The 37th edition of the Amadora Comic Book Awards (PBDA) has its nominees. Competing are 24 works, distributed across five categories: Best Foreign Comic Book Published in Portugal; Revelation Award; Best Fanzine / Independent Publication; Best Portuguese Author Comic Book; and Best Portuguese Comic Book Edition.
The winners will be announced on October 18, Sunday, at 5:00 PM, during the awards ceremony, which will be held at the Central Hub of Amadora BD in Parque da Liberdade.
In 2026, the monetary prize for the ‘Best Portuguese Author Comic Book’ will double, from €5,000 to €10,000. For the first time, a prize of €3,000 will be awarded to the ‘Revelation Award’. Additionally, the winning work of the ‘Best Portuguese Comic Book Edition’ will be honored by the Municipality of Amadora with the purchase of 100 copies.
The jury for this edition comprised three members: Rui Cartaxo (Jury President and representative of the Municipality of Amadora), Cristina Alves (Critic and Comic Book Specialist), and Luís Louro (Winner of the ‘Best Portuguese Author Comic Book’ Award in 2025).
Amadora BD, an initiative by the Amadora Municipal Council since 1990, aims to promote comic books through an annual program including autograph sessions, exhibitions, launches, workshops, and presentations. The 37th edition will feature 14 exhibitions, highlighting anniversaries of series such as Lucky Luke (80 years), Blake & Mortimer (80 years), Fantastic Four (65 years), Dylan Dog (40 years), and Menino Triste (25 years).
The festival will also host a retrospective of Canadian author Guy Delisle, and exhibitions on impactful personal and political stories, such as ‘The lines that trace my body’ (with confirmed presence of author Mansoureh Kamari), ‘The Salem Girls’ (with author Thomas Gilbert), ‘Shi – Cycle One’ (bringing Joseph Homs to Portugal), and ‘Chronicles of Enerelis’ (by Patrícia Costa).
At the Municipal Gallery Artur Bual, there will be exhibitions on cartoons and satire, including a retrospective of the Spam Cartoon project and a showcase dedicated to Vasco Gargalo. The Amadora Bedeteca will host ‘Tales from Nevermore’, the winner of the Revelation Award in 2025.
Amadora BD reinforces its commitment to valuing comic books in Portugal, supporting national publishing and the talent of Portuguese authors. The event will maintain extended hours for autograph sessions and the 'Hora da BD' (Comic Hour) with additional discounts.
