work Mr. Owl and the Land of the Dead; Pierre Alary, Author of Don Vega; the German Ulli Lust, that shows Woman as humanity. At the beginning of history, the first comic book to win the German Non-Fiction Book Prize; and the Italians Lelio Bonaccorso, Teresa Radice y Stefano Turconi, linked to historical and adventure titles.
Thanks to the Valencian publishing house Graphic PlatformThe Salon will also feature Czech authors Tereza Drahonovská y Štěpánka Jislová, responsible for the graphic novel Bald spotFrom the United States, one of the featured guests is Rosemary Valero-O'Connell, an illustrator based between Zaragoza and Minneapolis, known for titles such as Laura Dean has dumped me again and for its illustrated adaptation of Carmilla by Sheridan Le Fanu.
From Asia comes the Korean woman Yudori, Author of Children of the Empirewho participates in both the general program and the activities of the Asia Zone. Alongside her is the author of Chinese descent Quan Zhou Wu It is part of several talks where cultural representation and new generations of readers will be discussed.
In the field of African comics, the event will feature Marguerite Abouet, an author originally from Ivory Coast and an international reference thanks to the series Ayaand with the Egyptian creator Mai Koraiemwhose work combines journalistic chronicle and artistic experimentation. Furthermore, the Cameroonian Ejob Nathaniel Ejob will present the application Zebra Comics, a pioneering African webtoon platform that seeks to give prominence to voices from the continent.
Spanish authors and US comics
National representation is especially broad, with leading authors of Spanish graphic novels , the Paco Roca, Cristina Durán, Miguel Ángel Giner Bou, Keko, Kim, Miguel Brieva, Ana Miralles, Candela Sierra, Jaime Martín and brothers Gallego among many others. The presence of these creators will be combined with book signings, meetings with readers, and participation in roundtables.
American-influenced comics will also have a significant presence. Names like David Aja, Guillem March, Jorge Fornés, Daniel Acuña y Fernando Blanco They represent the highlight of the connection between Spanish authors and the American market. Original artwork from Blanco's series will be on display. w0rldtr33, in one of the exhibitions dedicated to his work.
The Hall will also be the setting for interviews and live programs, such as the radio show Territory 9 from Radio 3, which will broadcast from the Valencia Fair itself and will feature the participation of authors such as Rosemary Valero-O'Connell, Miguel Ángel Giner Bou y Toni Caballero, among other guests.
The organizers of the event insist that this extensive list of names consolidates the Valencian event as one of the major gatherings of authors on the European scene, both for the variety of styles and for the mix of established figures and emerging new voices.
AU-K! space and children's and youth programming
One of the major highlights of this edition is the enhanced space AU-K!, specially designed for children and young people. This area hosts presentations, meetings with authors, dramatized readings and activities designed to bring comics closer to young people and their families, with the intention of to consolidate comics as a tool for promoting reading.
Among the main guests, the American stands out. Raina Telgemeier, an absolute benchmark in international young adult comics, winner of several Eisner Awards and a regular on the bestseller lists of New York TimesHe will present his new work in Valencia. The cartoonists' club, made with Scott McCloud.
This children's and youth section is completed by the presence of the New Zealander Kay O'Neill, known for The Tea Dragon Societyand from French Vincent Caut, author of the series AVNIAlong with them will participate national authors such as Pau Clua, linked to the series Xorigat 1; Arkaitz González, Creator of Astrid and her familythe collective Bad life, and Luis Orús, who will present his children's comic I love dinosaurs.
During the three days of the fair, the following activities will be organized: creative and illustration workshops for school children and familieswith activities that encourage the active participation of attendees. These activities are designed to introduce children to the language of comics, enhance their creativity, and reinforce reading habits in a playful way.
In the access area to the Hall, a photocall with comic book covers from Valencian publishers and a superhero-themed photo booth, open to the public, which will allow visitors to take home a photographic souvenir of their visit to the event.
Asia Zone: manga, anime, manhwa and webtoon
La Asia Zone It is once again one of the main driving forces behind the Valencia Comic Fair, with its own dedicated space that It brings together manga, anime, manhwa, and webtoon.In addition to activities related to music, K-pop, and Asian popular culture, the area is structured into several spaces: a main stage, a talk area, and a space dedicated to music and tradition.
The talks will feature both national authors and international guests connected to this phenomenon. Among the prominent names are Toni Caballero, Carles Esquembre, Judit Mallol, Luis Montes, Ricardo Vílbor, Estel·la Ramírez or the illustrator Inthegras, in addition to the one already mentioned Yudori and the author of Chinese descent Quan Zhou WuThe talks will cover topics ranging from the creation of manga in Spain to cultural representation and new trends in digital reading.
Music will have its own significance, with K-pop competitions, the Arenal Kpop Revolution and the Kpop Season 3 Grand Finalwhere groups and solo artists competing throughout the year will perform. The program is rounded out with performances by artists such as Digit and boyband Risin' Starsas well as with screenings and activities related to contemporary Asian culture.
