Registrations for exhibitor’s space at MCAF 2026 are now closed.
Montreal Comic Arts Festival 2026
The 15th edition of MCAF will be held on May 15, 16 and 17 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 14.
Planned opening hours for the public:
Friday, May 15th from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Saturday, May 16th from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Sunday, May 17th from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Thursday, May 14th | Professional Day
Montréal CoWork – 4388 Saint-Denis Street #200, Montréal, QC H2J 2L1
10:30 a.m. | Discussion – International Book Promotion and Distribution (in English)
In recent years, the cultural and literary landscape has changed significantly. How has book promotion had to evolve and adapt?
Join a discussion featuring publishers and creators who will share their initiatives to promote comics internationally, through events, festivals, or books fairs, or via social media and the internet.
With Nicolas Beaujouan, Sarah Andersen and Tom Devlin
1h30 p.m. | Master Class – Boulet (in French)
Presented by Copibec
Boulet est dessinateur et scénariste de BD depuis le début des années 2000. Il a travaillé dans la jeunesse avec le magazine Tchô!, dans le récit adulte avec Donjon, La Page Blanche et Bolchoi Arena, mais s’est surtout fait connaître sur Internet grâce à Bouletcorp, le blog incontournable sur lequel il publie plus de 2 000 pages de BD, adaptées par la suite en 11 volumes sous le titre Notes. Il s’essaie en plus de tout cela parfois à l’animation, à l’illustration, au story-board, à l’écriture, au podcast et au dessin en direct, au détriment de son temps libre, de sa vie sociale et de son hygiène corporelle.
Venez assister et participer à une discussion enrichissante autour de sa carrière, sa versatilité et l’adaptation de son dessin au travers de ses oeuvres.
3h30 p.m. | Guided tour of the exhibition Confluence: The World(s) of Contemporary Comics from Quebec (in French and in English)
Confluence brings together the diverse currents that shape today’s Quebec comics arts scene.
At the crossroads of European, North American, and global artistic traditions, the Quebec scene has established itself as a hub of international-caliber creativity, recognized for the quality, diversity, and originality of its creators.
The exhibition features 24 leading comic artists whose works reflect this vitality: intimate or collective narratives, bold formal explorations, poetic or socially engaged worlds—all of which intersect and resonate with one another.
Join curator François Vigneault for a guided tour of the exhibition.
Thursday, May 14th | Library Professionals’ Day
Montréal CoWork – 4388 Saint-Denis Street #200, Montréal, QC H2J 2L1
Organized by Bibliothèques de Montréal, this professional event takes place in May, Comic Book Month, in collaboration with the Montreal Comic Arts Festival, with the participation of the City of Montreal’s Joint Professional Development Committee.
It is intended for anyone working in the comic book industry: staff from public and school libraries, bookstores, and publishing houses, as well as exhibitors, artists, and invited delegations from the 2026 edition of MCAF.
Preliminary Schedule (in French):
9:00 a.m. – Welcome and Introduction
9:30 a.m. – Panel with the Finalists of the Bédélys Youth Québec Award
11:00 a.m. – Talk Manga – Beyond Categories: Valérie Harvey
1:30 p.m. – Panel with the Finalists of the Bédélys Québec Award
2:45 p.m. – Meet the author and illustrator: Sophie Bédard
3:30 p.m. – Guided tour with François Vigneault of the exhibition Confluence : The World(s) of Contemporary Comics from Quebec
Thursday, May 14th | Opening Night and Bédélys Awards Ceremony
Ausgang Plaza – 6524 St-Hubert Street, Montréal, QC H2S 2M3
6 p.m. – Doors open
7:30 p.m. – Welcome Remarks and Bédélys Awards Ceremony
9 p.m. – Networking
10 p.m. – Karaoké night
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 $760 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.
