OAX Launches Ticket Sales + 1st Round of Guests

ComicArtFans.com (CAF), the global hub for everything related to collecting comic book and other narrative or storytelling art, announced today the launch of ticket sales and hotel room reservations for its 3rd Annual Original Art Expo (OAX), which will take place February 20-22, 2026 in Orlando, Florida at the DoubleTree by Hilton at the Entrance to Universal Studios.

OAX is the premier narrative art-focused event in the world that exclusively showcases original comic book, illustration, collector card, comic strip, game, animation, and other visual storytelling art. The show is an intimate, intense, and immersive three-day art fair and trade show hybrid focused entirely on this emerging and important art collecting category.

OAX 2026 will bring together a minimum of 80 prominent artists alongside more than 50 art dealers, artist reps, auction houses, and related groups with the goal of making OAX the most anticipated and largest new art drop event of the year. Both year one and year two of OAX sold out of VIP tickets with year two bringing together nearly 1000 people over the weekend. Watch the OAX 2024 Intro video HERE and read the post-OAX 2025 press release with show stats HERE.

“With our third year of OAX, we’re excited to be making the Friday before the main show an Event Day with a combination of OAX, artist, exhibitor, and attendee-generated events running all day,” said Kasra Ghanbari, CEO of CAF. “For our past shows, we produced events over the weekend while seeing more and more incredible events put together by the entire community including Marvel card Box Break Battles with special card awards; learning how to play Magic The Gathering with free starter decks, expert teachers, and event posters; Marvel card case breaks with artist guests and art giveaways; and lots of Universal Studios and Disney meet-ups, which in 2026 will include Universal’s new Epic Universe. Friday at OAX 2026 will now have a long menu of scheduled events from which OAX attendees may choose, which will culminate in our first VIP Preview Night from 4 to 6pm leading into the VIP Opening Reception from 6-8pm that will then be followed by a four-hour, OAX-badge only after-hours get together. Send us your event ideas (info@oa-expo.com) to be considered for the Friday Event Day schedule, which we’ll continually update on the OAX website.”

Here are the 33 artists announced at launch for OAX 2026, with links for each on the OAX website:

Key features of OAX 2026:

• SPACE – OAX will cover the venue’s entire 60,000+ square foot convention center and has added event space off the hotel’s courtyard plus a 7,200 square foot pavilion that’s under construction.
• TICKETS – OAX offers VIP, Weekend, and Single Day badges, as well as reduced rate Couples badges for each. More info at the OAX website and on the ticket purchase page.
• HOTEL ROOMS – Use the OAX Hotel Room link to take advantage of the excellent rate and terms CAF has negotiated at the venue, which includes amenities such as free Wi-Fi and use of gym, as well as reduced daily and overnight parking rates with no resort fees, no deposit required, and zero cancelation fees up to 72 hours before your reservation.
• ARTISTS + EXHIBITORS – The OAX 2026 launch announced 33 attending artists with more artists and all exhibitors being announced over the next five months.
• ARTIST + EXHIBITOR APPLICATION FORMS – For the first time, OAX has posted application forms for both Artists and Exhibitors, which may be found on the OAX website. Applications will be accepted through September 1, and notice of acceptance with complete exhibitor information, pricing, and space availability will be made by October 1.
• FRIDAY EVENT DAY – Friday before the main show will be a full day of OAX, artist, exhibitor, attendee, and community-generated events that will be scheduled, posted, and described on the OAX website. These events will be free to OAX badge holders with the possible exception of a few special paid and VIP-only events.
• FRIDAY VIP PREVIEW NIGHT & RECEPTION – OAX 2026 has added a VIP Preview Night from 4 to 6pm, where VIP badge holders will have two hours of full access to the show floor with most of the artists and exhibitors set up. This will be followed by the private VIP Reception in the venue’s courtyard from 6 to 8pm, with nearly all OAX artists and exhibitors in attendance.
• PRE-OAX COMMISSIONS – OAX actively recruits artists to provide pre-OAX commissions to be delivered at OAX. Beginning in June, these opportunities will be announced through our CAF+ YouTube channel, newsletters, and OAX website. Make sure to subscribe to the OAX newsletter, CAF newsletters, and CAF+ channel to get the news first.
• IAX + CAX – The Illustration Art Expo (IAX) and Card Art Expo (CAX) will be back as part of OAX with additional specialized OAX sections to be announced later this year. More info on IAX and CAX may be found on the OAX website.
• OAX AUCTION & FUNDRAISING EVENT – Included with your Saturday access badge at OAX is our Auction & Fundraising Event, which will feature 80+ pieces of art created almost exclusively by attending OAX artists with a percentage of proceeds going to several non-profit groups. Plenty of food will be served along with an open bar during the event.
• SUNDAY FREE SKETCH & SIGNATURE EVENT – Included with your Sunday access badge at OAX is our Sunday Free Sketch & Signature Event where attendees will be able to get free quick sketches and up to two signatures from participating artists during a TBD time slot.
• SPECIAL GALLERIES – All attendees at OAX 2026 will be able to view no less than five museum-level gallery presentations of comic book, illustration, card, and other visual storytelling art collections. Announcements covering the specific galleries will occur later this year.