SLICE 2026 Opening Night

SLICE 2026 Opening Night kicks off the St. Louis Independent Comics Expo on Friday, October 30, at The Sheldon Concert Hall and Art Galleries. It's the first night of the expo, which runs the following day, and it's free and open to the public.

The evening starts with Cleonique Hilsaca, who'll be debuting a new poster and doing signings. Joining the lineup are Akira B. of WildStar Press, Shay Mirk of Crucial Comix, Crystal Odelle, Nicole Goux, and Dave Scheidt. The night also features the third annual Local Best in Show Award, sponsored by the MFA in Illustration & Visual Culture at WashU, which recognizes local talent. A raffle closes the evening.

For context, SLICE is the city's premier annual indie-print showcase. It brings together more than 100 writers and artists from St. Louis and beyond to show self-published books, comics, zines, prints, magazines, poetry, and more. The mission is to support independent creators and keep print arts accessible to St. Louisans through community building, local collaborations, and free public events. Opening Night is sponsored by Betty's Books, a locally owned bookstore that specializes in comics, graphic novels, and manga.

Since it's the spooky season, the expo encourages everyone to come in costume. The event runs from 6 PM to 10 PM at The Sheldon, 3648 Washington Avenue, and it's free to attend.