The organization emphasizes that the Asia Zone has consolidated itself as one of the main national references dedicated to Asian pop culture, reflecting a phenomenon that continues to gain followers among new generations of readers and viewers in Spain.
In addition to the strictly recreational aspects, this space incorporates educational activities and meetings with specialized publishers, consolidating bridges between the Spanish market and Asian trends in comics and animation.
Exhibitions: from Valencian comics to global voices
The Valencia Comic Book Fair 2026 program eleven exhibitions which approach graphic storytelling from multiple perspectives. Among them is “Valencia Comic KM0”, an initiative of the Culture Area of the Provincial Council of Valencia that traces the origins of comics and different formats of visual storytelling produced in the city and its surroundings, highlighting the importance of the local scene.
Another notable example is “Contes y llegendes valencianes”, curated by Jordi Peidro y Pablo Herranz, which revisits myths and traditional stories from the Valencian Community based on the series published in the magazine XiulitIn this way, the Salon connects cultural heritage and contemporary dissemination through the cartoon.
The international sphere finds a place in exhibitions such as “Fernando Blanco. Algorithm of terror”, focused on her work for the series w0rldtr33 and its graphic imagery; “Voices from Italian Comics: Between Graphic Novel and Autobiography”, organized with the support of the Italian Cultural Institute of Barcelona; and “Webcomics are the present: 25 years of webcomics in Spanish”, which reviews the evolution of the digital format in our language.
Also on display “Reprisals against graphic humor. Stained by censorship”, focused on the attacks and limitations faced by satirical cartoonists, as well as the exhibition dedicated to Spanish artists recognized in the Japan International MANGA Award, promoted by the Consulate General of Japan in Barcelona, the Escola Joso and the Valencian competition itself.
Taken together, these exhibitions show how comics work both as an artistic tool and as a vehicle for memory, criticism, and reflection, offering the visitor a journey that goes from the local to the global, from tradition to digital experimentation.
African comics and international cooperation with AECID
Another year, the AECID (Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation) It collaborates closely with the Valencia Comic Fair to strengthen its international dimension and its commitment to cultural diversity. In this edition, the focus is on African and Arab comics, understood as tool for social, political and cultural reflection.
From Egypt, the author Mai Koraiem presents the exhibition “Between visual art and reportage”This work showcases a blend of journalistic chronicle, historical memory, and an intense exploration of color. Her pieces invite reflection on the country's social, economic, and cultural realities, offering a perspective that combines social commentary with artistic sensibility.
The exhibition “Zebra Comics: African comics conquer mobile phones” This exhibition traces the birth and development of this innovative webtoon application that originated in Cameroon. Through information panels and selected pages, it analyzes the conditions that drove the project, its philosophy of "narrating Africa from Africa," and its role in creating... a pan-african creative ecosystem that connects authors and readers from all over the world.
The African section of the exhibition completes the exhibition “Marguerite Abouet. The Power of the Everyday”Dedicated to the Ivorian-born author based in France. Her stories, set in working-class neighborhoods like Yopougon, address issues such as gender relations, inequality, social hierarchies, and the weight of tradition, always with a close and critical tone that uses the everyday as a space of resistance.
These three exhibitions feature coordination and texts by Daniel TomásContent director of the Salon, and exhibition design by MacDiegoThis ensures a polished and accessible presentation for the general public.
The Palestine of Mohammad Sabaaneh and the Arab comic
Another of the major international figures is the Palestinian author Mohammad Sabaaneh, one of the most recognized names in contemporary political illustration. The exhibition “Sabaaneh’s Palestine: Comics, Commitment, and Generosity” explores how his cartoons and graphic stories have become an instrument of memory, denunciation and resistance in the face of the human rights violations suffered by the Palestinian population.
The exhibition includes a reproduction of his striking “Palestinian Guernica”The work was created in 2017 to commemorate the Nakba at the United Nations headquarters in New York. Material from his graphic novel is also on display. I'm not leaving. My story of Palestine, focused on her experience in Israeli prisons and on the testimony of those who suffer under the occupation.
Sabaaneh also maintains a strong commitment to promoting contemporary Palestinian comics, as reflected in its participation in collective projects and the exhibition “Palestinian comics. Our own voices, a collective cry”, shown in previous editions of the Salon. In Valencia, her work falls within the line of content that uses comics as language to make visible conflicts and struggles for human rights.
In the program of activities, Sabaaneh will participate in the talk “Current state and challenges of Arab comics” along with Mai KoraiemThe event will analyze the state of the media in the region, its challenges, and its potential as a vehicle for independent expression. It will take place on Saturday, February 28th at 12:00 PM in Room 2 of Feria Valencia.
The rise of Valencian comics and Comic Book Day
The Valencia Comic Fair also serves as a showcase to Valencian comics are experiencing a great moment. The Association of Editorials of the Valencian Country (AEPV) coordinates a space for 345m² dedicated to publishers and bookstores of the Valencian Community under the motto “Comics Valencians”, where new products and catalogs of local production are displayed.
Within this framework, the Ministry of Culture and the AEPV will present the poster for 4th Comic Book Daywhich is celebrated every March 17th to recognize the importance of the ninth art in Spain. This year's poster is by Candela Sierra, National Comic Award and Valencia Graphic Novel Award, and will be announced at an official event on February 27 at 13:00 p.m. at Feria Valencia.
