Indiecon 2026
Independet Publishing Festival
Compression or Compassion?
Indiecon shows how to deal with pressure—on paper and in real life
From September 4 to 6, the Gleishalle in Hamburg will be the scene of printing, drawing, stencil art, bookbinding, and discussions—about books, magazines, zines, and how they reach their audiences. This year, more than 25 workshops and roundtables will complement the program of the conference and fair, where more than 130 independent publishers from around the world will exhibit and sell their magazines.
Under the motto “Compression or Compassion?”, Indiecon, the Independent Publishing Festival, is asking this year how independent publishers are coping with growing economic, political, and social pressures: Keep your head down and carry on? Fight back? Change your own practices? We advocate for solidarity and for viewing publishing itself as a creative tool against pressure and marginalization.
New Schedule: First the conference, then the trade show
Indiecon is also about the publisher community—getting to know one another, exchanging ideas, strategies, and tactics, and collaborating on new projects. That takes time and space to really listen. That’s why the 2026 event will be split into two parts: first the conference, then the trade show. Ticket prices will remain the same; conference tickets are available starting at 19 euros.
On Friday, September 4, from 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., and on Saturday morning, September 5, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., the conference is reserved for exhibitors and ticket holders. After that, the trade show will open its doors to the public.
Indiecon – celebrating independent publishing since 2014
What began as a conference in 2014 has developed into an internationally renowned platform for interdisciplinary exchange: for thirteen years, Indiecon has been an important meeting place for publishers, magazine makers, and artists and media professionals. The festival welcomes more than 2,500 visitors annually. Indiecon is organized by brueder creative cooperative, a cooperative for design, code, and content based in Hamburg and Berlin.
Indiecon:
When?
September 4th, 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
September 5th, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Where?
Gleishalle
Stockmeyerstraße 43
20457 Hamburg
