A Reuben of Cartoonists Part 2 Friday August 7, 2026
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The second day of the National Cartoonists Society’s 80th Annual Reuben Awards and Conference will culminate in, as an Oscar winner once said, the night of nights. But there are a couple activities before the show. Mostly for NCS members.
From the National Cartoonists Society (NCS) newsletter:
FRIDAY, AUGUST 7TH
Friday’s programming is all at our host hotel. We’ll gather for NCS updates and energetic speakers, including our Special Keynote Speaker, Jim Davis.
9am Annual Business Meeting for Members
Open to all NCS Members, come hear updates from the Board of Directors, learn about recent accomplishments and upcoming initiatives, introduce yourself, and share your thoughts!
10:15am Jim Davis on Getting the Word Out, aka Brevity is the Soul of Wit
After producing a globally syndicated comic strip every day for nearly 50 years, Jim Davis shares what he’s learned (in retrospect) about keeping Garfield readers engaged. Jim will describe how he approaches the creative process to best serve a unique art form that appeals to a unique audience.
11:30am Toon Talks: TED-Style Presentations by Cartoonists
Five cartoonists. Five big ideas. Ten minutes each. Inspired by TED Talks, this fast-paced session features short, focused presentations on creative breakthroughs, business pivots, technical innovations, and career insights. Topics range from process to publishing, from style to strategy. After the presentations, join table conversations with speakers to dive deeper into the ideas that resonated with you.Presenters: Carolyn Belefski (How Comics Shape Minds and Health), Deon Parson (Making Traditional Comics in a Digital World), Jonathan Lemon (How to Hack Your Deadlines), Sonya Saturday (So Anyway, I Saved a Dollar), Tom Gammill (How I Learned To Draw)
After an afternoon of schmoozing it is time to get ready for The NCS Reuben Dinner and Awards.
Red Carpet Cocktails begin at 5pm, with doors opening at 6:30pm for the Banquet Dinner and Reuben Awards. Use the links below to learn more about this year’s distinguished honorees and nominees.
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