12th International Conference & Festival on Visual Communication, Graphic Stories

Graphic Stories 2026 | Larnaca, 8-10 May

Graphic Stories returns, this time to Larnaca, for its 12th edition. With international speakers, workshops, exhibition and poster contest awards.

The 12th International ConFest on Visual Communication, Graphic Stories, returns dynamically on 8–10 May 2026 at Alexander College in Larnaca, reaffirming its role as one of the most important international visual communication events in Cyprus.

For three days, Graphic Stories brings together designers, artists, researchers and creative professionals from Cyprus and abroad, creating a vibrant platform for the exchange of ideas, knowledge and contemporary creative practices.

FRIDAY, MAY 8TH
Lectures, exhibition opening, awards & networking

The first day of the conference, Friday 8 May, is dedicated to the lectures of our invited speakers:
Andrei Grosu, Marina Pavlova, Simon Pruciak, Lakis Argyrou, Panayiotis Voulgaris, Vassia Kalozoumi, Kostas Kanellopoulos, Babis Schoinas and Yiannis Hadjipanayis.

This year’s program includes 9 lectures covering topics such as design, typography, calligraphy, artificial intelligence, political communication, contemporary visual culture, pricing and creative practice, as well as personal and professional development. Attendance available both in person and online via live streaming.

Following the lectures, the award ceremony of the international poster contest “Poetry Speaks Loud” will take place. Immediately after, the international poster exhibition will open to the public, presenting selected works as they emerged through the competition’s evaluation process. Poetry is the pulse of the human soul. It is the rhythm that turns silence into voice, emotions into images, and words into breath. Just as the poet sculpts language, the designer sculpts light, color, and form. When poetry meets design, a new language is born, a visual, universal language that promotes culture, highlights cultural heritage and speaks directly to the heart.

The jury of the competition consists of internationally acclaimed professionals, including David Carson, José Luis Hernández Díaz “Chepe”, Shangning Wang, Jiayan He, Behnam Raeesian and Aristarchos Papadaniel.

The exhibition presents 50 selected works by designers from around the world, offering a unique viewing experience combined with an evening of networking.

The exhibition is open and free to the public and will run until 22 May 2026.

The competition prizes are offered by Parachute® Typefoundry, while the trophies are provided by Alexander College. The exhibition is curated by Aggeliki Athanasiadi.

Lectures Venue: Alexander College Cyprus

WEEKEND, MAY 9TH-10TH
3 workshops with hands-on experience

During the weekend of 9–10 May, the program continues with specialised workshops with a limited number of participants:

• Babis Schoinas – Zero to Hero: The Design Business
• Marina Pavlova – Blackletter Calligraphy for Beginners
• Lakis Argyrou – The Sound of Silence: An Experiential Journey into the Poetry of Communication

The workshops are aimed not only to designers, but also to anyone interested in creativity, communication, calligraphy and personal or professional development.

Workshops Venue: Alexander College Cyprus

A platform for visual communication

Graphic Stories continues to highlight the importance of visual communication in contemporary society, building bridges between the creative community, education and society.

The event is organised by Graphic Stories Cyprus, in collaboration with Alexander College, and with the support of the Deputy Ministry of Culture – Department of Contemporary Culture. The event is consistently supported by the Cyprus Computer Society and Kemanes PrintShop.

Graphic Stories has been selected by the European Festivals Association (EFA) as one of the best festivals in Europe, receiving the EFFE Label 2026–2027, and is a member of the World Industrial Design Association (WIDA).

Information & Tickets!

More Information: www.graphicstories.org
Program: www.graphicstoriescyprus.com/program
Tickets: www.graphicstoriescyprus.com/tickets

Participation details:

• Lectures: In person & Online
• Workshops: In person
• Exhibition: Free admission

Organizer:

Media Sponsors: RIK, SIGMA Television, POLITIS Newspaper & Radio, Digital Tree