It didn’t take long but the copyright holders of the Angoulême Festival, Association FIBD, have bitterly responded to the news that the stakeholders alliance Association for the Development of Comics in Angoulême (ADBDA) had chosen the Morgane Group to oversee a new international comics festival in the town. Meanwhile Morgane, led by co-directors Céline Bagot and Marie Parisot, have pledged that they are targeting January 2027 (the month that the original festival takes place) for the first edition.
On Tuesday evening the ADBDA sent a press release to major French news outlets to inform them that they had chosen the Morgane Group as the recipient of the five-year operating contract for a new Angoulême comics festival. The festival will have a new name and branding since both are closely held by the Association FIBD and its preferred operator 9e Art+. And neither the Association nor 9e Art+ has taken this lightly.
We now have the ADBDA press release, so we can directly quote:
“The Association for the Development of Comics has selected the project led by the female duo Marie Parisot and Céline Bagot, spearheaded by Morgane, to organize the future international comics event in Angoulême, starting in 2027. Selected by an independent and diverse jury, comprising institutions, publishers, authors, and qualified experts, Morgane has conceived a proposal that meets the expectations of the entire industry in terms of artistic standards and aesthetic diversity, and which affirms the central role of authors.”
Anyway, on April 15 Association FIBD and 9e Art+, respectively led by Delphine Groux and Franck Bondoux, had indicated that they may also sue the ADBDA’s selected operator. Today they confirmed it.
In a press release dated April 21 (which only showed up on their social media page the morning of April 22), the Association FIBD and 9e Art+ jointly said:
“The ADBDA has announced the results of its call for proposals in its attempt to illegally replicate the Festival International de la Bande Dessinée (International Comics Festival, FIBD), and it has done so without any transparency—in flagrant contradiction to the criticisms it voiced just a few months ago.”
They added:
“In the absence of dialogue from local authorities and government representatives—despite the case being referred to the Angoulême Court—the Association FIBD and the company 9eArt+ are compelled to sue the winner designated by the ADBDA, the Morgane Group, for parasitism and unfair competition.”
Curiously Association FIBD-9e Art+ added this line, which seems to preserve their delusion that they could have operated another festival without the attendance or participation of any member of the comics industry:
“This situation jeopardizes the holding of the FIBD in 2027: a court ruling in favor of the historic association and its partner would nullify the call for proposals and make it materially impossible to organize the Festival for the second consecutive year, with severe economic, social, and cultural consequences for the Charente region and, more broadly, for the comic book sector.”
Indeed, by engaging in the lawsuit, it seems that both parties want to prevent any comics event from happening in Angoulême without their say-so.
Regarding the Association FIBD-9e Art+’s claim about a lack of transparency, this doesn’t exactly hold water. Not only did the ADBDA make its announcements about their reformation and the open call process via a press conference in January, but the full press release delivered to the French press last night gives the breakdown of the process timeline and discloses the nine members of the independent jury. It just wasn’t fully covered by newspapers. Said jury comprised 2 representatives of publishers, 2 author/creator representatives, 2 public funders (regional and national), and three experts from outside the ADBDA (two from the cultural events sector and a journalist).
The document also says:
“The composition of the jury was not made public during the process in order to ensure the impartiality of the proceedings and the independence of its members”
Apparently the selection of Morgane wasn’t exactly unanimous. According to an article in Charente Libre, the authors on the jury – Oriane Lassus and Malo Kerfriden – had abstained. It is unclear about the circumstances or reasons but possibilities could include unsatisfactory arrangements for authors in line with their lists of demands, or perhaps frustration that the new festival could move even further from the sense of community and grassroots that was embodied by the Girlxcott collective’s Interconnected Comics Fairs in January, and hoped for in the renewal.
That same Charente Libre article had Céline Bagot and Marie Parisot’s assurance that the big return will be – hopefully – same time, same place, late January 2027. Assuming that the Association FIBD and 9e Art+ don’t convince the Angoulême district court to stop it. If no further delay, May 20 could give us the answer.
ADBDA full press release, April 21, 2026
The Association for the Development of Comics has selected the project led by the female duo Marie Parisot and Céline Bagot, spearheaded by Morgane, to organize the future international comics event in Angoulême, starting in 2027. Selected by an independent and diverse jury, comprising institutions, publishers, authors, and qualified experts, Morgane has conceived a proposal that meets the expectations of the entire industry in terms of artistic standards and aesthetic diversity, and which affirms the central role of authors.
Following the call for proposals launched on January 13, 2026, for the organization of a new comic book event in Angoulême starting in 2027, the ADBDA received four applications from the following organizations:
• COTE OUEST
• MORGANE
• PLAN B(D)
• VISIONA
Composition of the jury
(The composition of the jury was not made public during the process in order to ensure the impartiality of the proceedings and the independence of its members).
