London comics roundup August 2026: festivals, signings and pop-up exhibits to catch

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August brings a packed calendar for comics fans in and around London, from high-profile signings to family workshops and small-press festivals. The month’s schedule matters now: collectors can secure limited-edition releases, creators can network at panels and workshops, and families have a steady stream of child-friendly sessions to plan around.

Quick highlights at a glance

Date	Event	Location	Why it matters
1 August	Frank Miller signing (Push the Wall)	Forbidden Planet Megastore, Shaftesbury Ave	Rare chance to meet a headline creator and pick up a memoir
1–29 Aug (various)	Family and kids workshops	Cartoon Museum; Quentin Blake Centre	Regular entry points for young readers and aspiring artists
8–9 August	Caption 2026 (guest panels and workshops)	Seacourt Hall, Botley, Oxford	Small-press focus and journalism panels — good for creators
8 August	Jo Martin signing (Doctor Who: Circuit Breaker)	Forbidden Planet, Covent Garden	Exclusive editions and a tie-in to a major franchise
29 August	Gosh! Fest Small Press Festival	Gosh Comics, Berwick Street	Nearly 50 makers selling and signing — prime for discoveries

Weekend openings and headline signings

The month kicks off on 1 August with a rescheduled appearance by veteran creator Frank Miller at Forbidden Planet’s Megastore on Shaftesbury Avenue — a notable moment for collectors and anyone following Miller’s late-career writing and illustration. That same day Gosh hosts a family-focused summer festival featuring cartoonist Jamie Smart, while Waterstones and local libraries continue to run drop-in and workshop sessions for younger creators.

Across the month, Forbidden Planet stages several exclusive signings: on 8 August Jo Martin will sign a special Doctor Who comics edition, and later in the month Brandt & Stein will appear to sign Worst Man. These shop-based events are a practical way to secure limited editions without needing a convention pass.

Workshops, drop-ins and weekly sessions

The Cartoon Museum in Fitzrovia and the Quentin Blake Centre of Illustration in Clerkenwell run the bulk of family-friendly activities: manga and superhero workshops, mini-comic classes, caricature sessions and the weekly Little Owls storytelling slot for under-fives.

These sessions are more than entertainment: they’re accessible training grounds for new talent and steady programming for families. Many events are free or low-cost, and spaces are often limited — booking early helps.

Cartoon Museum: regular manga, create-a-strip and mini-comic workshops (age ranges typically 5–14).

Quentin Blake Centre: illustration courses, family drop-ins and curator tours including the ongoing Quentin Blake exhibition.

Local libraries (Woolwich, Eltham, Croydon): one-off masterclasses led by experienced creators such as Kev F Sutherland and Ruffle.

Small-press and festival scene

Two events deserve attention for creators and readers looking beyond mainstream publishers. Caption 2026 — although held in Oxford — is easily accessible by train or coach and brings panel discussions on comics journalism, trans narratives and ethics in publishing. Panels include creators and editors whose conversations often shape the indie scene for the coming year.

On 29 August, Gosh! Fest in Soho gathers almost fifty small-press cartoonists working across zines, mini-comics and debut books. The format encourages discovery: a stamp-card system rewards visitors with a free collaborative comic if they collect multiple signings, and the event includes evening Drink & Draw sessions the night before.

Recurring meetups and networking

For ongoing networking, several grassroots meetups appear across the calendar: Comic and Manga Creators Group London (monthly at Meltdown, Islington), Comica Social Club at Waterloo, and OverBoard London — a relaxed pub meetup focused on games, films and comics at The Thirsty Bear in Southwark. These are low-barrier ways to meet fellow creators, troubleshoot projects and share tips.

Notable single-day events

1 Aug — Frank Miller signing, Forbidden Planet (5–6pm).

8 Aug — Jo Martin signs Doctor Who exclusive edition, Forbidden Planet (1–2pm).

15 Aug — 2000 AD mega signing at Gosh with Brian Bolland, Dave Gibbons, Mick McMahon and others (2pm).

16 Aug — London Comic Mart, Royal National Hotel (11am–5pm) — long-running back-issue fair.

29 Aug — Gosh! Fest Small Press Festival (11am–7pm).

Exhibitions to visit this month

Several gallery shows run through late summer and autumn, offering reference material, inspiration and public programming that complements the hands-on workshops:

Does my head look BIG in this? The art of portrait caricature — Cartoon Museum (until 1 Nov).

Well Actually: An Accurate Enough Collection — Cartoon Museum (until 4 Oct).

Quentin Blake: Performance — Quentin Blake Centre (until 1 Apr 2027), featuring original drawings and theatrical pieces.

Queer as Comics — Quentin Blake Centre (until 4 Nov), the UK’s first major exhibition on queer comic-making.

MURUGIAH: Ever Feel Like… — Quentin Blake Centre (until 31 Aug), a colourful, pop-punk–influenced show.

Why these listings matter this month

August’s mix of headline signings, small-press markets and regular workshops creates multiple entry points for different audiences: collectors chasing exclusives, families seeking creative days out, and emerging creators looking for critique and contacts. The distribution across central venues — Forbidden Planet, Gosh, Cartoon Museum and the Quentin Blake Centre — makes many events reachable by public transport, but capacity constraints mean planning is advised.

Below are a few top picks to consider when planning your month:

Top pick for collectors: Frank Miller signing (1 August) — limited-edition memoir stock and a Q&A opportunity.

Top pick for families: Jamie Smart and the Gosh summer kids’ festival (1 August) — hands-on workshops geared to younger creators.

Top pick for small-press hunters: Gosh! Fest (29 August) — direct access to new zines and independent artists.

Top pick for creators: Caption 2026 (8–9 August) — panels on comics journalism, AI and publishing ethics.

Check event pages for booking details, age guidance and any last-minute changes. If you’re aiming to attend signings for limited or exclusive editions, arrive early — many shops enforce item limits and queues form quickly.