Montreal Comic Arts Festival 2025
The 14th edition of MCAF will be held on May 23, 24 and 25 on Saint-Denis Street, which will once again be closed to traffic between Gilford and Roy streets. The professional day as well as the opening night and Bédélys awards ceremony will take place on Thursday, May 22.
Opening hours for the public:
Friday, May 23th from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Saturday, May 24th from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Sunday, May 25th from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Professional Days
Wednesday, May 21 | Book Industry Professionals
Consulate General of Switzerland in Montreal
1572 Docteur-Penfield Av., Montreal, QC, H3G 1C4
8:30 a.m.: Welcome – Coffee & Croissants
9:00 a.m.: Words of Welcome
9:15 a.m.: État des lieux de la BD québécoise et de la BD Suisse (in French)
10:00 a.m.: Panel – Plurilinguisme et traduction (in French)
11:30 a.m.: Workshops – Les tendances du marché du livre (in French)
12:30 p.m.: Lunch
1:30 p.m.: B2B Meetings
6:30 p.m.: Networking Cocktail (location to be confirmed)
Thursday, May 22 | Creators
ITHQ, local 1.67
401 Rigaud Street, Montreal, QC, H2L 4P3
2:30 p.m. | Panel – Enjeux de rémunération et regroupement (in French)
Join us for a discussion with creators from here and Europe! We’ll not only talk about the remuneration available once an album is published; we’ll also talk about the groups and associations for artists that exist, and the initiatives developed by creators themselves.
You’ll be invited to ask any questions you may have, and it’s a discussion you won’t want to miss!
With Aurore Juin, Catherine Ocelot and Léandre Ackermann
Host: Rodolphe Legrand
4:30 p.m. | Masterclass – Inking with Denis Rodier (in French)
Denis Rodier est un maître de l’encrage, d’abord connu pour son travail du côté américain entre autres avec le célèbre Death of Superman, on lui doit aussi de grands récits historiques comme La Bombe et La 3e Kaméra. Venez assister et participer à une discussion enrichissante autour de ses techniques et de cet art, animée par Jeik Dion.
Presented by Copibec
Thursday, May 22 | Opening Night and Bédélys Awards Ceremony
Club Soda
1225 Saint-Laurent Boul., Montreal, QC, H2X 2S6
6:30 p.m.: Doors open
7:30 p.m.: Welcome speech and Bédélys Awards Ceremony
9:00 p.m.: Networking
10:00 p.m.: Our traditional karaoke night!
Conference Beyond the 2 solitudes
Friday, May 23 | 9:15 a.m. to 3 p.m. – UQAM, Pavillon Lionel-Groulx, room C-1012-02
Friday, May 23 | 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. – Montréal CoWork (4388, rue St-Denis, local 200)
Saturday, May 24 | 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. – Montréal CoWork (4388, rue St-Denis, local 200)
See the programming of the professional conference
Participating at MCAF
If you are a publisher or a company, few options are available to participate to the festival.
1. Rent a space
MCAF is proud to have exhibitors ranging from self-published artists to major publishing houses. To keep our prices affordable for comic artists, we’ve created different price structures depending on whether you’re a comic artist or a publisher/company.
We propose 2 options of spaces:
Booth: A 10′ x 10′ tent space that you can arrange to your liking.
Table: One 6′ x 2,5′ table in tents shared with other exhibitors.
2. Become partner
A public festival that brings together over 300 comic book artists doesn’t just happen all on its own! Without the support of our partners — financial, media, service and programming — MCAF wouldn’t be possible.
If you want more information and become partner, please contact: info@fbdm-mcaf.ca.
If you are a comic artist, few options are available to participate to the festival.
1. Rent a table
You can rent a space at the festival and sell your books. Participation in the programming is also possible.
2. Invitation by your publishing house
Your publishing house may invite you to come to the festival, usually for the release of a new book. Participation in the programming is also possible.
3. Be a guest by MCAF
Some invitations are sent directly by the MCAF team. In this case, all travel expenses are covered, and the artists take part in the programming and signing sessions.
FAQ
Registrations
Can I register for the festival even if I don’t make comics?
Our festival celebrates comics. For this reason, we prefer exhibitors who produce and sell comics. If you’d like to make an exception, we suggest you contact us first, but your company must have a strong connection to comics to be considered. Sponsorship opportunities are available for other types of companies – please contact us for details.
I want to use the same information as last year. Can I reuse the form I filled in last year?
No – the platform that we use unfortunately doesn’t allow this.
How can I complete a form / add missing information if the form has already been submitted?
No problem at all! You can send us the information by email. We’ll be happy to update the form for you.
Can collectives rent a space at the festival?
Yes – but you can only sell books and publications related to the collective. Otherwise, each member must book an individual space.
Can I share my artist’s table with a friend?
Yes, but you must each reserve an individual half-table and indicate in the comments that you wish to be seated together.
I’d like to have a specific location, what should I do?
Please specify it in the comments section when you register. We can’t guarantee anything, but we’ll do our best to accommodate you.
Do I have to be present at my booth at all times?
Yes, this is specified in the registration rules. You must be present and occupy your exhibitor space on all 3 days of the festival, during opening hours.
Is there a phone number where I can reach you?
MCAF offices do not have a telephone line. If you have a problem, you can contact us at the following address. You will receive a reply within 5 working days: exhibitors@fbdm-mcaf.ca
Logistics
What’s the size of a booth?
Booths are 10′ x 10′ (3 x 3 meters).
Can I add a table or chair after I’ve registered?
Yes – they will be available for the 3 days of the festival.
– Tables at $60 ea. + GST/QST
– Chairs at $20 ea. + GST/QST
Is there electricity in my exhibitor space?
Only the booths come with electrical access – though you won’t be able to plug in large appliances.
There is no electricity for tables and half-tables, and the option cannot be added.
Is Wi-Fi provided?
There’s no WiFi provided by MCAF, but the city’s WiFi is available all over the location. However, if you depend on an internet connection, for example for payments, it might be a good idea to set up data with your cell phone.
What to do in case of rain?
In case of rain, the festival goes on! We advise you to rent pallets when you arrive on site – they will enable you to raise your stands and boxes of books. The sides of the tents will be closed to protect the books.
Is the Festival site guarded at night?
Yes, a security service is present on the site during closing hours. However, we advise you not to leave any valuables in your booth.