Applications were reviewed by the following independent jury:
Representatives of public partners (2 members)
• 1 representative of local authorities: Rachel Cordier, Executive Director of ALCA Nouvelle-Aquitaine (Agency for Books, Film, and Audiovisual Media)
• 1 representative of the representative of the French State: Olivier Lombardie, Executive Director of the CNL (National Book Center)
Representatives of publishers (2 members)
• Mathieu Diez, appointed by the Syndicat National de l’Edition (former director of the Lyon BD festival, former cultural attaché for books and intellectual debate at the Institut français in Lebanon, creator and writer).
• Serge Ewenczyk, appointed by the Syndicat de l’Edition Alternative (president and founder of Éditions çà et là, vice-president of the association Édition indépendante en Île-de-France – Independent Publishers in the Île-de-France region – EDIF)
Representatives of authors (2 members)
• Oriane Lassus, author, illustrator, and cartoonist, professor of comics at the EESI in Angoulême
• Malo Kerfriden, illustrator
Qualified figures from the world of art and culture (3 members)
• Two representatives from cultural festivals
– Nathalie Donikian, Director of Literary Programming and Artistic Creation at the Children’s Book and Press Fair (Salon du livre et de la presse jeunesse) in Seine-Saint-Denis
– Aurélie de Lanlay, Deputy Executive Director of the Arles Photography Festival (Rencontres de la photographie d’Arles)
• 1 figure from the world of art and culture
– Jean-Christophe Ogier, former Deputy Secretary General for Information at Radio France, journalist and comics expert
A rigorous, independent, and transparent process
The process proceeded according to the announced schedule:
• From March 13, 2026: review of applications by members of the jury
• March 26, 2026: first meeting of the jury in Paris; decision to interview the four candidates
• March 27–April 1, 2026: requests for additional information from the candidates
• April 8, 2026: interviews with the four candidates in Angoulême
• April 10–15, 2026: requests for additional clarifications
• April 21, 2026, morning: jury deliberations
• April 21, 2026, afternoon: approval of the jury’s selection by the ADBDA General Assembly
The jury’s proceedings were conducted under conditions ensuring the impartiality of discussions, the confidentiality of deliberations, and equal treatment of all candidates. In accordance with the principles of good governance applicable to this procedure, the members of the jury carried out their duties with complete independence and took care to prevent any situation of conflicting interests.
A project that meets the expectations expressed by comics industry stakeholders united within the ADBDA
The project presented by Morgane meets the expectations expressed by professionals, authors, publishers, and public partners united within the ADBDA for the creation of an event that addresses the current challenges facing the industry: in terms of artistic direction, representation of the diversity of aesthetic styles in comics, organization of awards, international scope, as well as offerings in arts and cultural education and the inclusion of all audiences.
Particular attention was paid to the central role of creators, the representation of all their professions, and professional support for young talent. The future organizer had to demonstrate its financial capacity and self-financing capabilities, as well as the ethical standards and social responsibility it will uphold in all its practices.
The ADBDA looks forward to beginning work soon with the event operator.
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[Note: ABOUT US SECTION] Founded in 2017, the ADBDA brings together public and professional stakeholders in the comics industry to promote its development and visibility in Angoulême, as well as at the regional, national, and international levels.
In January 2026, the association restructured its governance to become a more representative organization, organized around four committees bringing together institutions, publishers, authors, and experts. This new structure strengthens its strategic role in coordinating the comics industry and addressing the challenges associated with organizing a new dedicated event in Angoulême.
Association FIBD-9e Art+ joint press release, April 21, 2026
Second Lawsuit Filed for Parasitism
The ADBDA has announced the results of its call for proposals in its attempt to illegally replicate the Festival International de la Bande Dessinée (International Comics Festival, FIBD), and it has done so without any transparency—in flagrant contradiction to the criticisms it voiced just a few months ago.
In the absence of dialogue from local authorities and government representatives—despite the case being referred to the Angoulême Court—the Association FIBD and the company 9eArt+ are compelled to sue the winner designated by the ADBDA, the Morgane Group, for parasitism and unfair competition.
The hearing scheduled for April 15 was postponed at the request of the ADBDA board to May 20.
This situation jeopardizes the holding of the FIBD in 2027: a court ruling in favor of the historic association and its partner would nullify the call for proposals and make it materially impossible to organize the Festival for the second consecutive year, with severe economic, social, and cultural consequences for the Charente region and, more broadly, for the comic book sector.
To this observation must be added the situation of all stakeholders—local, national, and international—who have been left in the dark, facing financial and other losses, following the cancellation of the 2026 Festival by public authorities.
At a time when the comic book market is in a slump and reading rates are declining across all age groups, to continue to disregard the existence, the experience, and the rights of those who, through the development of the Angoulême Festival over more than 50 years, have achieved major recognition for comics as an art form and served as its primary promotional vehicle—is this a risk worth taking? To date, the ADBDA and its members continue to answer this question in the affirmative.
