Thank you to another of our amazing festival sponsors @chicagopublicsquare.com

Thank you to another of our amazing festival sponsors @goblinmkt.bsky.social
Visit them at 2868 N Lincoln in Chicago!

CAKE would like to thank Lillstreet Art Center for sponsoring our 2026 festival!
Founded in 1975, Lillstreet is a creative workspace for artists of all levels, from first-timers, to professionals. No matter how you define yourself! Visit Lillstreet Art Center at 4401 N Ravenswood

Thank you to festival sponsors @quimbysbookstore.bsky.social legendary independent bookstore and purveyors of all things comics and zines!
Stop by Quimby’s (1854 W North Ave) while you’re in town for CAKE!

Thank you our 2026 sponsors @printninja.bsky.social who are handling some of our printing once again!
We love working with Print Ninja!

CAKE would love to thank another 2026 festival sponsor @skunkcabbagebooks.bsky.social
Join us on Friday May 1st at 6:30pm, at Skunk Cabbage (2826 N Milwaukee) for our Cupcake Mini Comic Release Party and reading celebrating 2025 Cupcake Award winner Mili St. John!

Thank you to our CAKE sponsors @barrelmakerprinting
We’ll have tees and totes with our amazing 2026 graphic by Bianca Xunise thanks to Barrelmaker!

CAKE is free to attend and open to the public!
4626 N Knox Ave, Saturday May 2nd 11am-6pm, Sunday May 3rd 11am - 5pm!

Thank you to our 2026 gestival sponsors @chirpradio.org
CHIRPradio.org is a listener-supported music and arts focused community radio station in Chicago staffed by more than 150 volunteers.

CAKE would like to thank our 2026 festival sponsors Minuteman Press Chicago!

Their branch located at 1249 N Clybourn, specifically, offers amazing customer service and a wide range of print services. The fastest turnaround times we’ve ever seen on badges, posters, and banners!

CAKE would like to thank our 2026 festival sponsors Hallagan Business Machines!

www.hallagans.com

Hallagan reps will be on site during CAKE, Saturday May 2nd hosting a risograph demo workshop!

CAKE 2026 poster in the wild

Postering!
The show is coming up in less than a month! May 2&3

CAKE would like to thank long-time festival sponsors @busybeaverbuttonco.bsky.social
We ❤️ Busy Beaver!
Check them out for custom buttons, stickers, merch and beyond!

Are you interested in volunteering at CAKE 2026? Send us an email! Volunteers@cakechicago.com

Headshots of Liz and Maddie with the following information: 10th Annual Cupcake Award Mentors: Liz Sux & Maddie Dennis"

We’re very excited to announce this year’s Cupcake Award Mentors: Liz Sux and Maddie Dennis! 🧁 Whoever wins will be partnered with one of these stellar artists to gain advice and support as they make their new mini comic.

Apps are due 4/11. Learn more on our website: www.cakechicago.com/cupcake

Headshot of Steenz with the following information: "Special Guest / Steenz / CAKE May 2 & 3, 2026 / Irish American Heritage Center / 4626 N Knox Ave."

SPECIAL GUEST! Steenz is a St. Louis based cartoonist, professor, and editor. They currently teach at Webster University & SVA while editing independent titles. They’re also Board President of The St. Louis Independent Comics Expo.

Get excited to see Steenz (AKA @oheysteenz.bsky.social ) at CAKE 👏

Headshot of Jeremy Tinder with the following information added: "Special Guest / Jeremy Tinder / CAKE May 2 & 3, 2026 / Irish American Heritage Center / 4626 N Knox Ave."

SPECIAL GUEST! Jeremy Tinder is a cartoonist, painter, and educator based in Chicago. His favorite color is pink.

Make a plan to meet n' greet with Jeremy (AKA
@jeremytinder.bsky.social ) at his CAKE table - exactly one month from today 🎉

SPECIAL GUEST! Jim Terry is a Ho-Chunk storyteller who’s called Chicagoland his home for over ten thousand years, and has worked in comics for the last fifteen or so.

No foolin! Jim will be at CAKE May 2-3, so mark your calendar!

Headhost of Jamila Rowser with the following information added: "Special Guest / CAKE / May 2 & 3, 2026 / Irish American Heritage Center, 4626 N Knox Ave"

SPECIAL GUEST! Jamila Rowser is an award-winning writer, editor, and publisher. She’s known for her debut graphic novel, Wash Day Diaries, co-created with Robyn Smith, and as the founder of Black Josei Press.

Make a plan to visit Jamila (AKA @jamilarowser.bsky.social ) at her table this May ✨

SPECIAL GUEST! Gabriel Mason Howell: Published by Secret Acres, Reptile House Comix, Cold Cube Press, Entropy Editions, & Bred Press. Chicago based Ignatz award nominated cartoonist & Koyama grant recipient. Co-owner of Mind Palace Chicago.

