Join the Fun at Inkblot Comic Festival 2026 in Manchester

Inkblot Comic Festival returns to Manchester this Halloween

The Inkblot Comic Festival returns to Manchester on for the third year running on Saturday 31st October 2026, back at the St Thomas Centre, just a ten minute walk from Manchester Piccadilly train station and across the road from the legendary Apollo.

Announced indie creators in attendance include Hannah Appiah, Sam Bonser, Andy J Clarke, Luke Michael Copsey, Scott Devantier, Lyndsey Green, Thomas Heitler, Lucy Hitchman, Johanna Ost, Owen Stewart, Kevin Wells, Kate Mia White, and more.

“The success and continued support means that there’s no slowing us down as we gear up for a super spooky show in Manchetser for a comic book based blast on Halloween,” say the Inkblot team.

After the success of the incredibly popular Alien Anthology, Inkblot will raising the hell with a brand new horror anthology as well as other spooky delights. With plenty of artists and more comics than you can wave a wand at – from indie publishers such as ART92, Banana Tiger Press, Barking Papers, Meraki Comics, Side Quest Comics, Studio Miyabiyaka, and others, this really should be a Halloween treat.

The event is deliberately keeping admission ticket prices low so you’ve got more money to spend on the things you love – comics!

“We showcase comics and the artists that create wonderful pieces and the best representation of self published and indie comics,” the team enthuse. If you’re all about art, stories and good vibes then Inkblot is the place for you.”

Inkblot Comic Festival 2026, 11.00 – 4.00pm Saturday 31st October 2026, St. Thomas Centre, Ardwick Green, Manchester M12 6FZ | Web: inkblotfestival.com

Early Bird Tickets: Adult – £3 | Child – £1.50 | Family ticket – £8 | Buy tickets here
On the day: Adult – £4 | Child – £2 | Family ticket – £10

The venue is situated just outside of the city centre. It is a 10 minute walk from Manchester Piccadilly train station or if you’re travelling by bus the 192 service will alight at Ardwick Green and the O2 Apollo (which is just across the street)

If travelling by car, the venue is on a public road with no car park meaning that available parking is not guaranteed. Although Manchester has many paid parking options available in the city centre and its surrounding areas

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John  is the founder of downthetubes, launched in 1998. He is a comics and magazine editor, writer, and Press Officer for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He also runs Crucible Comic Press.

Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who MagazineandOverkill for Marvel UK, Babylon 5 Magazine, Star Trek Magazine, and its successor, Star Trek Explorer, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics; and has edited several comic collections and graphic novels, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”, and Hancock: The Lad Himself, by Stephen Walsh and Keith Page.

He’s the writer of  comics such as Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs”, with Dave Hailwood.

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