Nevertheless, the Association FIBD and 9eArt+ remain open to a negotiated solution to ensure a smooth transition, and once again call on the Minister of Culture, Ms. Catherine Pégard, and local authorities to guarantee transparency and respect for the law in order to safeguard the Festival’s future.
Association FIBD-9e Art+ joint press release, April 15
FIBD: The Government’s Inaction Jeopardizes the Festival’s Future
Following the postponement of the court hearing, the Association of the Angoulême International Comics Festival (FIBD) and the company 9eArt+ wish to issue a solemn warning regarding a situation that has become critical.
Silence from the public authorities, justice as a response
For months, the Association of the Angoulême International Comics Festival (FIBD) and the company 9eArt+ have repeatedly sought dialogue with the public authorities to develop solutions that would secure the Festival’s future. This responsible approach has gone unanswered. This persistent silence, coupled with a blatant refusal by public funders to engage in dialogue, has forced them to take legal action by suing the ADBDA for unfair competition and parasitism. The specifications drawn up by the latter [ the ADBDA] aim, in fact, to reproduce, pure and simple, under another fictitious name, the entirety of the Angoulême International Comics Festival, as it has been created and managed for over 50 years by the Association of the same name, by improperly appropriating its content, identity, and heritage.
At the same time, the ADBDA Council’s new request to postpone today’s hearing leads the Association and the company 9èArt+ to conclude that a strategy of evasion is being employed, which would prevent any rapid clarification of the matter, to the detriment of all stakeholders in the sector.
In the face of this attempted theft, the Association FIBD and 9eArt+ announce that they are considering summoning to the hearing in the summary proceedings the organization that would be designated the winner of the ADBDA’s call for projects, should it participate in this scheme of unlawful parasitism.
A festival destroyed, a region sacrificed, millions lost
The economic consequences of this crisis are already severe. The cancellation of the 2026 edition has caused a massive financial shock and considerable losses for the Angoulême area, the Charente department, and the entire Nouvelle-Aquitaine region. The losses amount to millions of euros in direct and indirect economic impact, brutally and permanently affecting local businesses, service providers, and numerous professionals across various sectors, with no adequate response from public authorities. The ad hoc aid measures announced remain largely insufficient and disconnected from the reality of the damage suffered, ignoring the social devastation and leaving an entire economic community to absorb the consequences alone.
In this context, 9eArt+ has filed a claim for compensation to demand that public commitments regarding subsidies for the 2026 edition be honored. This initiative aims primarily to enable payment to numerous creditors—service providers, suppliers, and partners, many of whom are local (hoteliers, restaurateurs, printers, etc.), foreign participants (Canadians, Japanese, Koreans, etc.) are currently left in limbo—and to preserve the Festival’s economic ecosystem.
Transparency promised, opacity delivered
Beyond the financial stakes, this is also a matter of principle. For over half a century, the Festival has been built on the commitment of its volunteers, teams, and partners. Respect for their work, their rights, and their dedication cannot be ignored or circumvented.
Even as the FIBD Association, the event’s creator, had been fiercely criticized for an alleged lack of transparency—to the point of facing pressure and attacks, particularly regarding the composition of its jury, its selection criteria, and its schedule—public officials and the ADBDA had solemnly promised to set a perfect example in the conduct of their own call for entries: publication of the rules, clear procedures, transparency regarding decisions…
The winner’s name is about to be revealed without any of these guarantees having been honored: no prior communication regarding the jury, no information on the criteria used, and no visibility into the process’s progress.
What was wrongly criticized yesterday has, in fact, now become a situation of total opacity. Transparency was proclaimed but clearly abandoned along the way.
What was wrongly criticized yesterday has, in fact, now become a situation of total opacity. Transparency was promised, but has clearly been abandoned along the way.
An appeal to the Minister of Culture to save the Festival
Today, the timeline necessary for organizing the 2027 edition is already compromised. There is now a real risk of seeing the loss of an event that has taken fifty years to establish itself as a global benchmark for the 9th Art and a source of pride for Angoulême and France.
While public commitments to exemplary conduct have clearly not been honored—which inevitably raises questions about the true initial motivations of local authorities and the State, foremost among them the town hall of Angoulême—the current situation reveals a troubling failure in the project’s governance.
The FIBD Association and 9eArt+ appeal to Catherine Pégard, in her capacity as Minister of Culture, to use her responsibilities and prerogatives to establish a framework for genuine and transparent dialogue, enabling this festival to regain its serenity, its dynamism, and the editorial independence that, year after year, has been the foundation of its global success.
In the meantime, the signatories reaffirm their determination not only to defend their rights but also to preserve this cultural asset, which is now threatened by decisions and procedures whose consistency is deeply questionable: under the guise of saving an event supposedly in jeopardy—even though the 2025 edition broke all records—what has actually unfolded are brutal power grabs that have taken precedence over all other considerations.