Save the date so you don’t miss Gabe at CAKE ⭐️

Headshot of Ashley Robin Franklin with the following text around it: "Special Guest / Ashley Robin Franklin / CAKE, May 2 & 3, 2026 / Irish American Heritage Center / 4626 Knox Ave."

SPECIAL GUEST! Ashley Robin Franklin is a queer cartoonist and illustrator based in Austin, Texas, and originally from the Rio Grande Valley (that’s south South Texas). Notable works of theirs include: The Skin You’re In and The Hills of Estrella Roja.

Don't miss Ashley Robin at CAKE this year! 🍰

Graphic reading "Special Guest / Abby Kcaen" with a photo of Abby and the following event information: "CAKE / May 2 & 3, 2026 / Irish American Heritage Center, 4626 N Knox Ave"

SPECIAL GUEST! Abby Kacen (she/her) is a migratory cartoonist and DIY organizer. She’s the creator of the self-published fictional series, Sid & the Sickos, and autobio series Mild Pain.

Mark your calendar so you don’t miss Abby (AKA @mild-pain.bsky.social ) at CAKE this year ⚡️

Graphic reading "May 1, 2026 / Cupcake Award Minicomic Release Party / 6:30 - 8:00 PM / Skunk Cabbage Books / Join us for the inaugural comics reading event celebrating the 2025 Cupcake Award Winner: Mili St. John debuting And Up!, They Sprung! / More readers to be announced - stay tuned!"

We’re teaming up with @skunkcabbagebooks.bsky.social to celebrate @milimonster.bsky.social debuting “And Up!, They Sprung!”

Comics Reading Party: 5-1 / 6:30-8pm / readers TBA

Check out the 40 page surrealist memoir mini-comic by Mili, 2025 Cupcake Award winner: www.milistjohn.com/and-up-they-...

Graphic reading "Thank you / Awesome Foundation Chicago Chapter for the grant supporting the cupcake award! Thank to their generosity, we're able to partner two emerging artists with mentors this year."

Thank you to the Awesome Foundation’s Chicago Chapter for the grant! As a result of their generosity, CAKE is able to partner two emerging artists with mentors this year.

Check out their other awesome work: www.awesomefoundation.org/en/chapters/...

Remember, Cupcake application deadline is 4/11!

Graphic reading "10th Annual Cupcake Awards / Apps Due 4-11 / CAKE's award for emerging artists! / Winners receive a $400 micro-grant + professional mentorship!"

10th annual Cupcake Award applications are OPEN! And thanks to the Chicago Awesome Foundation chapter we’ll have 2 winners 🥳

The Cupcake Award is CAKE's $400 mentorship grant! Applications are due by 11:59 PM CDT on April 11, 2026.

Get the details and apply: www.cakechicago.com/cupcake

Cash bot needs your donations!
@cakechicago.bsky.social Art Auction 2nite @ Revolution Brewing

Plus, you get the chance to pick up some unique art & fab prizes! And chill with friends while you take in a few comics readings

Garfield as a collection jar

The CAKE Art Auction is tonight!
7p @ Revolution Brewing (3340 N Kedzie). This auction is one of the best ways to contribute to CAKE & ensure this local nonprofit continues to put on a yearly comics show that’s free to the public and has one of the lowest table fees (considering our size & 2 days) ✨

Bid on ORIGINAL ART from legends like: Stephen R. Bissette, Gilbert Hernandez, Keith Knight, Lale Westvind, Jeremy Sorese, Jesse Moynihan, Jeremy Tinder, Jeffrey Brown
or CUSTOM COMMISSIONS from Max Bare, Marnie Galloway, Tyrell Cannon, Landis Blair, and Mili St. John.
⚡️ ⚡️ This SATURDAY! 🎉 🎉

CAKE Auction promo poster highlighting Comics! Raffles! Readings!

⚡️RAFFLE PRIZES⚡️
CAKE couldn’t happen without the generous support of our community! We’ll be pulling raffle tickets throughout the auction and you could win comics, gift cards, local experiences, and more!

Save your 💰 & empty your bank account THIS SATURDAY March 21st 7-10pm Revolution Brewing

CAKE Art Auction Saturday mar 21, 7-10p. A sci-fi scene where a figure in yellow coveralls is flipping the switch to activate a large green pad with the glowing text “Orignal Artwork” above it

It’s that time of the year- the CAKE Art Auction this Saturday March 21, 7-10p at Revolution Brewing!! Once again hosted by the *amazing* duo: DJ Lil’ Debbie & Banana Man 🧁 🍌
Art to buy, comics readings, CAKE swag, prizes to win… we got it *all*
Thank you for showing up & helping make CAKE happen