Legend:

SP = small press - there are tables usually run by artists/creators selling their own work
DT = dealer tables - these are tables selling items such as back issues, normally run by collecters/retailers
PS = Panels - open discussions on a given theme, usually chaired by one person but with a group of several artists discussing the topic. This does not inlcude Q&A sessions with one artist/creator, those are inlcuded with Artists signing. Please note that some publishers might arrange to have signings at their table during the con but they are organised by the publisher and not the con organiser and are therefore not listed in con programing
AS = Artists signings - were artists/creators are avaible to sign copies of his/her work. Inlcudes one on one artists Q&A's as the normally will be aviable to sign their work after.
WS = workshops - 1 to 2 hour workshops with one or more creator
AC = Awards Ceramony that takes place during the con
CA = Con Anthology - some cons produce their own comic anthology for the event. The best know of these is the SPX anthology which is sadly on hold.
Note: Standard con tables are roughly 6foot by 2.5foot and if you pay for a full table, you normally get two chairs and two exhibitors badges as well as the option to purchase at least one if not two additional exhibitors badges at a discounted price. This isn't a rule or anything but on average most cons have this set up. Some cons are stricter then others with regardes to how many people you can have behind a table [for fire safty issues and all that] so if your saving money by buying a table with a group of artists rather then on your own, try and work out a timetable for sitting behind the table ahead of time.

January

Angouleme International Comics Festival 24th - 27th Angouleme, France
Admission: varies, Contact organisers
Exhibitors:Contact organisers
Comments: one of the largest Comic Festivals in the world, attendance is over the 1/4 million each year. Focus is more on the art forum that is comics and less on the commerical side as in american cons. The festival takes place in various locations over the whole town. Most of the streets in the town are named after famous cartoonists. The Grand Prix de la ville d'Angoulême is awarded every year to one artists and is considered one of the highest prizes in comics.
Notes:SP, DT, AC, AS, WS, PS

Febuary

Hi-Ex 14th-15th 2009, Inverness, Scotland.
Admission:
Exhibitors:
Comments: check the news section of website for links to reports.
Notes: DT, SP, AS. PS, WS

WonderCon 22nd-24th, San Francisco, CA.
Admission: various different offers check website
Exhibitors:
Comments: Small press at WonderCon is very small as the same group organise APE which takes place in the same city in April.
Notes: DT, SP, AS. PS A valid California State Sellers Permit is a prerequisite to exhibiting at WonderCon, forums for the permit can be downloaded via the con website.

March

SPACE 1st-2nd, Columbus, Ohio.
Admission:l $5 for one day, $8 for both
Exhibitors: Full tables $55, no half tables - Electricity $25.00.
Comments: links to con reports on website
Notes: SP, PS

Staple,March 1st, Austin, TX
Admission: $5
Exhibitors: Contact organizers
Comments: Festival Podcast.
Notes: SP, AS, PS

UK web and mini comix thing [usually just called The Thing] March 22nd, London, England
Admission: £4
Exhibitors: £60
Comments: Some reports for past shows are linked on the website
Notes: SP, CA

April

The Gladstone Minicomic Con 5th, Brighton, England.
Admission: free
Exhibitors: free [I think]
Comments: Taking place in a pub - not my cup of tea but different.
Notes:

Gem City Comic Con 6th, Dayton, Ohio.
Admission: Adults $3 Kids $2
Exhibitors: $75
Comments:
Notes:AS, DT

Fluke 12th, Athens, GA, USA.
Admission: $5
Exhibitors: Free [I think}
Comments:
Notes:SP

Stumptown comics festival 26th and 27th, Portland, OR.
Admission: $6 per day
Exhibitors: Half table costs $70 and a full table $110
Comments: Comix Apocalypse is usually on towards the end of the first day. A comic draw off between local portland based artists vs the rest of the world. Last year there were 120 tables, reports for the past years event can be found linked on the festivals website. The con has also started its own awards called the Trophy awards.
Notes: SP, PS, AC

London Zine Symposium 27th, Lond, England.
Admission:
Exhibitors:
Comments: "Bringing together zine, small press, comic and radical writers to celebrate DIY and zine culture"
Notes:SP, WS

New York City Comic Con 18th-20th New York, NY
Admission: 3 day pass $45, one day $30 [cept Sat thats $35]
Exhibitors: contact con organizers
Comments: moved a little later in the year, this is year 3 of the new york city comic con and they say third times a charm. The first year was famous for the mass chaos on the saturday as organsiers had underestimated the numbers attending and also the floor layout casued a high number of bottle necks thus grinding movement around the floor to a hault. Last years was an improvment but still a few spots to iron out. A few issues as the con falls on the first days of passover Organizers wanted to have the con in febuary like pervious years but this was the only date they could fit. Have stated it will be back in febuary next year.
Notes: DT, SP, AS, PS

