December 9, 2025 (New York, NY) – The annual Lake Como Comic Art Festival returns to the magnificent Villa Erba with new and exciting additions in 2026. This year the festival offers four ticket tiers including an all-new VIP Ticket Package for 2026 which features a one-of-a-kind exclusive art print portfolio by Liam Sharp, spotlighting Conan the Barbarian. Each print portfolio includes an original hand-drawn remarque and signature from Liam—not a reproduction, but original art!

“Ever since my earliest days I have longed to draw this character,” Sharp says about Conan. “He made me feel stronger at a time when I needed it. He gifted me a courage I never felt I had. He challenged me to in turn challenge the greatest obstacles of my own life.” Sharp continued, “Drawing this set of prints, mostly taken from classic scenes, has been a career-long dream of mine. I think it was worth the wait!”

The celebrated art festival offers attendees an exclusive experience like no other. The intimate atmosphere offers enthusiastic fans and collectors the opportunity to engage in conversation and purchase original art from world renowned comic book artists in a stunning location. The three-day event begins Friday, April 24^th, with an opening reception overlooking the breathtaking lake and gardens of the historic Villa Erba in Cernobbio, Lake Como, Italy, and will run for two full days, Saturday, April 25^th and Sunday, April 26th.

The Lake Como Comic Art Festival is a unique event, with a focus solely on the art of comics, crafted by the organizers of the Big Wow Comic Fest in California and the Paris Comic Expo. The curated guest list showcases the artwork of the world’s top artists in the industry. This year’s guest list includes: Alan Davis, Alex Maleev, Alvaro Martinez Bueno, Andy Belanger, Brian Bolland, Carmen Carnero, Dani, David Mack, Dustin Nguyen, Enrique Breccia, Enrico Marini, Esad Ribic, Frank Cho, Gabriele Dell’Otto, Gary Frank, J Scott Campbell, Joe Chiodo, Jordi Bernet, Joshua Cassara, Juanjo Guarnido, Liam Sharp, Mahmud Asrar, Monte Michael Moore, Olivier Vatine, Patrick McDonnell, Pepe Larraz, Riccardo Federici, Rick Leonardi, Sanjulian, Sara Pichelli, Scott Hampton, Stanley Artgerm Lau, Sylvain Repos, Tanya Lehoux, and Terry Dodson.

The Lake Como Comic Art Festival offers multiple ticketing levels: an All-Access Pass, a 2 Day Pass, a Single Day Pass, and for those looking for something extra special there is the all-new VIP Ticket Package for Lake Como 2026. The All-Access Pass for the 2026 Festival is available for purchase starting today, with the 2-Day and Single Day options going on sale in 2026. To purchase visit: https://www.lccaf.com/tickets.

The All-Access Pass—On Sale Today, December 9, 2025

●      Includes Opening Night Reception: Friday, April 24

●      Everything in the 2-Day Pass

●      2026 Lake Como Fine Art Portfolio & Swag Bag

The 2-Day Festival Pass—Goes On Sale January 2026

●      2-Day Ticket: April 25-26, 2026

●      Entry to All Workshops & Panels

●      2026 Lake Como Fine Art Portfolio & Swag Bag

The Single Day Pass—Goes On Sale February 2026

●      Choose Saturday, April 24 or Sunday, April 26 one Day Pass

●      Access to the Artist’s Hall, Workshops & Panels

The 2026 VIP Pass Includes:

●      Conan Art Portfolio by Liam Sharp with original remarque

●      Access to the Opening Night Reception: Friday, April 24

●      Special 2026 Variant Covers (full list announced soon)

●      Guaranteed access to limited-run items before the general public

●      2026 Lake Como Fine Art Portfolio & Swag Bag

Programming and more highlights will be announced in the coming weeks. For more information, follow the Lake Como Comic Arts Festival on social media at @como_art_fest and visit: https://www.lccaf.com/

   

Meet Louis Henry Mitchell, Creative Director of Character Design at Sesame Workshop (the non-profit that brings you Sesame Street) for this special artist talk and workshop for all ages at the Rockwell Museum on Saturday, December 13th. Hear how Mitchell first encountered the Muppets of Jim Henson on television when he was just six years old, that experience along with reading comic books and discovering the art of Norman Rockwell set him on his path to becoming an artist. Mitchell will introduce a few of his favorite Sesame characters and will discuss the process of his design for Julia, a new Muppet friend with autism. Mitchell will lead participants through hands-on exercises in designing their own character—no drawing experience required! Get tickets here.

RSVP on Facebook!

Norman Rockwell Museum
9 Route 183, Stockbridge, MA 01262
413-298-4100

   

Artist Victor Olazaba will sign and sketch at Collectors Choice Comics on Saturday, December 13th from 11am – 5pm!

RSVP on Facebook!

Collectors Choice Comics
7702 S Heather Dr, Tempe, AZ 85284-1774
(480) 471-8299

   

Join New York Times best-selling author and MUTTS cartoonist Patrick McDonnell on Sunday, December 14, 2025 at 11:00 am to welcome his newest books, The Gift of Everything and The Gift of Nothing 20th Anniversary Edition, featuring his beloved characters Mooch and Earl as they celebrate the precious gifts of friendship and gratitude.

McDonnell will talk about and sign both books, each featuring heartwarming stories that are perfect for gift-giving at the holidays and year-round!

Charles M. Schulz Museum
2301 Hardies Lane, Santa Rosa, CA 95403
(707) 579-4452

   

TODD BLACKWOOD comes by Northwest Museum of Cartoon Arts from 1-3 PM on Sunday, December 14th for a presentation, Q & A, and signing featuring his beautiful work NOSFERATU: THE GRAPHIC NOVEL. Learn all about his creation process, and the trials and tribulations of kickstarting and publishing the book. Best of all, this event is FREE! (Donations are always encouraged.)

You can also ask him all about his other interests too: fashion illustration, costume & textile design, drawing classic superheroes, Rankin/Bass, HP Lovecraft, and old Jean Shepherd radio broadcasts.

Northwest Museum of Cartoon Arts | 322 NW 8th Ave, Portland, OR 97209