Kids’ Comics Fest and Helsinki Comics Festival will take place at Cultural Center Stoa and Itäkeskus Library from September 18 to 20, 2026. In addition to the main festival programme, a variety of satellite events will be held at Itäkeskus and elsewhere in Helsinki, most of which are organised in collaboration with festival partners. Art exhibitions related to the festival will be spread across different parts of Helsinki. See all side programme below and exhibitions here.
THU 10 SEPtember / advance event for Helsinki Comics Festival / Oodi Central Library
Location in Oodi: Saarikoski rug (3rd floor).
4:00 pm Suvi Ermilä & Heikki Kemppainen
5:00 pm Creators of Kamala luonto comics, Jarkko Vehniäinen and Marja Lappalainen
6:00 pm Pinja Meretoja and Jessi Jokelainen, known for their feminist comics
Wed 16 september / Exhibition tour on Ukrainian-Finnish comics project exhibition / Cultural centre Stoa
The project brings together contemporary Ukrainian and Finnish comics creators and emphasises support for Ukraine. The collaboration includes the Ukrainian publishing house Vydavnytstvo, the contemporary comics association Kutikuti, and Helsinki Comics Festival. Exhibition tour Wed 16 September, 6 PM. Get to know the exhibition here.
THU 17 September / Discussion on Ukrainian literature during the war / Rosebud Sivullinen Bookstore
Rosebud Sivullinen Bookstore (Kauppakeskus Kluuvi, Aleksanterinkatu 9, 2nd floor, 00100 Helsinki) will host a discussion on Ukrainian literature during the war on 17 September from 4 to 5 pm. On stage will be publishers Lilija Omeljanenko and Eliash Strongowski, as well as cartoonist Sophia Tomilenko, whose new book is The History of Ukrainian Sex (Vydavnytstvo, 2026). Organized by Voima magazine and interview by Iida Simes. The event will be recorded.
THU 17 September / Mythbústers Exhibition opening / Nordic Culture Point
Mythbústers exhibition opening on Thursday 17 September 5 pm–6 pm at Nordic Culture Point.
THU 17 September / Mixpihlaja: Myrtillum et Fragum Exhibition opening / Restaurant Sörkan Ruusu
Mixpihlaja: Myrtillum et fragum exhibition opening on Thursday 17 September 6 pm at Ravintola Sörkan Ruusussa.
THU 17 September / Joint launch party for Kutiburgers / Restaurant Sörkan Ruusu
Welcome to the joint launch party for Kutiburgers on Thursday 17th September at 6 pm at Sörkan ruusu (Pääskylänrinne 3, Helsinki). Also check out the exhibition at Stoa gallery.
FRI 18 September / Mythbústers Fika / Nordic Culture Point
Visit the Mythbústers exhibition and join us for a Fika with coffee, chocolates, and comics jams with Nordic and Baltic artists and the editor of Kuš!. Mythbústers Fika is organised 12–3 pm at Nordic Culture Point, (Kaisaniemenkatu 9, 00171 Helsinki).
FRI 18 September / Festival opening / House of text, Bar tÿpo
On Friday, September 18, Finnish Comics Society will host the festival opening at House of Text (Lintulahdenkatu 3, Helsinki). The Swedish indie comics publisher and collective MAL magasin will perform “Mal in 4D,” a live performance combining comics and music. Additionally, visitors will have a unique opportunity to participate in a karaoke evening with comics artists, activists, and enthusiasts!
19.30 Speeches
20.00 MAL Magasin
21.00 Karaoke
21–01.30 Higami plays music
During the festival / a comics-themed Epic Scape mobile game / around the Itäkeskus area
During the festival, September 18–20, a comics-themed Epic Scape mobile game will be available to play via smartphone browser at Itis shopping centre and Cultural Centre Stoa. The game features a series of puzzles to solve by moving around the Itäkeskus area.
Sat 19 September / the official festival afterparty / Black Bird restaurant
On Saturday, September 19, the official festival afterparty will be held at Black Bird restaurant from 8:00 pm to midnight. The German comics collective Pure Fruit will host an energetic comics battle, and the audience will have the chance to test their knowledge in a challenging comics quiz.
