South Side Zine Fest + Carnival 2026 applicants, check your email! We’ve let everyone know if they have received a table or been placed on the waitlist.

We appreciate every applicant’s interest in our fest and the time you took to complete your application. We received many more applications than we have spots to offer. In our decision-making process, we prioritized zinemakers, distros, and collectives that have strong ties to the South Side of Chicago and/or make significant contributions to their communities.

If you didn’t receive a table spot this year, we hope you’ll consider attending the fest! There will be many opportunities to engage with other zinemakers, including a zine swap, a raffle (with prizes!), a panel discussion and workshop, all-day zinemaking, pen pal station, and more.

Tablers, we can’t wait to see you at the fest! Please make sure to confirm your spot via email by July 10. We’ll send out more information about day-of-fest logistics as we get closer to the event.

If you’ve been placed on the waitlist, we’ll notify you via email if a spot opens up. We are not able to let you know your position on the waitlist.

The 2^nd annual South Side Zine Fest + Carnival presented by Zine Club Chicago will be held 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, August 15, 2026 at the Richard J. Daley Branch of the Chicago Public Library, 3400 S. Halsted St. in Bridgeport. Admission is free!

South Side Zine Fest is presented by Zine Club Chicago. Jamie Kadas (Curvy Girl Comics) and Cynthia E. Hanifin (Zine Club Chicago producer), both native South Siders, are the fest’s volunteer co-organizers. This free community event is made possible with support from the Richard J. Daley Branch of the Chicago Public Library and individual donations from Zine Club Chicago members.