Gosh!Fest 2026

As we celebrate our 40th anniversary this year, we want to recognise the importance of self-published and independent comics. DIY culture and the small press comics scene have been an integral part of our DNA since the very first day we opened. We wanted to create a day to celebrates our love for self-published comics and the community that creates some of our favourite books. Gosh!Fest: Our very own Small Press Festival will be on Saturday 29th August 2026, kicking off right from 11am, and we're so excited to share our plans with you.

We'll be hosting almost 50 of the country's most talented cartoonists, up and comers who have barely published their first zine to grizzled vets who remember the days of Fast Fiction and Thought Bubble in Leeds! We’ll be hosting local artists and comic makers from across the country. Throughout the day, we'll have several group signings back-to-back where you can meet the artists, check out their work and treat yourself to some damn good comics! They'll be zines, books, prints, badges, stickers and more! This’ll be a day to discover new talent and support your favourites, many of whom will be launching brand new publications.

Just like last year, our guests will even be working on a comic together, right in front of your very eyes! To get your hands on the comic our guests make, we’ll have a stamp card system, one stamp per signing attended, and if you get four or more you get a copy free! If you haven't picked up your free comic from last year yet, then make sure to bring those stamp cards with you and let us know.

As a part of the event we’ll be running a Drink & Draw the evening before with several of the artists who will be attending on the day! More details on this to be announced soon.

The DIY comics scene and small press community are things we truly cherish at Gosh! and so we're proud to be able to present this truly staggering line-up of creators.

The full festival line-up is as follows:

11-12: Andy Barron, Sar Cousins, Leo Fox, NanaSometimesDraws, Miranda Smart, Claude TC & Kiera Won
12-1: Skai Campbell, Gemma Dunnell, Rebecca K Jones, Rein Lee, Peter Morey, Lauren O'Farrell & Francis Todd
1-2: Millie Dobson, Ferry Gouw, Jim Hemmingfield, Michael D Kennedy, Fred Lanka, Emilia McKenzie & Lele Vives
2-3: Matthew Dooley, Mereida Fajardo, Ed Firth, Shane Melisse, Joe Stone, Luke Stuart & Rachel Tubb
3-4: Will Humberstone, Clio Isadora, Joseph Killick, LJ McDonald, Bex Ollerton, Will Powers & Ed Stockham
4-5: Josh Hicks, Shazleen Khan, KitsuneArt, Beck Kubrick, Mo Morrell, Rachael Smith & Timothy Winchester
5-6: Sean Azzopardi, Gareth Hopkins, Douglas Noble, Mark Stafford, Dan White, Henry Widdicombe & Patrick Wray

Join us from 11am on Saturday 29th August for Gosh!Fest! We can't wait!