Comicdom CON Athens 2026 at Technopolis City of Athens: The international comics festival of Athens celebrates 20 years

The international comics festival of Athens, Comicdom CON Athens, celebrates its 20th anniversary at Technopolis City of Athens.

With special guest David Lloyd, co-creator of the iconic V for Vendetta, anniversary and music-themed exhibitions, a documentary on the legendary Milo Manara (Greek premiere), and more than 200 international and Greek artists featured in the largest artists alley with new comics, Technopolis becomes, on May 15, 16, and 17, the ultimate meeting point for fans of comics, illustration, animation, and board games, offering a rich program for every pop culture enthusiast.

As every year, the festival remains the only event of this scale with free admission to all its activities, while also offering its catalogue free of charge to all visitors.

EXHIBITIONS

MAIN ANNIVERSARY EXHIBITION: 20 Years of Comicdom CON Athens – 30 Years of Comicdom
Through original archival material, publications, posters, photographs, and rare documents, visitors follow a journey from early self-published fanzines circulated hand-to-hand to the establishment of Comicdom CON Athens.

The exhibition also features works created especially for the festival by international and Greek artists, from Milo Manara, John Romita Jr., Mark Buckingham, David Lloyd, and Emanuela Lupacchino to leading Greek creators. The visual experience is completed by eight new illustrations created exclusively for the festival’s 20th anniversary.

Curated by: Leda Tsene

GREEK ANNIVERSARY EXHIBITION: 20 Years, 20 Milestone Works – The Rise of Greek Comics
Tracing the dynamic evolution of the local scene, this exhibition presents 20 landmark publications that shaped recent Greek comics history, reflecting the thematic and artistic maturity of Greek creators across genres, from historical narratives to literary adaptations and biographies.

Curated by: Aristeidis Kotsis, Ilias Katirtzigiannoglou, Melandros Ganas

GREEK EXHIBITION: Pavlos Sidiropoulos – In Conclusion
A visual journey through the life and work of the “prince” of Greek rock, Pavlos Sidiropoulos. The exhibition includes illustrations and sketches from the graphic novel dedicated to his life, accompanied by a presentation featuring collaborators and people who knew him closely.

Curated by: Gavriil Tombalidis

GREEK EXHIBITION: Apartment Buildings – Inspired by the song by LEX
Inspired by the track from the album 2XXX by LEX, this exhibition is a narrative dive into the years of the economic crisis, presented through illustrations and material from the corresponding graphic novel.

Curated by: Gavriil Tombalidis

HONORED ARTIST EXHIBITION: Antonis Vavagiannis
Antonis Vavagiannis, creator of the iconic Kourafelkithra, is honored this year, presenting a retrospective of his most humorous and beloved works.

INTERNATIONAL GUESTS

David Lloyd is one of the most iconic figures of the 9th Art, internationally recognized for V for Vendetta. His work has deeply influenced global visual culture, bridging pop culture and fine art.

PJ Holden is among the most recognizable illustrators of the British scene, known for his work on Judge Dredd in 2000 AD.

Arianna Turturro, editor at DC Comics, will participate in this year’s Agora, offering Greek artists access to one of the world’s leading publishers.

Also attending are British artists Simon Davis and Boo Cook.

ARTISTS ALLEY

Nearly 200 comics creators and illustrators will present their work. The festival also supports artists by prohibiting the participation of works created using AI.

SHOPS & PUBLISHERS

More than 60 businesses and publishers participate, showcasing new and past editions, highlighting the festival’s central role in the Greek comics ecosystem.

SCREENINGS

Manara – Documentary by Valentina Zanella (Greek Premiere)
A documentary on Milo Manara, exploring his revolutionary work and collaborations, including with Federico Fellini.

Animasyros Shorts – Southern Voices, Animated Stories
A program of short films from across Southern Europe, focusing on the theme of freedom.

TAF Animation Shorts
An international short film program exploring the natural and the supernatural through horror, humor, and poetry.

Animasyros Shorts – FAN Children Films
A selection of animated shorts suitable for children and families.

COSPLAY

The Comicdom Cosplay competition returns as the Greek qualifier for the Europa Cosplay Cup, with the winner traveling to Toulouse to represent Greece.

YU-GI-OH! NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

The Yu-Gi-Oh! World Championship National Qualifier – Greek National 2026 takes place at the festival, featuring tournaments and side events.

Organized by: Kaissa

ALSO INCLUDED IN THE PROGRAM

• Agora: networking platform connecting Greek creators with international publishers
• Greek Comics Awards Ceremony (with the Greek Comics Academy)
• Family program (curated by Athens Comics Library)
• Panels and discussions with creators and industry professionals
• Concert by the Fantasy Choir
• Workshops by Greek and international artists
• Sketch Event, where original artworks are raffled to the audience

A vibrant, open, and celebratory three-day event that brings together the full spectrum of contemporary comics culture in Athens.