The Director General of Books, Comics and Reading will attend the presentation event, María José Gálvez; the president of the AEPV, Pedro F. Medina; the director of Feria Valencia, Mario Solerand representatives from various entities linked to the sector. The choice of the Trade Fair as the venue for this announcement underscores its status as a major national platform for comics.
Pedro F. Medina emphasizes that the Valencian comics sector is experiencing a "magnificent" moment, with growth in the number of titles and, above all, in quality. In his opinion, comics enjoy institutional prestige thanks to established awards such as the City of Valencia and the Alfons the Magnànim, while gaining international visibility through the presence of local publishers at fairs around the world.
Space “Comics Valencians” It is not limited to exhibition, but also functions as bussiness center where foreign publishers invited by IVACE hold meetings to sell rights. Nine leading international publishers have confirmed their attendance, reinforcing the professional aspect of the Fair.
Institutional support and promotion of reading
La Ministry of Education, Culture and Universities The Valencian Regional Government is actively participating in this edition of the Salon with the aim of Promote reading and bring comics closer to children and young peopleThe Director General of Culture, Miquel NadalIt highlights that the Ministry sees comics as a first-rate educational and creative tool.
During the three days of the event, the regional government organizes workshops for school children and families Focused on character creation, illustration, and graphic storytelling, these activities aim to encourage the active participation of children and young people, linking comics with learning and imagination.
The Ministry will also be present on the main stage and in the AU-K! area, collaborating on talks, meetings with authors, and activities aimed at families. This reinforces the idea of the Book Fair as a meeting place for creators, the general public and the educational community.
Furthermore, the Generalitat supports the VI School Competition Organized within the framework of the Comic Book Fair, which aims to use comics as a vehicle for transmitting positive values in the educational field. The administration will also participate in the awards ceremony. Antifaz Awards, which recognize excellence in national and international comics, translation and the Valencian trajectory.
This institutional support is in addition to that of the Ministry of Culture, the AECID, the AEPV and the Valencia City Council, forming a network of alliances that places the Salon at the center of public policies promoting reading and culture.
Joc&Rol: the universe of board and role-playing games
One of the spaces that grows the most edition after edition is Joc&Rol, an area dedicated to board games and role-playing games such as a form of creative and intergenerational leisurePromoted by IVAJ and its Carnet Jove program, this space has established itself as a meeting point for veteran players and new fans.
Joc&Rol will have a large free-access playroom and a wide selection of games available to try throughout the weekend. There will be matches of titles such as Blood on the Clocktower, demonstrations of modern board games and specific tournaments, including the one dedicated to The Skull Fallera, one of the most emblematic games linked to local culture.
The program includes demonstrations of games as diverse as Fluff, Rebel Princess, Exploding Kittens, Coup, Junk Art, Color Brain, Wavelength, Wonderful World, Azul, Sagrada, Sushi Go, Calico, That's not a Hat y Kabuto Sumoamong many others. The goal is to show that contemporary board games It offers options for all tastes and ages..
Another of the attractions of Joc&Rol are the 10 tables dedicated to prototypeswhere publishers and creators will present their upcoming releases. The public will be able to try these games in development and offer suggestions before their market launch, making this space a true idea laboratory.
The organization collaborates with recreational associations such as Dreadnought, Roach Room, Valentia Ludika, Ars y Dracs i Espases, responsible for energizing games and activities, reinforcing the community and participatory character of the area.
Content creators and influencers
As a recent addition, the Valencia Comic Fair incorporates a specific scenario for content creators and influencers, with the idea of reflecting on the role of dissemination in social networks, podcasts and video channels within the ecosystem of comics and pop culture.
Profiles like Paco Hernandezthe channel Vivaermanga; the team of It's time for cake, represented by Gem Over; Kovacs' diary, with David Monturiol; All4freak, José Miguel Navarro, Irina Sánchez and members of the cultural association Hanani Dango, in addition to the podcast members Volumes and staples.
The stage will also feature the participation of Ink sandwicheswhich will energize part of the programming, and Cocoa and Cinnamon, responsible for interviews and round tables with dubbing professionals and other fields related to popular culture.
The idea behind this new space is to offer a direct meeting point between influencers and their communitieswith Q&A sessions, debates, and live talks throughout the weekend. The organization thus aims to integrate the digital dimension of comic book fandom into the structure of the convention itself.
With this approach, the competition recognizes the relevance of content creators in recommending readings, disseminating new publications and creating a community around comics, manga, anime and other formats linked to geek leisure.
With all this array of authors, exhibitions, themed spaces, institutional support, and offerings for audiences of all ages, the Valencia Comic Book Fair 2026 It reaffirms its status as a key event on the Spanish cultural calendar. The combination of Valencian comics and international talent, reading and play, social commentary and pop culture transforms Hall 7 of Feria Valencia into a space where industry, fans, and new generations of readers coexist, painting an optimistic picture for the future of the ninth art in Spain and beyond.