ZineFest 2026

ZineFest
Our annual event features over 50 local zine-makers, poets, and comic artists who gather to sell their self-created publications. ZineFest will be held at 468 Washington Street on Saturday, August 15th from 11am-4pm. This event is free and open to the public.

At ZineFest, local zine-makers will gather to distribute, trade, & sell their creations. Get lost in a photocopied sea of zines,and conspire with fellow artists! Adding some hands-on artmaking to the day, Book Arts will also host letterpress and screen-printing demonstrations in our lower-level studio. Participants will be able to print their own zine, or screen print a commemorative t-shirt!

Teen Zine Exhibition
Zines are a powerful tool for creative expression, storytelling, and arts education. Because of their accessibility and popularity among young people, zine-making has become an important part of the educational programming offered by Book Arts and partner organizations including CEPA Gallery, Squeaky Wheel, and BICA.

As part of ZineFest 2026, Western New York Book Arts Center will present a Teen Zine Exhibition featuring work created by high school students participating in zine programs throughout Western New York. The exhibition will showcase the voices, ideas, and artistic talents of emerging young creators while highlighting the educational impact of collaborative arts programming across the region.

ZineFactory
Sponsored by BXI Consultants, ZineFactory will operate from August 8 through August 14, leading up to ZineFest on August 15.

During the heyday of zine culture in the 1980s and 1990s, affordable photocopiers made self-publishing accessible to anyone with an idea to share. Today, while digital platforms dominate communication, opportunities for independent print publishing have become increasingly limited.

For one week, Book Arts will transform into a free community publishing hub where visitors can create, print, and assemble their own zines. Open to artists, writers, students, and curious first-time makers, ZineFactory will provide access to equipment, materials, and guidance, empowering participants to share their stories through the timeless medium of print.
Workshops, Readings, and Community Events

In the weeks leading up to ZineFest, Book Arts will host a series of zine-making workshops, poetry readings, artist talks, and other zine-related events throughout Buffalo.

Collaborating organizations will include the Downtown Branch of the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library, Just Buffalo Literary Center, Gutter Pop Comics, independent bookstores, and other community partners. Together, these programs will celebrate self-publishing, literary arts, visual storytelling, and the creative communities that make Western New York’s zine culture thrive.