May

Cape one day, Dallas, TX
Admission: Last year Free
Exhibitors: Last year Free
Comments: Held on free comic book day, website is currently outdatted as there was a 2007 event and looks like there will be a 2008 one as well.
Notes: SP, PS, AS

Emerald city comic conMay 10th and 11th, seattle WA
Admission:
Exhibitors: small press $125
Comments: Website currently loading slow or not loading at all - most likely a temp issue
Notes:

Bristol International Comic Expo 9th -11th, Bristol, England
Admission: Last year £6 for day £12 for weekend
Exhibitors: £70 [2008 event is sold out]
Comments: Website is not great for such a large con but big improvement this year over last years page.
Notes:DT, SP, AS, PS, AC

June

MoCCA Arts Fest 7th - 8th, New York NY.
Admission: last year $8 for one day $10 weekend pass - discounted admission for MoCCA memebers.
Exhibitors: Full table around $350 so half table should be about $175 - 2008 event is sold out.
Comments: MoCCA 2007 report and MoCCA 2006 report
Notes:SP, AS, PS, AC,

Hero con june 20th - 22nd, charlotte, NC.
Admission: 3 day pass $20
Exhibitors: small press table $200, small press booth $500
Comments: have heard great things about the indie island at this event.
Notes:

July

Pens, pencils and photocopiers!- A comics and zine event 19th, London, England
Admission:
Exhibitors:
Comments: Check website linked above for all the information.
Notes: SP

Comi Con International 24th - 27th, San Diego, CA
Admission:
Exhibitors: Small press tables are $350, however you must supply examples of your work to prove you are small press to the organisers.
Comments: One of the biggest Comic Cons in the world, in recent years hardcore comic fans have complained that the comics part of the con has been lost as film and game companies have moved in. Still one can't deny it is a con worth attending.
Notes: DT, SP, AS, PS, AC A valid California State Sellers Permit is a prerequisite to exhibiting at Comic Con, forums for the permit can be downloaded via the con website.

August

The Toronto Comic Arts Festival Two Days, Toronto, Canada.
Admission:
Exhibitors:
Comments: Taking a break for 2008 but will be back in 2009
Notes: SP, AS, PS

Caption 9th - 10th, Oxford, England.
Admission: last year £5 for one day £10 for two
Exhibitors: There are no exhibitor tables - The CAPTION committe run their own table where you can deposit your comics to be sold for you while you enjoy the delights that CAPTION has to offer. At the end of the day you collect any unsold comics and the takings, minus a 10% cut that goes towards CAPTION’s running costs.
Comments: Each year there is a theme and there is a bigger foucs on workshops and creating at Caption then at other cons.
Notes: SP, AS, PS, WS

September

Sub Con one day, Dublin, Ireland.
Admission: 10 euro
Exhibitors: contact organisers
Comments: No 2008 event.
Notes: DT, SP, AS

October

SPX 4th to 5th, Bethesda Maryland.
Admission:One day $8, weekend $15
Exhibitors: half table $175, full table $350 [tables are slightly cheaper if you book early also SPX tends to sell out early]
Comments:The SPX anthology is currently on hiatus
Notes: SP, PS, AC, WS

Birmingham International Comics Show October 4th - 5th, Birmingham, England.
Admission: Various different options including family tickets, check website for full list.
Exhibitors: Small press tables and Artist Alley tables cost £70
Comments:Event has come on in leaps and bounds over the past two years and looks to be growing bigger each year.
Notes: DT, SP, AS

Windy City Comicon 25th, Chicago, Ill.
Admission: $5
Exhibitors: $175
Comments:This is the first year this con is taking place.
Notes:

November

Lille Comics Festival 1st-2nd, Lille, France
Admission:
Exhibitors:
Comments: Website is in French and my limited leaving cert level french isn't good enough, anyone care to translate?
Notes: SP, PS, CA

APE 1st - 2nd, San Francisco, CA.
Admission:
Exhibitors: tables are sold as half table or full table, prices are cheaper the earlier you book.
Comments: This is the first year APE will take place in November, it usually happens in April. Has a rep for being more craft focused then other comic festival.
Notes: SP, AS, PS A valid California State Sellers Permit is a prerequisite to exhibiting at APE, forums for the permit can be downloaded via the ape website.

Thought Bubble 13 - 16, Leeds, England.
Admission: £6 [£4.50 concession]
Exhibitors:£35
Comments: the small press con is only one day and takes place on the 15th, check the con website for other events taking place.
Notes: DT, SP, AS. PS, WS

Lancaster Comics Lancaster, England
Admission:
Exhibitors:
Comments: One day event in 2006, a two day 2007 event was cancelled and no word on it returning for 2008.
Notes: SP, PS, CA

Dublin City Comic Con 22nd and 23rd, Dublin, Ireland.
Admission: €20 for one day, €35 for two.
Exhibitors: Contact organisers
Comments:
Notes: DT, AS

December