Dear Educators and Students,

As the fall semester ends, we are excited to start recruiting volunteers for next year's ICON Illustration Conference. ICON13 will take place in Baltimore, Maryland, Wednesday, July 15 – Saturday, July 18, 2026.

To help keep the conference buzzing and operating smoothly, we are once again creating a student Volunteer Team. Volunteers can be anyone who is an undergraduate or graduate student, including those graduating in May 2026. Students are welcome to apply. If you're an educator who knows the perfect candidate, send them our application.

Each of the ICON13 board of directors needs a team to help them execute all aspects of the conference, from set up, registration, check-in, office admin, bookstore, stagecraft, speaker concierge/wranglers, events, and more. It’s a great opportunity for them to meet their idols, get to know the amazing industry and community that awaits them, all while helping us make sure the conference runs smoothly and the attendees have a fantastic experience. 

Volunteers will receive a free conference ticket that includes all events and parties, and we’ll be sure they get to observe as much of the programming as possible. 

Volunteers must be available July 14/15 through July 18, 2026. They are responsible for their own travel and lodging in Baltimore. ICON has a limited number of discount hotel rooms for volunteers at the Indigo Hotel for $169 per night, with up to four to a room if they want to split the cost.  Other accommodation options are in the works, too...details to come!

Here’s a link to the short application form where we’ll ask applicants to tell us their strengths, interests, and what would make them a good addition to our team.

The volunteer application is due Saturday, February 28, 2026. Those selected will be notified via email in March of 2026 with info and links where they can register for the conference and reserve their discount hotel room if needed.

If there are any questions, feel free to contact the ICON office here: office@theillustrationconference.org 

Looking forward to hearing from students and educators!

Best,

Terri Fry Kasuba
ICON13 Board / Volunteer Coordinator