On Friday, September 18, 2026, the third Kids’ Comics Fest will be held in Helsinki at Cultural Centre Stoa and Itäkeskus Library. Alongside talks, a sales event, a film screening, and a concert, there will be a vast array of participatory activities for children: workshops, a reading group, meet-and-greets, games, and adventures! Entry is free.
This year, we will dedicate an entire Friday to the Kids’ Comics Fest, themed “Together,” which will take place at Cultural Centre Stoa in Itäkeskus! This enables a new kind of collaboration with schools: groups of children can reserve spots for the festival’s main stage programme through the Kultus system. School groups can register for the library stage programme and for all workshops by sending an email to info@sarjakuvafestivaalit.fi (required information: group size, programme/workshop name). Groups can prepare in advance by using downloadable activity packs for children (in Finnish only). There are also open workshops where spontaneous participation is welcome.
Creative activities
Overall, the third Kids’ Comics Fest offers, besides viewing and listening programme, a large amount of creative and engaging activities for clever elementary and preschool children. Even younger children can take part in activities accompanied by their adults.
Naturally, festival visitors who wish can also draw comics! Comics creators Roope Eronen (“Kalmakumpu Spirit Reanimation Workshop”), Susi Nousiainen (“Important Story Workshop”), and Johanna Witick (“Stories from Squirrelvalley Workshop”) will each run their own drawing workshops. Kai Vaalio will organise a drawing contest inspired by the books Lokkimies ja Wonderpöllö. Participants can also be guided towards comics making at the Kerava Art School workshop or even draw comics in sidewalk chalk in the dedicated workshop!
At the Itäkeskus Library, visitors can participate in a manga-themed pin badge workshop, and there will also be a badge and magnet workshop led by Hieno Hilma at the court yard outside Stoa. Enthusiasts or those interested in therian culture can come and make a new animal character mask in a workshop and then participate in a meetup for children interested in therianthropy.
At the Itäkeskus Library, manga fans can join a manga reading group or test their manga knowledge in a Kahoot game in Finnish. Guests craving adventures and puzzles can take part in a treasure hunt related to the Utelias Varvas books, led by Leo and Tuuli Humina, or play the Epic Scape browser game, which combines virtual and physical worlds, around Itis shopping centre and Stoa.
Interesting viewing and listening
On Thursday, pre-events will be held at Itäkeskus, where visitors can meet the comic characters Tatu and Patu. They will also be available at the festival on Friday. One can also meet the YouTuber Lavliqe’s character Miss Magpie during storytelling sessions (in Finnish).
Of course, the comics festival features interviews with wonderful festival guests. Children Essi, Hertta, Klió, and Seela will also be on stage discussing their favourite comics (in Finnish).
As part of the festival programme, visitors can enjoy a concert by the band Äxyt Zeeprat and watch the Pulpettikino short animation screening organised by the Love & Anarchy film festival.
If the festival buzz becomes overwhelming, visitors can recharge in the Silent Room, where they can draw or make paper dolls alone and relax.
Be sure to check out the additional children’s content in the Helsinki Comics Festival held on Saturday and Sunday, September 19–20!
More information and interview requests
Athanasía Aarniosuo
Artistic Director
athanasia.aarniosuo@sarjakuvaseura.fi
Ella Tahkolahti
Producer
info@sarjakuvafestivaalit.fi
The festival weekend is September 18–20, 2026. Cultural Centre Stoa will be open to the public on Friday from 9:30 am to 6 pm, Saturday from 10:30 am to 7 pm, and Sunday from 10:30 am to 6 pm. The event is free and open to all. The venue is wheelchair accessible. We follow principles of safer space at the event.