Dhaka Zine Mela 2026: A celebration of creativity and community

On June 6 and 7, 2026, at Goethe-Institut, Dhanmondi, Zine Mela Dhaka 2026 was held, organised by Sister Library (Dhaka) and Colors Publishing. The two-day event brought together independent artists, writers, and creators to celebrate self-publishing, artistic expression, and community engagement.

Zines are small-circulation booklets that are often made by folding or binding a sheet of paper. Created with minimal expenditure and circulated in non-commercial publishing spaces, zines serve as a medium of expression for artists, allowing them to explore personal experiences, social issues, and creative ideas with greater freedom and nuance. 

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The event commenced on June 6 with more than 30 artists showcasing handmade zines, comic zines, interactive publications, experimental prints, and crafts. Visitors explored diverse creative works while engaging directly with artists and creators.

Throughout the event, a number of workshops encouraged participants to experiment with various forms of artistic expression, including printmaking, tactile storytelling, weaving art workshops, creative writing without constraints and zine making. The sessions provided participants with opportunities to learn new skills, exchange ideas, and collaborate with fellow creators. The organisers arranged a space for participants to create and design their own zines with colours and papers having been provided, thereby giving participants the floor to engage creatively with the process of zine making.

The panel discussion titled “My Zines Discussion” explored zine making, learning through creative practices, art and handwriting commenced soon. The session brought together artist, designer, and Bangla script and typography researcher Sabyasachi Hazra; Books and Literary Editor at The Daily Star, and Assistant Professor and Chair at North South University, Dr Nazia Manzoor; artist and cartoonist Dhrubani Mahbub; and multidisciplinary artist and founder of Colors Publishers, Anusha Alamgir. 

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Moderated by Katerina Don–curator of HerStory Foundation, and followed by a quick rapid fire, the discussion centered around zine making as an analogue process requiring time, creative practices and the challenges in pursuit of them. The panelists discussed the importance of making mistakes as a way to learn, and engaging with the arts to influence and develop creativity. 

The first day concluded with an open mic session featuring poetry recitations, musical performances, and personal storytelling from participants.

“The Zine Mela was a predominantly free event where the main objective was for everyone in Dhaka to come, congregate, create, live within the community, get to know like-minded people, free-spirited people, forward-thinking people.” said Anusha Alamgir.

“Zine making is a spirit of independence and taking things into your own way. You can be your own editor and publisher—that is empowering.” said Katerina Don, Curator Of Herstory Foundation. She added, “We need to practice that uniqueness, that individuality with the support of a system even if it is a noninstitutional system that encourages them to do things.” 

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The second day, too, started with zine showcasing and artists and consumers communicating in a lively chatter. Workshops centering creative writing without constraints, imagining new possibilities with how numbers can become tools for creativity also took place, with participants learning and engaging with the arts with a hands-on approach.

“It was an ecstatic experience for me to have the privilege to share space with so many creative and encouraging people. The environment was so full of life and passion,” said one of the participating artists, Quazi Rownak Jahan Lamia.

With musical performances by Dameer, Rimjim, and Netbaby, the mela was brought to a vibrant close.

Through its workshops, discussions, performances, and many unique and creative zines, Dhaka Zine Mela 2026 stood as a testament to the power of independent creativity and the importance of fostering artistic communities in Dhaka.

Sabrina Sazzad is pursuing a Bachelor of Social Science in Economics and adoring her cat. Reach her at sabrinasazzad07@gmail.com.