We are so pleased to announce that Raquelle Jac @raquellejac.bsky.social is a special guest at SPX 2026! Her debut graphic novel, “Bimbo Agitprop,” captures the reality of growing up in West Texas during the worst of the early 21st century.

SPECIAL GUEST ALERT! It is an honor to announce that legendary underground cartoonist Kim Deitch is a special guest at SPX 2026! He'll be signing copies of his newest book, “How I Make Comics” along with “Reincarnation Stories,” a cosmic jigsaw puzzle of creation.

SPX SPECIAL GUEST! Cara Gormally will be signing their debut graphic memoir, “Everything is Fine, I’ll Just Work Harder.” This memoir tells the story of a workaholic professor who embarks on a transformative therapeutic journey after an Facebook friend request re-surfaces long-buried trauma.

We are thrilled to announce that Noah Van Sciver is a special guest at SPX 2026! Over the past decade, Noah Van Sciver has established himself as the most versatile graphic novelist working today.

SPX SPECIAL GUEST ALERT! We’re proud to have award-winning filmmaker and graphic novelist James Spooner as a Special Guest with his latest book, “IT STARTS WITH ANGER,” the untold origin story of the AFROPUNK movement and festival.

Hey, look! Derf (@derfbackderf.bsky.social) is BACK and as a SPX 2026 SPECIAL GUEST! Derf’s latest graphic novel, THE DISSIDENTS, published by ABRAMS, will debut at SPX 2026!

SPECIAL GUEST! JARED CULLEN! @jaredcullum.bsky.social Jared is a Reuben Award (Best Graphic Novel) winning 2-time Eisner Comic Industry Award nominated Author-Cartoonist and traditional painter of things. He’s best known for his award winning graphic novel series, Kodi.

SPECIAL GUEST! JULIA WERTZ The last time she attended, she was a single, urban-exploring dirtbag living in NYC and she’s returning this year as a married mother living in California, but still kind of a dirtbag. She’ll have copies of her newest book Bury Me Already (It’s Nice Down Here) to sign.

We are so excited to announce that Peter Bagge as a SPX 2026 SPECIAL GUEST! Bagge is one of the primary and foundational architects of the alternative comics genre that exploded in the 1980s and 1990s. His bestselling comic series, HATE is arguably the Great American Grunge novel.

We are beyond pleased to welcome Fred Noland @frednoland.bsky.social as an SPX 2026 SPECIAL GUEST! Fred is the author of Major Taylor: The World’s Fastest Man from @dandq.bsky.social. Marshall Walter “Major” Taylor, a Black man and one of the greatest American athletes of the early 20th century.

Small Press Expo is proud to welcome back Lisa Hanawalt @lisahanawalt.bsky.social to the SPX fold as a Special Guest! “I Can’t Stop Thinking About Horses and Sex,” marks the long-awaited return of Tuca & Bertie creator and BoJack Horseman producer/production designer Lisa Hanawalt to comics.

SPX mainstay R. Sikoryak @rsikoryak.bsky.social takes his talents to Baltimore’s @atomicbooks.bsky.social to sign his books, Declaration/Emancipation Illustrated on July 18th at 6 PM.

Small Press Expo is proud to present a series of four comics-focused workshops September 5th and 6th, the weekend before the Expo. These classes are hosted by VisArts, a nonprofit organization and hub for artistic exploration and social impact.

Good morning! You know what you need tomorrow? Some SPX ‘26 SPECIAL GUEST announcements. Prepare for the tea 🍵 and ready your fainting couch. 🛋️ See you then!

Thanks to everyone who submitted their work for this year’s Ignatz Awards. It’s always a pleasure to see what wonderful works y’all are doing. You did the hard part of putting yourself out there and now, we do the fun part of reading through them. As always, watch this space for more updates. 💙🩷💛

Second chances are usually a good thing, right? A select few will be getting SPX Wait List Table Invites emails in their inboxes today. Be on the lookout and simply follow the email’s instructions and you’re tabling with us at SPX ‘26! 🥳 See you in September!

Thank you to everyone who applied for this year’s SPX Lottery. We sincerely appreciate and are humbled by everyone’s wanting to exhibit with us.

PRESENTING THE 2026 IGNATZ LOGO!!!📣🗣️📣🗣️📣🗣️💙🩷💛🐭🪤 It is our honor to bring to you, gentle reader of this post, this year’s Ignatz logo drawn by 2025’s Ignatz Award winner for Promising New Talent, Vicky Yang! We are so pleased to have this from you, Vicky! Thanks tons!

Hello, friends. We’ve just been alerted to the above email being circulated; it’s absolutely PHISHING SCAM In the email, they announce hotel rooms for SPX are now available. THIS. IS. FALSE. And not at all sent from us.

We are very pleased to share with you the SPX 2026 Banners done by Ignatz Award winning cartoonist, Sanika Phawde! They’re so beautiful and we are so in awe of your talent! Thank you so much, Sanika!

Hello. It’s been a while. We missed you! (Looks out onto the horizon) It looks like our particular giant has awakened. It’s a very good giant and it asks for your attention:

Two weeks after and still carrying the SPX vibe within. Hoping SPX weekend brought you all some joy, calm and safety.

Thank you SO much!!! I will say it as loud and as often as I can, YOU are why we do this. To all of the incredible exhibitors, publishers, volunteers and staff, thank you for creating such an incredibly welcome and warm environment for ALL to exist within. Thank you and take care.

Congrats to all of tonight’s Ignatz Award recipients: Outstanding Mini Comic: Allodynia by Violet Kitchen Outstanding Collection: World Within The World by Julia Gfrörer Outstanding Graphic Novel: Precious Rubbish by Kayla E. Outstanding Anthology: Rust Belt Review Vol 6 by Sean Knickerbocker

A reminder that The Ignatz Awards will begin promptly at 9:30 PM TONIGHT in the White Oak Room. It is open to all and free to attend with a keynote address by @mimi.pond. Wear what you like. Be ready to hoot and holler and cheers for your faves to get that coveted Ignatz brick.

The doors are open and the floor is hopping! Come on down!

You became invested in his story last year and this year, HE’S BACK!!! HIP HOP, THE SPX BUNNY IS IN THE HOUSE!!!

Due to an unforeseen circumstance, Jeremy Whitley (@jeremywhitley.bsky.social) is switching from Table K10A to K5B. Don’t you worry, he’s here and ready with copies of his new Stonewall honored and Harvey/Ringo nominated sapphic YA romance “Navigating with You.” Again, find Jeremy at Table K5B!

YOU ARE ONE DAY AWAY FROM SPX!!! 🥲🎉🪩🥳 Are you ready to experience awesome creators, incredible publishers, fabulous workshops and panels, The Ignatz Awards and more?!? Well, come and meet us because we can’t wait to see you!

Friends, you are only TWO DAYS away from SPX!!! 🥳🪩🎈 If you have ducks, put them in a row. Make sure you have your tickets. You still get them at smallpressexpo.com. We’re so close! Can’t wait to see you!