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Lakes International Comic Art Festival brings the very best of comic art from across the world back to Kendal in 2026

By John Freeman on October 21, 2025 • ( 0 )

The Lakes International Comic Arts Festival (LICAF) has announced the dates of its next annual event, which will take place in Kendal from Friday 2nd – Sunday 4th October 2026.

LICAF Banner, Highgate Kendal - 13th September 2021 (Lakes International Comic Art Festival)

Since the festival moved to Bowness-on-Windermere in 2022 there have been some significant developments, including more international partnerships, a reimagined zone for families and children and some new and exciting relationships with world-renowned guest. From 2026, it will centre its annual event on the Brewery Arts Centre in Kendal, with elements taking place in other venues around the popular market town, including Kendal Town Hall, Cross Lane Projects Gallery, and businesses across the Town.

The annual Festival is just part of a dynamic, year-round programme of international comic art activity with the over-arching theme, “Comics Can Change the World”, including a yet-to-be revealed event for younger comic fans in Barrow in early 2026.

The 2026 Festival will again bring the best artists and creators to the Lake District and explore the potential and power of comics as a force for good and creative endeavour, in the UK, and through continued international partnerships.

Julie Tait, Festival Director said: “We’re thrilled to return to Kendal, a move that has been welcomed by our partners.

“Hosting a comic art Festival in Bowness-on-Windermere for three years was an incredible opportunity to bring the wonder of comics to new audiences, but we’re not known for shaking things up a little – and we have plenty of comic creators at the ready, more than happy to shake up Kendal once more!

“We are already looking forward to welcoming our regular Festival visitors and new audiences to LICAF 2026.”

*Comics Clock Tower, LICAF 2021. Photo: Chris Payne*

Artist Mikiko draws on the screen at the Brewery's Warehouse cafe during LICAF 2017. Photo: Harry Atkinson — *Artist Mikiko draws on the screen at the Brewery’s Warehouse cafe during LICAF 2017. Photo: Harry Atkinson*

The year round 2026 LICAF programme of comic art activity will include:

• Continued projects exploring how comics can improve literacy, health and wellbeing, including work at HMP Haverigg and elsewhere

• Continued work creating online resources to introduce teachers to comics and showcase how to use them in the classroom

• Supporting the UK Comics Laureate to promote the transformational power of comics to educators, librarians and policy makers, as well as the young people directly

• Through British Comics Now, providing a range of opportunities for year-round artist residencies and cultural exchanges in the UK and internationally, and further

• Exploring and celebrating how comics intersect with new and emerging art forms including digital art, animation, film, gaming, virtual reality and augmented reality

• Continuing to offer an annual Festival programme in October that features a wide range of British and international guests with the eye on the eclectic, exciting and entertaining, alongside workshops for aspiring creators, children’s events and much more

• The Festival’s international partnerships continue to flourish with projects underway

The full programme for 2026 along with details of the Lakes International Comic Art Festival will be available in January 2026. This will include initial Festival guest announcements

The Lakes International Comic Art Festival returns in Friday 2nd – Sunday 4th October 2026 across Kendal

• For more on the Lakes International Comic Art Festival’s Comic Development Work please visit Comics Can Change the World at comicscanchangetheworld.com | Follow Comics4Change on BlueSky

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About the Author
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John Freeman

John is the founder of downthetubes, launched in 1998. He is a comics and magazine editor, writer, and Press Officer for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He also runs Crucible Comic Press.

Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine and Overkill for Marvel UK, Babylon 5 Magazine, Star Trek Magazine, and its successor, Star Trek Explorer, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics; and has edited several comic collections and graphic novels, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”, and Hancock: The Lad Himself, by Stephen Walsh and Keith Page.

He’s the writer of comics such as Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs”, with Dave Hailwood.