2026 Artist Alley Application Dates: The Ultimate Convention Calendar

Every year, thousands of artists miss artist alley applications because they simply didn't know when they opened. This page exists to fix that. We've compiled every known 2026 application window — major national cons, mid-size regionals, and fan favorites — in one place.

Applications are listed by con date (earliest first). For confirmed dates, we link to the source. For estimated dates, we note the prior year's window so you know when to start watching.

Q1 2026 Conventions (Jan–Mar)

Q2 2026 Conventions (Apr–Jun)

Q3 2026 Conventions (Jul–Sep)

Q4 2026 Conventions (Oct–Dec)

How Application Dates Work (And Why They're Hard to Track)

Most conventions don't announce their application dates far in advance. They'll post on social media, update their website, or send a newsletter — often all at the same time, with little warning. Some application windows are open for 72 hours. Some fill up before the window even officially closes because spots are first-come, first-served.

The "est." dates on this page are based on prior years' patterns. They're a good guide for when to start paying attention — but they're not guaranteed. A convention that opened apps in October last year might open in September this year.

Tips for Applying Fast When a Window Opens

1. Have your materials ready before the window opens. Portfolio images (sized), bio, table photo, social links, store URL — prep it all now so you can submit in 10 minutes.
2. Check back on "Watch" cons weekly as their con date approaches. Applications tend to open 3–6 months before the event.
3. Follow the convention on all social channels — Twitter/X, Instagram, and their Discord if they have one. Openings are announced there first.
4. Use ArtistAlleyNotifier to stop doing all of the above manually.

Is a Convention Missing?

We track 890+ conventions but this list focuses on the most searched-for events. If you want a specific convention added, email us or sign up and request it from your dashboard. We add new conventions weekly.