The free and open Miami Zine Fair by EXILE Projects returns on Saturday, April 4 at Paradise Plaza in Miami Design. (Photo courtesy of Miami Zine Fair)
The Miami Zine Fair returns to Paradise Plaza on Saturday, April 4, turning the Miami Design District into a hub of creativity from noon to 5 p.m, offering a free, open-to-the-public celebration of all things self-published.
First launched in 2015 by EXILE Projects, the fair has grown in both scale and attendance, now featuring a mix of zine exhibitors, performances, site-specific artworks, demonstrations, workshops, and interactive programming, creating an environment that is energetic, inclusive, and community-driven.
This year’s fair will bring together over 150 artists, writers, illustrators, activists, and poets from Miami.
For context, a zine is a small, handmade publication that can take on any form blending art, writing and design into something entirely personal. With that in mind, visitors can move through immersive installations and multimedia activations while exploring hundreds of zines, created by both local and international artists.
The experience is sensory and interactive, inviting attendees to browse, and read in real time and experience how these zines intersect with art, activism, and storytelling. And with a handful of events throughout the day, attendees can experience creating their own artwork.
Starting at noon, “Make-a-Mend Bookmark” with ENTRE will be participating in a chance to create their own bookmarks using fabric scraps, found materials and traditional mending techniques sashiko and simple stitches.
In “Kaleidocycle: A Never-Ending Zine” at 1 p.m., artist Alex B. Kostiw will introduce the idea of circular storytelling and participants will create a short story about time or transformation and turn it into a foldable, rotating kaleidocycle zine.
Or, “How to Make a Pana Zine” with Pana MIA and Miami Poetry Club at 4 p.m., participants will create their own zine page to be included in a collective publication at the end of the year.
The fair brings together 150+ artists, writers, illustrators, activists, and poets from Miami and beyond. The event features a mix of zine exhibitors, performances, site-specific artworks, workshops and others. (Photo courtesy of Miami Zine Fair)
There will be a number of artists, poets, and authors, featured at the fair. One in particular is Terminal, founded in 2019 by Gabriela Valarezo and Jaime Nuñez del Arco. Terminal publishes books and zines with Latin American artists, exploring art, diaspora, resistance, and Latinx culture through archives, manifestos, and memory.
Another is Drew Lerman, a Miami-based cartoonist, writer, and podcast host known for his distinctive, surreal illustrations and cultural commentary.
The Wolfsonian–FIU Zines for Progress will have a booth as well. It is a Miami-Dade County public high school outreach program that uses zine-making to engage students with current social issues. Through collaboration and creative storytelling, students engage with The Wolfsonian–FIU's collection while building skills in critical thinking, communication, and empath
In addition to the artwork to be viewed or created, this year also unveils a new visual identity for the fair, featuring branding by designer Edau and the launch of a new website, offering an updated look that highlights its growth while remaining true to its original spirit.
IF YOU GO:
WHO: Miami Zine Fair 2026WHERE: 151 NE 41st St #3547, Miami
WHEN: Noon to 5 p.m., Saturday, April 4
ADMISSION: Free
INFORMATION: miamizinefair.com
