Indiecon Festival has announced its International Travel Grant open call for 2026, offering six funded opportunities for independent publishers to attend, exhibit, and actively participate in one of Germany’s largest independent publishing festivals. The deadline for applications is February 28, 2026.
Held in Hamburg from September 4–6, 2026, Indiecon brings together publishers working across magazines, books, zines, artist publishing, digital formats, newsletters, podcasts, and experimental platforms. The travel grants are designed to support international participation and ensure that voices from outside Germany can take part in the festival’s exhibitions, talks, and workshops.
What the Travel Grant Offers
The Indiecon International Travel Grant supports six independent publishing initiatives each year:
- Three grants for publishers from EU member states
- Three grants for publishers from outside the EU
Each grant covers travel, transportation, and accommodation costs for up to two people per initiative. In addition to financial support, selected publishers receive:
- A free exhibition table at Indiecon 2026
- Full access to the festival’s conference program
- An invitation to actively participate in a conference talk, workshop, or roundtable session
The grant is aimed at independent publishers of all kinds, including publishing houses, collectives, magazine and zine makers, book artists, and designers working with digital formats such as websites, newsletters, and podcasts.
Who Should Apply
Indiecon particularly welcomes applications from publishers whose work:
- Addresses political, cultural, or social issues
- Opens up new perspectives or brings neglected topics into focus
- Experiments with alternative publishing models, including collectives, cooperatives, or community-based initiatives
- Explores new forms of publishing, both physical and digital
By supporting these practices, the travel grant reflects Indiecon’s wider mission to foster exchange, experimentation, and dialogue across the international publishing landscape.
As Inga Wellmann, Head of Department for Arts and Creative Industries at the Ministry of Culture, Hamburg, has stated:
“Indiecon is not just a festival, it’s not just a three day event, it’s a platform and a network that is growing and reaching out into the whole world.”
Similarly, Dr. Carsten Brosda, Senator for Culture and Media, Hamburg, describes Indiecon as a space rooted in forward-looking exchange:
“Indiecon is not just about leafing through pages, but about exchange, experimentation and how stories can be told and shaped today. Especially in times like these, it is crucial not to stand still or even go backwards, but to look ahead together.”
About Indiecon
Founded in 2014, Indiecon has grown from a conference into an internationally recognised festival for independent publishing. Now in its thirteenth year, the event welcomes more than 150 exhibitors and 2,500 visitors annually. Indiecon is organised by brueder creative cooperative, a Hamburg and Berlin–based cooperative working across design, code, and content.
How to Apply
The application deadline for the Indiecon International Travel Grant 2026 is February 28, 2026.
For independent publishers looking to connect internationally, present their work, and take part in critical conversations around contemporary publishing, the Indiecon International Travel Grant offers both meaningful support and long-term visibility within a global network.
marcroy@peopleofprint.com
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