UK Comics Creators Research Report 2026

The most comprehensive overview of comics creators in the UK

Drawing on the responses from nearly 700 creators to the UK Comics Creator Survey in autumn 2025, this report builds on the findings of the first survey in 2020 and explores what has changed in the last five years, examining the impacts of Generative AI, the cost of living crisis and Brexit upon livelihoods. 

The UK Comics Creators Research Report offers vital insights to ensure the creators of this burgeoning grassroots industry are better supported, included, and advocated for, outlining concrete recommendations for funders, policymakers, and industry bodies.

KEY FINDINGS

• Comics creators are significantly more diverse than the UK population and creative industries in several areas: 13% are non-binary; 42% are LGBTQ+; 25% are disabled; 44% are neurodivergent…
  
• …Except for ethnicity, where 89% are white (compared to 82% nationally);
  
• Only 1/5 of respondents who want comics to be their career earn the majority of their income from comics;
  
• 89% of creators earning from traditional publishing make less than the UK National Living Wage;
  
• 72% rely on employment outside of comics (freelance, temporary, fixed-term or permanent);
  
• 13% are relying on UK state benefits (up from 9% in 2020);
  
• 63% of respondents cited ‘lack of financial income’ as a key challenge (being the main challenge for 28%);
  
• 57% cited ‘lack of time to create’ as a key challenge (being the main challenge for 25% of respondents);
  
• Only 4% of creators use GenAI in their comics production, but 36% believe or know they have lost work or income due to GenAI;
  
• Only 6% of respondents received public funding from arts councils; 4% from Arts Council England, 2% from Creative Scotland, and none at all from Arts Council Wales or Arts Council Northern Ireland.