General information
- The festival takes place from 18 to 20 September 2026 at Cultural Centre Stoa, Turunlinnantie 1, 00900 Helsinki
- Friday 9.30 am–6 pm / Kids’ Comics Fest
- Saturday 10.30 am–7 pm / Helsinki Comics Festival
- Sunday 10.30 am–6 pm / Helsinki Comics Festival
- Admission to the event is free.
- The festival has suited programme for all ages. If there are age restrictions in the programme, they are marked clearly.
- The programme is in Finnish and English. In the opening event there is also programme in Swedish.
Location and arrival
- Address: Cultural Centre Stoa, Turunlinnantie 1, 00900 Helsinki
- Stoa is located in Itäkeskus in Helsinki, on the metro line and next-door to the Itis shopping centre. Public transport connections to Itäkeskus are excellent.
- From Helsinki City Centre, Itäkeskus can be reached by the metro lines serving Vuosaari and Mellunmäki. The metro ride from the city centre to Itäkeskus takes about 15 minutes. From Mellunmäki and Vuosaari, the metro line serving Matinkylä and Tapiola will take you to Itäkeskus.
- There are bike racks in front of the stoa. The nearest city bike stations are Puotinharju and Itäkeskus (M).
- There is a car park at the back of Stoa, by the Puotinharju shopping centre.
- More info: https://www.stoa.fi/en/contact
Festival map & sales tables
Get to know sales tables and festival maps from here.
You can download the festival map here before the festival:
Food and drink
- Cafe Stoa offers lunch during weekdays. Cafe is open during the festival weekend.
- There are many restaurants in the neighborhood.
- You can bring your own food to the festival.
Payment methods
- Bring cash and mobilepay for purchases.
- Although the festival is free, the festival offers the opportunity to make purchases at both the exhibitors’ and Zine Fest’s tables. Some sellers accept card payments.
Safety and equality
First aid
- The event will be attended by security guards and first aid trained employees. First aid station is located at an information point.
Safer space principles
- The event follows the safer space principles. Every visitor to the festival is required to follow these principles. Familiarise yourself with the principles here.
- You can recognise our safer space committee members by their pink vests.
- You can contact safer space committee members at saferspace@sarjakuvaseura.fi
Emails will be monitored throughout the weekend. - If your matter is urgent but you cannot find the safer space committee members, you can ask the staff at the information desk to contact them by phone.
The views of guests and exhibitors are their own and are not necessarily endorsed by Helsinki Comics Festival. As the organiser, we do not condone violence or discrimination in any form.
Accessibility
- Stoa is fully accessible.
- Accessible toilet is located on the first floor of Stoa, next to The Finnish Adult Education Centre entrance. Ask the Stoa caretakers to open the door by pressing the button.
- Workshop rooms 1 & 2 are located in the Stoa basement corridor, which is accessible via elevator through the library and from the youth center side.
- You can access the lobby balcony and the second floor of the gallery by using the lift in the lobby. Ask the building managers to open the door to the second floor of the gallery.
- Read more on Cultural Centre Stoa website.
Unisex toilets
- The unisex toilets are provided at the festivals.
Toilet card
- The toilet card is used at the Helsinki Comics Festival. The toilet card is a card that makes it easier for people with various intestinal diseases to access the toilet in public places. The person in possession of the card has the right to enter the toilets without queuing. Please be considerate towards the people using the toilet pass at the festival!
Lost and found
You can inquire about lost and found goods by emailing:
info@sarjakuvafestivaalit.fi
and stoa.vahtimestarit@hel.fi
Any questions?
Contact us: info@sarjakuvafestivaalit.fi
