The award-winning OH!CON returns for its fifth year this weekend, with a programme of preliminary events today (Friday) ahead of the big day tomorrow (Saturday 3 October).

The Big OH!CON Quiz officially raises the curtain on proceedings tonight but there will also be a book launch in Taigh Ceilidh this afternoon. It is thought to be the first manga set in the Hebrides and has also been translated into Gaelic. 

The annual comic-con for the Outer Hebrides started in 2022 as an event to celebrate comic books, art, science fiction, fantasy, film, animation, gaming, cosplay and other creative pursits.

It rapidly gained interest among fans and a reputation among international creatives as being a festival well worth coming to. Within a year of being launched, OH!CON had won the Scottish Creative Lives award, recognising its creativity and contribution to the community.

The OH!CON 2026 extravaganza will kick off will the launch of manga artist and author Eira Richard’s Eadar Dhà Shian at An Taigh Ceilidh.

Set in the 8th Century, it tells the story of a young girl, Iola, who gets captured in a Viking raid.

The English version of the story is thought to be the first published manga to be set in the Hebrides. The Gaelic version has been translated by local academic Magaidh Smith.

The event starts at 3.30pm, ahead of the Big OH!CON Quiz at 7pm in Stornoway Town Hall.

Hosted by OH!CAST co-host and producer Callum Macdonald, there will be questions on a range of themes including film, games and the comic book world. Topics could typically range from who wrote The Hunger Games books to what is the highest possible Pacman score.

Teams of up to four people will be able to compete for the title of OH!CON’s Big Quiz winner 2026. It is open to everyone to come along and test their knowledge. 

Entry is £20 per team, with all proceeds going to this year’s OH!CON supported charity, Catch 23.

Catch 23 is a mental health drop-in centre and support service in Stornoway, operated by the Western Isles Association for Mental Health (WIAMH).

The book launch is free to attend and is open to anyone. To book a place at the big quiz and to buy tickets for OH!CON, click here.

Friday's events will set the mood for tomorrow's day of cosplay and fantasy.

This year’s line-up includes comic writer and artist Adam Murphy, local video game designer Calum MacIntosh, comic and games writer Dave Cook (Killtopia), stunt performer Andy Eadie and local author Gary Ross-Jordan.

Their Gaelic events will not stop at the book launch, as there will also be a Gaelic panel talk at OH!CON which looks at ‘speculative Gaelic storytelling for the 21st Century’.

Panel members include Tim Armstrong, Dr Emily McEwan, and Catriona Nicholson – all of whom have brought fantasy and sci-fi stories to Gaelic-speaking audiences.

To find out more about the different panel talks and workshops, click here to see the OH!CON 2026 programme.