ICON The Illustration Conference is the definitive destination for the global illustration community, providing a rare space where commercially driven art meets academic rigor. This unique four-day gathering serves as a vital forum for, professional advocacy, continuing education and pure inspiration. Operating entirely as a non-profit endeavor, the conference migrates to a different U.S. cultural hub every two years, drawing an influential crowd of creators, educators, designers, and art directors. This year, Maryland Institute College of Art [MICA] in Baltimore, will host the proceedings. Above: Scene from ICON12, in Minneapolis

For those looking to plunge into the current issues shaping the field, ICON breaks its multi-day schedule into three distinct pillars: 

The Mainstage & The "Scoop": Attendees experience two intense days of heavily visual keynotes, alternating between legendary standard-bearers and the raw energy of short-form, Pecha Kucha-style showcases.

The Academic Vanguard: Long before the mainstage opens, educators and researchers gather for Prisms: The Illustration Education Symposium. This track explores how rapid shifts in technology and visual culture are altering classroom pedagogy, history, and practice-based research.

The Marketplace & Review: Beyond the formal lectures, the conference functions as a tactical career engine with curated portfolio reviews, gallery exhibitions, and a bustling independent marketplace.

Whether it is navigating the legal realities of artificial intelligence or sharing the tactile joy of independent publishing, the gathering remains the most reliable barometer for where illustration is going next. For upcoming programming schedules, call-for-papers deadlines, and registration details, visit the official ICON The Illustration Conference portal.

Mainstage, the heart of ICON, will take place on the evening of Thursday, July 16; all day Friday, July 17; and all day Saturday, July 18, at Falvey Hall in the Brown Center at the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA), with sessions running from 8:15 AM to 7 PM each day.

Thursday Keynote:
Born in Bosnia, Mirko Ili drew comics, illustrations, designed posters, books and record covers in Europe. In 1991, he became the art director of Time Magazine International Edition. In 1992, he became art director of the Op-Ed pages of the New York Times. In 1995, he established Mirko Ilic Corp. Today, he designs and illustrates for a wide range of clients. See more of his work at mirkoilic.com

Friday Keynote:
Louis Henry Mitchell is the Creative Director of Character Design for Sesame Street. He also serves on the board of the Norman Rockwell Museum. Louis designs Sesame Street Muppets and Macy's Parade floats and balloons, directs photoshoots, and lectures internationally. Louis is also the author of "Qreative Evolution: How to Question Everything to Find Your Creative Fulfillment" (Blackstone Publishing, 2025). See more of his work at qreativeevolution.com

Saturday Keynote:
Liza Donnelly is a writer, cartoonist, and director for The New Yorker magazine and others. The author of 18 books, Liza's TED mainstage talk was translated into 40 languages and viewed 1.5 millions times. She is a Vassar Visiting Scholar and a Barnard Leadership Fellow. She was the first cartoonist to be credentialed to the Oscars to live-draw and speaks around the world. See her work at lizadonnelly.com

Click to check out all the ways to save with ICON13s special discounts

Looking for an easy way to keep track of ICON13 calls and submissions?
Check out the new ICON HQ website. The Calls for Submission section collects all the info from our newsletters and social media in one place—and there is still time to submit your proposals.