Despite social media and website silence, last night the organisers of Angoulême 2022 issued a formal statement on the postponement of this year’s international comic art festival that was first disclosed to the French press. In the statement they say that a “new date is currently envisaged in the spring, with the end of March/beginning of April being the most likely possibility.”

angoleme postponement

The full statement is below. (Translated by DeepL)

Postponement of the 49th edition of the ANGOULÊME INTERNATIONAL COMICS FESTIVAL

The Angoulême International Comics Festival, initially scheduled for 27 to 30 January 2022, has been postponed to a more favourable period. This new date is currently envisaged in the spring, with the end of March/beginning of April being the most likely possibility.

This decision was necessary, following the rapid advance of the pandemic in recent weeks and the government’s announcement on Monday 27 December establishing restrictions for an initial period of three weeks, which could be extended. This last condition prevents the event from adapting and comes on top of a number of other contingencies that were already affecting different audiences participating in the Festival: internationals, school groups, professionals from the comics ecosystem, etc.

All of the event’s public partners, the State, the New Aquitaine regional Council, the Charente Departmental council, the Greater Angoulême Urban Community and the City of Angoulême itself, are involved in supporting the Festival in this postponement.

The comic book publishers of the Syndicat National de l’Édition [national publishing union] (SNE) and the Syndicat des Éditeurs Alternatifs [alternative publishers union] (SEA) are also involved in this process.

These commitments represent a major factor of hope for the success and smooth running of future editions.

The very late date at which this postponement is required will, however, necessitate the implementation of exceptional measures to support the Festival.

This is why its organisers welcome with relief the words of the Minister of Culture and Communication, Roselyne Bachelot, who has immediately responded:

“I would answer that on all the struggling sectors, and indeed the postponement of the Angoulême Festival will entail costs, we will be there to help them as we have always been there to help the cultural sector, culture continues in all its forms; and the Angoulême Comics Festival, and comics is a cultural sector, must be protected and it must be promoted.” (source BFM TV Wednesday 29 December 2021 at 11:44 am)

The new dates of the 2022 Festival will be subject to consultation and will be announced soon.

Here’s hoping it still happens.