Illustration markets: late September – December 2026
Autumn is peak season for illustrators: comics festivals, small-press fairs, then Christmas markets where prints, zines and originals sell as gifts. Here are the events from late September to December 2026 in France and Belgium where you can exhibit, sell, or scout for next year.
The season starts this weekend in Lyon with the International Contemporary Illustration Festival run by Kiblind (26–27 September, Les SUBS and ENSBA), including a market of illustrated objects.
Dates to remember
September 2026
Festival26–27
SEPT
Festival International d'Illustration Contemporaine (IF)
Lyon · Les SUBS et ENSBA Lyon
Kiblind magazine's contemporary illustration festival, with a market of illustrated objects.
Entry: online tickets
October 2026
Market3–4
OCT
Marché de l'illustration impertinente
Paris · Le Hasard Ludique
Around thirty illustrators showing erotic illustration, outdoors on the quay.
Applications: Check the website
Festival9–11
OCT
Quai des Bulles
Saint-Malo · Palais du Grand Large
Saint-Malo's major comics and image festival, where zines sit alongside big publishers.
Applications: Closed10–11
OCT
Spooktacular
Guignes
An artisan and maker market celebrating Samhain, blending folklore, medieval and fantasy.
Applications: Closed
Zines & small press10–11
OCT
Format(s), salon graphique
Strasbourg · Garage COOP
The independent publishing and graphic design fair run by Central Vapeur.
Entry: free
Fair22–25
OCT
Offprint Paris
Paris · Césure
A four-day fair for art publishing and independent publishers.
Applications: Closed
Market31 OCT
1 NOV
La Grande Vague (Grand Playground)
Lille
A Japanese and Korean pop culture market open to makers and illustrators.
Stand: from €140 incl. VAT per weekend
November 2026
Fair13–15
NOV
Rendez-vous international du Carnet de voyage
Clermont-Ferrand · Polydôme
The international gathering for travel sketchbooks and travel drawing.
Applications: Check the website20–22
NOV
Festival BD Colomiers
Colomiers · Hall Comminges
A festival devoted to independent comics, with around 80 publishers.
Applications: Check the website20–22
NOV
bd BOUM
Blois
Blois's comics festival, run by the Maison de la BD.
Applications: Check the website22
NOV
Salon des illustrateur·rices (La Tricoterie)
Bruxelles (BE) · La Tricoterie
A Brussels market for small press, zines, prints and originals.
Entry: free
Fair25–30
NOV
Salon du livre et de la presse jeunesse
Montreuil · Paris Montreuil Expo
The major children's book fair, ideal for meeting publishers.
Entry: free
December 2026
Fair4–6
DEC
SoBD
Paris · Halle des Blancs Manteaux
The fair for independent comics and small publishers.
Entry: free
4–6
DEC
Ping-Pong, micro-salon de la micro-édition
Amiens · Frac Picardie
A micro-fair of around twenty small-press publishers and artists, at the Frac Picardie.
Applications: Closed
Market5–6
DEC
Les Puces de l'Illu
Bagnolet · Campus Fonderie de l'Image
Around 130 illustrators, publishers and printers, just before Christmas.
Stand: €120 for 2 days
Details checked on the organisers' websites on 25 September 2026. Always check the official website before applying.
Still open for applications
As of 25 September 2026, three calls are open: La Grande Vague in Lille (rolling selection, from €140 per weekend), the Salon des illustrateur·rices at La Tricoterie in Brussels (online form) and the Rendez-vous international du Carnet de voyage in Clermont-Ferrand (no deadline shown).
Worth a visit
Calls for Quai des Bulles, Offprint, Spooktacular, Les Puces de l'Illu and Ping-Pong are closed, but these are the fairs to walk around with a notebook: see which stands sell, which print formats work, and note the 2027 application windows.
Preparing your stand
- Offer several price points: postcards and stickers, A4/A3 prints, then originals and limited editions.
- Take card payments with a mobile card reader.
- Count your stock before and after to know what to reprint.
- Display a QR code to your online shop on the stand and on every bag.
Keep selling after the market
A market lasts two days, your online shop runs all year. With Picksale, you create a shop in your own colours to sell prints, zines, originals and digital files, with card payments through Stripe.
The Starter plan is free with no commitment: create your shop before your next market, and compare plans when sales take off.