{"id":39009,"date":"2026-04-22T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-04-22T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fbdm-mcaf.ca\/?p=39009"},"modified":"2026-04-22T11:51:23","modified_gmt":"2026-04-22T15:51:23","slug":"unveilling-of-the-program-for-the-15th-edition-of-the-montreal-comic-arts-festival","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fbdm-mcaf.ca\/en\/univers-bd\/babillard\/news\/unveilling-of-the-program-for-the-15th-edition-of-the-montreal-comic-arts-festival\/","title":{"rendered":"Unveilling of the Program for the 15th Edition of the Montreal Comic Arts Festival"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Montreal Comic Arts Festival (MCAF)<\/strong> is proud to announce the programming for its 15th edition, taking place from May 15 to 17, 2026<\/strong>, on Saint-Denis Street, which will be pedestrianized for the occasion between Gilford and Roy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Presented in collaboration with the SDC Rue Saint-Denis<\/strong> and T\u00e9l\u00e9-Qu\u00e9bec<\/strong>, The 15th edition of MCAF offers a packed lineup of over 60 completely free activities<\/strong> under the theme ALIVE!<\/strong><\/em> A record number f over 350 artists and 190 exhibitors<\/strong> are expected to gather under its tents.<\/p>\n\n\n

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MCAF 2025 \u00a9 S\u00e9bastien Lavall\u00e9e<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Quebec Comic Arts in the Spotlight<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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For this anniversary edition, the Festival team wanted to highlight Quebec comics. This will be an opportunity to reflect on how far local comics have come and to celebrate the creators behind them. Many of them will be featured in the program, such as Arizona O\u2019Neill, Jay Odjick, Jimmy Suzan and Shaghayegh Moazzami.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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At the heart of this celebration, visitors can also explore the exhibition Confluence: The World(s) of Contemporary Comics from Quebec<\/em><\/strong> which explores the influences that have shaped it through the works of 24 prominent comic book artists. Guided tours led by curator Fran\u00e7ois Vigneault are scheduled. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The exhibition, produced by MCAF with support from the CALQ and SODEC, will first be presented as part of the Quebec spotlight at the 20th edition of the BDFIL Festival in Lausanne from April 7 to May 10, 2026. The Montreal edition is presented with support from Copibec and the Plan\u00e8te BD bookstore.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Completely Free Program<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n
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Drawn conversation at MCAF 2025 \u00a9 S\u00e9bastien Lavall\u00e9e<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

T\u00e9l\u00e9-Qu\u00e9bec\u2019s La Fab \u00e0 dessin<\/em><\/strong> presents drawn Interviews<\/strong>, offering insights into the inspiration and creative process of artists such as Boulet, Derek Laufman and Sophie Escabasse. Drawn conversations<\/strong> will also provide an opportunity to explore themes shared by two comic book creators, such as Mythologie & Heritage<\/em> with Hugo Canuto and Aish Anwar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Panels<\/strong>, presented by La Presse<\/strong>, always spark lively discussions among comic book creators. The program will include, among other things, Grief, Sorrow, and Healing: Keeping the Memories Alive <\/em><\/strong>with Vivi Doodle, Arizona O\u2019Neill and Alex Nem; Superheroes Forever: Messing with the Archetype<\/em><\/strong> with Michael Cho, Jay Odjick and Sweeney Boo or Short & Sweet: The Power of Anthologies<\/em><\/strong> with Michael DeForge, Shea Proulx and Joe Ollmann.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Panel at MCAF 2025 \u00a9 S\u00e9bastien Lavall\u00e9e<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

There will also be several creative workshops<\/strong> for all ages. Visitors can create zines with Georgina Chadderton<\/strong>, learn to draw frogs with Paige Walsh<\/strong> or cats with Art by Tuna<\/strong> or take part in sessions where music and comics intersect, courtesy of Jeunesses Musicales Canada<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This year, the Caisse Desjardins du Plateau\u2013Mont-Royal<\/strong> will host live drawing animations, such as a character battle between Andreas Schuster<\/strong> and ADHDinos<\/strong> and an improvised comic strip created by Tri Vuong<\/strong> and Peter Ricq<\/strong>, as well as a live reading by the duo Elizabeth Pich and Jonathan Kunz<\/strong>, known for the series War and Peas<\/em><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

MCAF will present a retrospective of Festival posters<\/strong> from the past 15 years, an exhibition by Julie Rocheleau<\/strong> at Quai des Brumes, and Du sang sur la neige<\/em>, an exhibition based on the documentary graphic novel of the same name by Jacques Poirier<\/strong> and Christian Quesnel<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

T\u00e9l\u00e9-Qu\u00e9bec\u2019s Creation tent <\/strong>will host free drawing, as well as creative and coloring activities inspired by the series Guiby super b\u00e9b\u00e9<\/strong><\/em> and MTL MAN<\/strong><\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Book signing by Guy Delisle at MCAF 2025 \u00a9 S\u00e9bastien Lavall\u00e9e<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

And as always, MCAF will be the perfect opportunity for fans to meet their favorite creators during hundreds of hours of signings, featuring guests like Aniss El Haouri<\/strong>, Danilo Beyruth<\/strong>, E.M. Carroll<\/strong>, Marjolaine Perreten <\/strong>or Maria Scrivan<\/strong> alongside self-published artists who will run their own tables all weekend.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bringing Together the Professional Community<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

On Thursday, as part of the Festival, MCAF is offering a free professional program. A delegation of industry professionals from Europe and Canada<\/strong> will be invited to a roundtable discussion on the current landscape of Quebec comics. Comic book creators will be invited to a master class with Boulet<\/strong>, presented by Copibec, as well as a discussion on the state of the North American industry<\/strong>. Montreal librarians will take advantage of the Festival to discuss comics and discover the finalists for the B\u00e9d\u00e9lys Qu\u00e9bec and Youth Qu\u00e9bec awards during roundtable discussions. Finally, the day will conclude with the opening night and B\u00e9d\u00e9lys awards ceremony<\/strong>, which will be held at Ausgang Plaza this year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

School Programming<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Once again this year, MCAF will host the BD POP!<\/em><\/strong> online school day, thanks to librarians from the CSSDM, CSSMB, and CSSPI, as well as \u00c9cole en r\u00e9seau. On Friday, May 15, four free activities will be offered in French to all schools in Quebec for students from preschool through high school.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

May, Comic Arts Month<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n
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For the past ten years, MCAF has been delighted to partner with the Biblioth\u00e8ques de Montr\u00e9al to celebrate comics across the island throughout the month of May! For this year\u2019s event, the theme of the library activities will be \u201cthe night.\u201d Here are a few activities to look forward to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n