CODEX X : February 7-10, 2026 The Oakland Marriott
The International Biennial CODEX Book Art Fair & Symposium focuses on serving practitioners, scholars, curators, collectors, students, and book arts enthusiasts by bringing together the international community to share their work and to educate the public about the rich and diverse artwork being made across the globe today.
As a non-profit organization, we aim to participate throughout the year in the overall ecology of the field. However, our biennial book art fair & symposium focuses on a vibrant slice of the rich activity taking place within the greater world of book arts.
Fair exhibitors are limited to those working in the field of limited-edition fine press books and artists’ books, where craft and concept unite into an exemplified work of art. We also invite those working in the associated crafts, such as bookbinders/box makers, calligraphers/lettering artists, papermakers/paper decorators, type foundries/type casters, toolmakers, and suppliers, to join our event. Our interpretation of craft is broad, and it encompasses historic tools and techniques, as well as new practices that build on these traditions. Exhibitors include a variety of academic institutions representing student work and public organizations and book arts centers working to preserve and promote the field.
Our focus is on work that unites craft and concept and engages all aspects of the book as a conceptual whole. We do not focus on general art book monographs or general photo books, although artists’ books and fine press books that include photographic processes are welcome. As an organization, we aim to preserve and promote craft traditions. However, we equally acknowledge that the end result of craft is not always ‘fine.’ There can be power and poetry behind a ‘roughly’ crafted work whose intention is clearly engaged with the material and the message being conveyed.
Although we do not prioritize zines, sculptural bookwork, or one-of-a-kind books, you will find some of this work at our exhibitors’ tables. We include a wider range of work if it helps to add diversity and gives voice to marginalized individuals in the field. We want to envision the broader future of the book as art together. We are particularly interested in supporting international artists, printers, and publishers in attending as exhibitors.
Our book art fair is unique amongst art fairs as the exhibitors are largely made up of the actual artists, printers, and craftspeople doing the work. Our fair does include a small number of organizations or galleries representing book artists. They do the important work of bringing new artwork to the venue, and they also represent individuals who may not be able to afford to attend the event on their own.
Both the fair and the symposium are open to the public to attend.
If you want to be an exhibitor, please join our newsletter to receive more information.
General Registration/Application Timeline:
Location and dates announced:
February 2025
For previous exhibitors at one or both of the last three fairs:
If you have exhibited at one or any of the previous three fairs (2019, 2022, or 2024) you do not need to reapply.*
*For exhibitors accepted off of the waitlist in 2024, you will need to reapply.
For new exhibitors or those who have not exhibited recently:
If you have never exhibited at CODEX before or you have not exhibited during the last three fairs (2019, 2022, or 2024), you will need to apply.
*For exhibitors accepted off of the waitlist in 2024, you will need to reapply.
New Applications and Emerging Artist Fellowship Applications Open:
Application details will be announced on our website, newsletter, and social media JUNE 2025.
Registration for Previous Exhibitors Opens:
Application details will be announced on our website, newsletter, and social media JUNE 2025.
New Application Decisions:
August 2025
Statement
We would like to take a moment to comment on the current political environment. It is during these times that bringing people together around the arts, even in small ways, becomes a political act in itself. As an organization whose mission is to support the book arts community, we must persevere and continue to create venues and connections for those working in the field. We support those who decide not to come to the US during this time, but we are also here for those of you who decide to make the trip. We realize that The CODEX Foundation’s International Biennial Book Art Fair & Symposium serves a critical role in your artistic careers, businesses, and institutions, and we plan on continuing to serve our community and promote the art of the handmade book and those working in the field in meaningful ways.
For CODEX X, the entire event will be held at the Oakland Marriott City Center: the symposium, the fair, the cocktail party, the gala dinner, and our block of reserved rooms. We hope this will foster more intense discussions, connections, and an even tighter-knit book arts community. Although hosting this event has become significantly more expensive and particularly financially challenging in the current political environment, we are keeping the fees largely unchanged for 2026. We will also continue to offer our Emerging Artist Fellowships started in collaboration with Aaron Cohick and our Research Scholarship with CBAA. The CODEX Foundation has also recently agreed to match three individual grants to help new artists to participate from South America. There is still much planning to be done, but rest assured, we are already designing a wonderful experience for you.