Small Press Expo

08/30/2026

SPX is looking volunteers for Workshops, Programming, A/V, and Line Management on Saturday, September 12th.

We also need volunteers for Attendee Admission, Special Guest Book Signing, Workshops, and A/V on Sunday, September 13th.

The benefits of volunteering may included the feeling of a job well done and meeting new friends.

The for-sure benefits of volunteering will be our unending gratitude, along with our providing you a pretty dang good meal before your shift, an excellent Volunteer badge by SPX fave, Natalie Norris and when you do one four hour shift, attendance to BOTH days of SPX.

If any of this goods great (and it is) head on over to www.smallpressexpo.com/volunteers to volunteer.

Thanks, y’all! 💙🩷💛

08/29/2026

We’re just TWO WEEKS AWAY FROM SPX!!! 🥳

Also, while we’ve got your attention, make sure you’ve got your tickets for the show! Skip the line to buy a ticket at the show by buying one at Eventbrite! We happen to have a link in our profile for doing just that. 😉

Also, don’t forget to vote in the Ignatz Awards! Lots of incredible creators put in the work and your vote is a show of appreciation of said work so go head on over to www.smallpressexpo.com to cast your vote. There’ll be no onsite voting as there was in previous years. This is the only way to vote for your favorite creators. Make your voice heard and cast your ballot and vote! Ballots will be sent within 48-72 hours of receipt.

08/28/2026

SPX is happening in 2 weeks but if you want to get into the SPX groove a week early, check out these workshops happening at Rockville’s VisArts September 5th and 6th.

Learn all about the craft of making comics all under one roof at VisArts!

08/27/2026

Debuts are live and ready for you to check out over at smallpressexpo.com/debuts!

And while you’re on the website, don’t forget to vote in the 2026 Ignatz Awards. Lots of great creators are up for nomination and they need your vote to get an Ignatz Award! Hurry up and go fill out that ballot!

08/27/2026

08/26/2026

Can you keep a secret? The new badge art just came in. I wouldn’t normally do this but here… take a peek.

The STAFF badge art is by “Terrific” Ted May! (Ted May)! They did good, huh?

Let me show the other one…

This one’s great, too. We love our Volunteers and “Naturally” Natalie Norris (Natalie Norris) really brought the A-Game.

I really shouldn’t show you the next one but you know what? I like your face…

Look at this! This Exhibitor badge is by one of our favorite Exhibitors, Erin “The Eagle” Lissette (ErinLisette). Beautiful work, huh?

Makes me wish I was exhibiting.

The Attendee badge. I can’t.

Ok, you forced it outta me but you can’t tell anyone I showed it to you. Promise?

Check it out…

Look at this baby! Attendees get to wear this badge by “Joltin’” Jared Cullum Jared Cullum. Lucky, right?!?

Where can you get tickets to wear the Attendee badge? Click the link in our bio, Ace.

That way, you’ll be able to see these badges live and in the physical at SPX, September 12th and 13th. 🤫

See you in September!

08/25/2026

Small Press Expo (SPX) is happy to announce yet another full slate of in-person programming for the 2026 show and advance ticket sales!

To avoid registration lines at SPX 2026, pick up your advance tickets at Eventbrite in the link in our bio because trust me, you won’t want to miss this.

The programming slate at SPX 2026 has a variety of panels, featuring solo spotlights on Derf (John Derf Backderf) and his new book, The Dissdents, as well as Frederick Noland’s (Frederick Noland) new graphic biography, Major Taylor. There will be comics performances with Carousel and Frog Farm (who provided the gorgeous art in the second slide,) as well as a screening of the documentary, Women Laughing.

Along with all of that, we’ll have a live music and animation performance from Bianca Xunise (Bianca Xunise) and Mercurio.

This year we have the extreme privilege to celebrate the 50th(!) anniversary of Fantagraphics with two different panels.

On the international front, we will have panels focusing on cartoonists from Spain and Taiwan.

There are twenty-two panels in all that will be held on Saturday, September 12th and Sunday, September 13th. The full programming schedule with descriptions can be seen on the SPX website.

This programming is in addition to the previously announced 18 hands-on workshops, which you can sign up for here.

Here are a few highlights from this year’s programming slate:

“The Eras of Punk in Comics,” with Nate Powell, James Spooner, Evan Keeling & Bianca Xunise.

“Lisa Hanawalt and Julia Wertz In Conversation.”

“Underground Comics: Yesterday and Today,” with Kim Deitch, Raquelle Jac, Denis Kitchen, and Heather Loase.

“Documenting a Child’s Life,” with Julia Wertz, Rachael Smith, Elise Dietrich, and Kristen Shull.

We’re excited. We think we’ve put together a lil sumthin’ for everyone and cannot wait to share it with you.

See you in September! 😊

08/20/2026

North Bethesda, Maryland – The Small Press Expo (SPX), the preeminent showcase for the exhibition of independent comics, graphic novels and alternative political cartoons, is pleased to announce the 2026 nominees for the annual presentation of the Ignatz Awards, a celebration of outstanding achievement in comics and cartooning.

Small Press Expo Announces The 2026 Ignatz Nominees

Ignatz Awards nominees are determined by a panel of comics professionals. We are most grateful for the efforts of this year’s team of jurors:

Maria Hoey Peter Hoey and Maria Hoey
Joel Christian Gill Joel Christian Gill /Comics
Nick Bertozzi Nick Bertozzi
McCready
Vik Alexander Vik Alexander
Meg Lentz meg lentz
Michael Albrecht Michael Albrecht
Sofia Lesage Sofia

Voting for the Ignatz Awards will be opened to anybody on the SPX email lists and anyone requesting a ballot. Ballots will be mailed out within 48-72 hours of receipt.

There will be no in-person voting at the show, as voting for the prestigious Ignatz Awards is open to all fans of indie comics.

The Ignatz Awards ceremony will be held at 9:30PM on Saturday September 12 in the White Oak Room of the Bethesda North Marriott Hotel and Conference Center.

Other information about SPX 2026 and the Ignatz Awards, can be found at www.smallpressexpo.com or at the link in our bio.

Big thanks to everyone who took the time to sent us their work. The breadth of talent we get to see every year is just astounding!

Best of luck to all!

08/19/2026

NOM NOM NOM NOM NOM NOM…

is NOT the sound of a mouse eating cheese, it’s the sound of Ignatz Awards nominations be made tomorrow, 8/19 at 1PM EST!