2026 KumoriMarket Creators' Column Application

Formerly known as Small Press, the Creators' Column welcomes freelance artists and creators by providing space to sell their personal works at the convention. Kumoricon defines the Creators' Column as independently-developed artist businesses featuring original content. This includes companies that focus on fashion apparel, tabletop games, webcomics, plushies, and much more!

Applications for the Kumoricon 2026 Creators' Column will open at 7:00pm Pacific Time on Saturday, February 21, 2026, and will close at 7:00pm Pacific Time one week later (Saturday, February 28, 2026). Applications may close early if the quantity of applications exceeds the overflow limit. A decision regarding your application will be completed by our selections jury in May.

Application Jury Process
Kumoricon’s 2026 Creators' Column will be juried. The jury process will begin following the close of Creators' Column applications with notifications going out to all applicants (whether accepted, rejected, or waitlisted) in May. The jury process will be based on (in order of importance):
- Adhering to the Creators' Column rules and guidelines based on information in the application (incomplete applications are disqualified)
- Variety of products/offerings/artwork (categories of many types)
- Professionalism and completeness of portfolio

Exhibitors should be ready to provide:- Basic contact information, including an up-to-date email address
- Examples of work through photos or videos of booths at prior events (this is highly preferred), DeviantArt/YouTube tutorial/websites with example art, or any online link that gives examples of work.

Sharing a Booth
Up to two creators may share a single booth in the Creators' Column. If you wish to do so, do not apply separately - apply as a single applicant. On the application, be sure to utilize the Secondary Email Address and Portfolio URL questions within the application below for the shared exhibitor. Shared booths will be juried as one applicant with an average score between the two being assigned as the result. While there is no difference in fees between solo and shared Creators' Column booths, bear in mind that there are still only two badges given per table unless additional badges are purchased separately. Your secondary/partner applicant's portfolio and email must be on your original application (or edited on your application with approval from KumoriMarket management before May) - requests for sharing a booth after the deadline will be declined as our jury is unable to reconvene after that time.

Artist Collectives or Groups beyond two individuals are not allowed to share a single booth and must apply separately. Be sure to review our subletting policy on the contract outlined below - the artwork or merchandise of creators/exhibitors not on your original application are not allowed to be sold, distributed, or displayed at your table.

Pricing and Applications
Full Creators' Column spaces include 2 complimentary full weekend memberships (valued at $120–$160), and will have a cost of $500 for standard booths ($450 base fee plus $50 corner value). Most Creators' Column booths are “corner” booths, meaning at least two of its four sides are open, and the corner fee is waived for any non-corner spaces. Up to two additional badges (for a total of four) may be purchased below, if desired. Creators' Column booths are 10-foot by 10-foot corner booth spaces with 8-foot tables with a 2-foot width and two chairs. Each booth comes with 2 full weekend memberships to the convention.

PLEASE READ THIS IMPORTANT INFORMATION BEFORE APPLYING!
Creators' Column is intended to be a showcase of independent businesses and original art (not fan creations based on industry characters). You may only display, distribute, or sell items which are wholly original creations of the artist(s) at the booth. These original creations may not include, as any element of their design, intellectual property not created by the artist(s) at the booth. If your portfolio or website contains fan art (used for other events or artist alleys that allow it), please acknowledge that, if accepted as a Kumoricon 2026 Creators' Column exhibitor, you will be omitting the fan art in question from sales in the “additional information” section at the bottom of this application. Failure to do so may result in your application being automatically declined.
If you have any questions, please email kumorimarket@kumoricon.org and we will be happy to assist you.

Kumoricon 2026 Creators' Column Contract linked below. Please read the contract and email us any questions you have regarding our policies at kumorimarket@kumoricon.org.