Event Starts In
- Next FCBD
- May 1, 2027
- Cost
- Free
FOLLOWING
1
Free Comic Book Day 2027
Free Comic Book Day 2027 lands on Saturday, May 1. Since 2002, participating comic shops have given away specially printed comics on the first Saturday of May. Publishers use the day to launch new series and hook new readers; shops pair it with signings, sales, and artist appearances.
The 2027 title lineup and the official participating-store list are usually announced between February and April. VerseDB adds every announced FCBD store event to the calendar below as soon as the list is out.
Upcoming Free Comic Book Day events
Two giveaways, one Saturday
Since 2026, the day has run under two banners. Free Comic Book Day is organized by Universal and Lunar Distribution with Diamond UK; Penguin Random House runs its own giveaway, Comics Giveaway Day, on the same Saturday. The split followed Diamond Comic Distributors' 2025 bankruptcy, which reshuffled who distributes which publisher.
In 2026 that meant DC, Image, Archie, Oni Press, and Titan titles shipped under the FCBD banner, while Marvel, BOOM! Studios, Dark Horse, and IDW books went out through Comics Giveaway Day. For readers it made little difference: most shops took part in both, so one visit covered the two. Neither event has announced its 2027 lineup yet.
What comics are free?
The giveaway books are special editions printed for the day: first issues, series previews, and all-ages titles built to hand to a new reader. Publishers announce their lineups in the spring, a few weeks before the store list goes out.
The 2027 list is not out yet. Until it lands, the past years' lists below show what a typical lineup looks like.
Last time around
VerseDB tracked 69 Free Comic Book Day events on May 2, 2026, with venues, cities, and hours.
- Store events
- 69
- Cities
- 49
- Countries
- 3
Free Comic Book Day FAQ
- When is Free Comic Book Day 2027?
- Free Comic Book Day 2027 is Saturday, May 1, 2027. It falls on the first Saturday of May every year.
- What is Free Comic Book Day?
- Free Comic Book Day (FCBD) is an annual giveaway that started in 2002. Participating comic shops hand out specially printed FCBD titles at no charge, and publishers use the day to launch new series and all-ages books.
- What is Comics Giveaway Day?
- Comics Giveaway Day is a parallel giveaway run by Penguin Random House on the same Saturday, first held in 2026 after Diamond Comic Distributors' 2025 bankruptcy split comics distribution. In 2026 it carried Marvel, BOOM! Studios, Dark Horse, and IDW books, while DC, Image, and others ran under the Free Comic Book Day banner. Most shops carried both.
- What free comics will be on the 2027 list?
- The 2027 list has not been announced; both giveaways publish their lineups in the spring. Expect mostly first issues and starter books for new readers. The full 2025 and 2026 lineups are on this page.
- Are the comics actually free?
- Free for you: participating shops pay for every copy they order and give away. Popular titles can run out by midday, so go early.
- How do I find a participating shop near me?
- The official participating-store list is published in the spring, a few weeks before the event. Until then, look up your local shop in the VerseDB comic shop directory; most take part.
