Portsmouth Comic Con announces first guests for 2026

Portsmouth Comic Con is already gearing up for its 2026 return, and the first wave of comic-book talent hitting Artists Alley has just been revealed. The show once again takes over Portsmouth Guildhall across Saturday 2nd and Sunday 3rd May 2026, promising two packed days celebrating comics, film, TV, gaming and all things pop culture.

First up is Chris Wildgoose, one of the UK’s most exciting artists and co-founder of Improper Books. You’ll know his work from Batgirl: Rebirth, Gotham Academy, Batman: Nightwalker and the beloved Porcelain series. He is currently teaming with G. Willow Wilson on IDW’s The Hunger and the Dusk. If you have ever seen his character work up close, you know his table is a must-visit.

Joining him is Mike Dowling, whose CV reads like a tour through modern comics: Spider-Man, Judge Dredd, Unfollow, Death Sentence, Iron Man and Black Cat. Whether it is Marvel, DC/Vertigo or 2000 AD, Mike brings bold layouts and expressive linework that stand out immediately on a crowded convention floor.

Also confirmed is Lucy Sullivan, the London-based writer and artist behind the powerful and deeply personal graphic novel Barking, newly reissued by Avery Hill. Her work mixes folklore, social themes and raw, expressive visual storytelling. Alongside commissions for Hey Amateur!, Razorblades, Department of Truth and Black Hammer (including her own Lemire-scripted story), Lucy also created the on-screen art for Benedict Cumberbatch’s character in the 2025 feature The Thing With Feathers. She is now hard at work on Mothers Ruin, her next graphic novel from her folk-horror series SHELTER.

Portsmouth Comic Con has also announced a major collaboration with DiaFight, the fantasy-themed trading card game and story universe designed to help raise awareness around type 1 diabetes. Thousands of free games and comics will be available over the weekend as part of a partnership with NHS psychologists from Queen Alexandra Hospital, University Hospital Southampton and the Diabetes Research & Wellness Foundation. The goal is to bring better emotional and educational support to young people living with T1D through fun, accessible storytelling and gameplay.

For anyone unfamiliar, DiaFight turns the daily realities of type 1 diabetes into empowering adventures, following a young girl and her DiaPal as they navigate obstacles that mirror the condition’s highs and lows. It is aimed at ages 4 and up and has already reached more than 80,000 people worldwide.

With more than 8,000 attendees passing through its doors in 2025, Portsmouth Comic Con continues to cement its reputation as one of the UK’s most family-friendly and creator-focused conventions. Expect a stacked Artist Alley, cosplay parades, panels, workshops, gaming zones and one of the biggest selections of comics, merch and collectables you will find on the south coast.

More guest announcements will follow soon, and we will be keeping an eye on them.