The premier gathering for comic book lovers, 44 Comic Barcelona, returns from May 15 to 17, 2026. This edition expands its cultural offerings with new exhibitions and a wide range of activities for all audiences. The official poster, designed by the versatile artist Natacha Bustos, features a vibrant, colorful style that reflects the event's diversity and creativity, framed by the iconic Venetian towers of Montjuïc.

A notable new feature is the incorporation of a broad focus on Asian pop culture, which highlights the growing creative trends from the East. These activities will be organized under the Bubblepop project umbrella and will be spread throughout the venue to celebrate the Asian cultural scene.

This initiative will feature the participation of Hong Kong for the first time in Spain, showcasing its artistic talent, as well as the presence of South Korea through the KOCCA organization, which will host an event about Webtoon Academy. The event will also feature the K-Pop Contest in Spain, organized by the Korean Cultural Center. One of the competing teams will advance to the national final. The presence of Asian authors will further enrich this year's program.

This new Asian perspective is reflected in the participation of several guests, including the Hong Kong–based artist Pen So, who is internationally renowned for the meticulous detail of his illustrations; the South Korean artist Wooh Nayoung, who is known for her reinterpretations of Western characters with a Korean aesthetic; and various Japanese figures, such as the author Shintaro Kago, who is a leading figure in transgressive surrealism, and Ken Niimura, whose hybrid style blends Japanese and Western aesthetics. Prominent creators from around the world are also joining this exceptional lineup, including the American Deniz Camp, known for works such as 20th Century Men and, most recently, Absolute Martian Manhunter, created in collaboration with Spanish artist Javier Rodríguez, as well as Italian comic book artist Milo Manara, the undisputed master of erotic comics, famous for titles such as Click!. There are still names to be announced, including a strong representation of national and European talent.

Comic Barcelona continues to prioritize its commitment to exhibitions and education with a program that features established authors and new cultural perspectives. This edition features exhibitions dedicated to Carlos Giménez, in celebration of the 50th anniversary of Paracuellos; Paco Roca, the Grand Prize winner from the previous edition, who will debut a new exhibition about his early creative years titled “The Stone Age of Paco Roca”; and Ken Niimura, whose work offers a unique artistic interpretation of the world. These exhibitions are complemented by Wooh Nayoung’s show, which introduces the public to the visual richness of the hanbok. Additionally, this edition features a special exhibition on The Lord of the Rings, coinciding with the 25th anniversary of The Fellowship of the Ring's premiere. The display explores Tolkien's work in audiovisual media and includes scale models of iconic elements from the films.

In a year dedicated to celebrating the diversity of comics and projecting it into the future, we will host roundtables, lectures, and publisher presentations. This goal is clearly reflected in our Comic Pro, which has seen a significant increase in participation from international publishers this year. Additionally, we will once again feature immersive, family-friendly spaces, such as Comic Kids. This year, children will enjoy the popular comic series Superpatata, which will be brought to life through music and imagery in a concert drawn by Artur Laperla.

Starting with this edition, we are entering a transition period from 2026 to 2029. During this time, Comic Barcelona will need to adapt and relocate due to renovations at the Fira de Barcelona Montjuïc venue. This year, the renovations require the event to move to Hall 8. This relocation is undertaken with a commitment to keeping comics central to the city. Emphasizing the event’s commitment to cultural diversity and the connection between styles, director Meritxell Puig states that “the 44th Comic Barcelona reaffirms its determination to remain an essential meeting place and an international benchmark for the ninth art.”