The Chicago Alternative Comics Expo, or CAKE, has been postponed until next year because of the COVID pandemic.

The pandemic caused the cancellations of the 2020 and 2021 in-person expos, and organizers had tentatively chosen June 2022 as a potential return date.

In an open letter, organizers said, "Because we are unwilling to jeopardize the safety of our exhibitors, public guests, or volunteer staff, we have unanimously voted to delay the expo again, with an as-of-yet undetermined future date. If you were accepted as an exhibitor for 2020's expo, your acceptance and table fee will still carry over to the next expo, whenever it happens."

They added, "We are not planning a virtual fest of any kind for 2022, as we feel it is better to honor the expectations of our exhibitors that they will have a physical table at a physical expo as soon as it is safe to do so. Last year in lieu of a physical show, we created a digital series called CAKE POPS where we checked in with CAKE creators about topics of interest to the community. We are currently planning a new slate of CAKE POPS throughout the latter part of 2022."

In January 2020, CAKE organizers announced that the venue would take place at the Broadway Armory after being at Center on Halsted for several years, citing the armory's larger space and the Center's use of a controversial security force.