ICON13 The Illustration Conference | Maryland Institute College of Art
Fashion Design
Cultural Experiences
The 13th biannual national conference will take place July 15-18, 2026 in Baltimore, Maryland.
ICON13 The Illustration Conference
brings the illustration and graphic arts communities together for four full days of impact, insight, information and inspiration.
ICON is a nonprofit organization run by a board of volunteer illustrators, art directors and educators. It is produced "of, by and for" the community in service to the greater creative industry.
📝 ICON13 CONFERENCE REGISTRATION
WHAT'S INCLUDED
in your conference ticket Wednesday –Saturday?
PRISMS: WED-THUR
The Education Symposium and papers presentations
MAINSTAGE: THUR-SAT
All speaker and keynote presentations
And All Evening EVENTS
, including:
Motion Commotion – WED
Roadshow/Opening Party – THUR
Kaleidoscope – On the main stage
Attendee Gallery Show – FRI
Closing Night Party – SAT
WHAT are the EXTRA Add-ONs?
The following programs are available only to registered conference attendees. They are sold a la carte and require an additional registration and fee. Tickets will go on sale in Spring 2026.
WORKSHOPS
Lectures, hands on making classes and studio tours – WED-THUR
PORTFOLIO REVIEWS
With a curated group of art directors and artists – WED-THUR
🎟️
TICKETS
We are pleased to again offer our tiered incentive pricing plan – for optimal savings!
The faster you register for the conference, the more you'll save.
INCENTIVE PRICING
A limited number of tickets at various discount levels will be available, starting with our "Early Bird" tickets. As a block of tickets sells out, a new block at a higher price will be offered.
Seating is limited and tickets will go fast
, so keep an eye on the count down so you don't miss out on the best available price.
TICKET OPTIONS
• $513: 50 early bird discount tickets – SOLD OUT
• $525: 50 early bird discount tickets – SOLD OUT
• $550: 50 discount tickets – SOLD OUT!
•
$575
: final discount ticket – EXTENDED!
• $600: full-price ticket
OTHER DISCOUNT TICKET OPTIONS
Limited tickets will open after the early bird tickets sell out. Pricing subject to change based on availability. *ID required at check in.
•
$
513 x 5
: Group Rate with Five People Minimum – OPEN
•
$525 x 2
: Buddy "Two-Fer" tickets – EXTENDED!
•
$525
: Local/Quad-State+ Discount* (includes MD, DE, PA, VA and DC)– OPEN
•
$550
: Educator Discount* (full-time faculty) – OPEN
•
$485
: Student Discount* (College level enrolled through May 2026) – OPEN
💸 FEES and SALES TAX
Registration service and processing fees are extra as applied by Eventbrite.
For US transactions, service fees are 3.7% + $1.79 per ticket; payment processing is 2.9%. Sales tax is added on the gross ticket price based on Maryland combined tax rate of 6% for state, county and city sales.
Tax exempt status does not apply to individuals purchasing tickets. See Eventbrite for other supported currencies and information.
ICON appreciates your support and understanding.
⏰
SCHEDULE
July 15-18, 2026
8am - 11pm
There's a lot still in the works and subject to change, but this is pretty close. All take place at
MARYLAND INSTITUTE COLLEGE OF ART (MICA)
, or as noted.
WEDNESDAY
AM: Prisms and Workshops / PM: Motion Commotion at the Parkway
THURSDAY
AM: Prisms and Workshops / PM: Opening Keynote and The Roadshow
FRIDAY
AM: Mainstage / PM: The Gallery Show
SATURDAY
AM:
Mainstage / PM: Closing Party at American Visionary Art Museum
📍CONFERENCE LOCATIONS
Venues subject to change, stay tuned.
🏨 Hotel Indigo Baltimore Downtown
Conference Hotel, 24 West Frankling Street, Baltimore, MD 21201
Discount Reservations
The Hotel Indigo is offering a group discount rate of $169.00 + fees and tax (quad occ.) per night a few days before and after the conference, so come early, or stick around to check out Baltimore. Rooms are ready, but will go fast, so make your reservation soon. A special link to reserve your room at the group discount rate will be sent to you by email with your paid conference registration confirmation.
🖼️ Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA)
Mainstage, Sponsor Salon, Bookstore, Prisms Education Symposium and Workshops
🎬 Parkway
Motion Commotion
🎟️
Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA)
The Roadshow/Opening Night Party
🎨
Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA)
Attendee Gallery Show
🪩 American Visionary Art Museum
Closing Night Party
🙋🏽♀️ WAYS TO PARTICIPATE
After registering for the conference, you can look forward to additional information on workshops, shows and events to explore and share your talents as an exhibitor.
✧ = Additional application + fee required
🆓 = Free with conference ticket
Workshops
(Wednesday-Thursday)✧
Workshops are extra and sold à la carte and are only available to pre-registered conference attendees. The sessions will include lectures, making classes and studio tours. Schedule with instructors and registration will open in April 2024.
Portfolio Reviews
(Wednesday)✧
Portfolio Reviews are extra and sold à la carte and are only available to pre-registered conference attendees. Show your work to a curated group of art directors and artists.
Motion Commotion
at Parkway (Wednesday) 🆓
Animation festival and screening of attendees work. Look for application coming soon.
Roadshow Exhibitor
(Thursday)✧
Our high-energy, curated event and marketplace showcases the work and wares of more than 60 exhibiting illustrators and artisans as part of the Opening Party on Thursday evening, just after our Opening Ceremonies and Keynote on the Main Stage.
Attendee Gallery Show
(Friday) 🆓
A curated exhibit of attendees work at Chambers Gallery. Look for application coming soon.
Kaleidoscope
🆓
Selected attendees present on the Main Stage, Pecha Kucha style. Look for application coming soon.
🎤 SPEAKERS
More than 60+ speakers will take to our Main Stage and PRISMS stages over four days. Here’s a short list of who’s coming… so far. Stay tuned for many more big names to come, includig our workshop instructors!
Monet Alyssa
•
Golnoush Behmanesh
•
Kristy Caldwell
•
Liam Cassidy
•
Jessi Cerutti
•
Cheri Lee Charlton
•
Matthew Cook
•
Andrea Degener
•
Liza Donnelly • Yingda Dong • Mirko Illic • Noah Jodice • LA Johnson • Zihan Lin • Jenn Liv • Taylor Le • Christina Lee • Rohama Malik • Louis Henry Mitchell • Hadi Rahmati •Nishra Ranpura • Danielle Ridolfi • Kent Smith • Shadra Strickland • Dr. Karen Jiyun Sung • Tiny Inventions • Jonny Wilkinson • Kriota Willberg • Kohana Wilson • Sara Gómez Woolley
📣 SPONSORSHIPS
If you're interested in becoming a SPONSOR, please contact Steven Compton.
steven@theillustrationconference.org
☎️ CONTACT
office@theillustrationconference.org
646-669-8111 office
212-470-0302 cell
ICON13 POSTER and CONFERENCE ARTIST: ANDREW HAENER
Information Source: ICON The Illustration Conference | eventbrite
