Next week would have been the Angoulême Comics Festival but following a series of escalating scandals that led to the protest and boycott of the festival by the entire French comics industry (and the withdrawal of public funding), the event could not possibly take place. Game over? Not quite. A completely new event is in the works – and next week there are substitute events taking place in Angoulême, across France, and beyond.
In our last edition, 2025 ended with the Angoulême International Comics Festival (FIBD) cancelled; the Association for the Development of Comics in Angouleme (ADBDA) had asserted itself as the path forward (set to expand and restructure), and meetings discussing the open call for new operators were beginning. To fill this year’s vacuum left by FIBD’s implosion, various groups were making plans for alternative events – with the Angoulême local authorities helping coordinate a replacement event with local players.
Now, things are clearly in motion.
On January 9, a press conference was held to officially kick off the open call for a new operator for a new international comics festival in Angoulême, and to describe the changes undertaken within the ADBDA. The conference was led by Angoulême mayor Xavier Bonnefont, alongside regional, departmental, and Grand Angoulême area public representatives, and the ADBDA’s president David Caméo.
The ADBDA has transformed. The body – formed in 2017 after a previous major crisis – had taken charge as the old festival imploded, providing a vital forum for publishers, author groups and public partners to mediate a solution as talks with former festival showrunner 9e Art+ and festival owner Association FIBD completely broke down. It has now expanded its remit from being a point of contact for stakeholders into a body that oversees all comics events and activity that takes place in Angoulême. It now has an enlarged board of directors and membership that gives equal weight to the three groups of major stakeholders: financial partners, publishers groups, and authors unions. Twenty people will sit on the board and the membership is now forty-strong. The board of directors gives the three groups six representatives apiece, with two highly qualified individuals – none of whom can be an elected official – to presumably decide in case of deadlock. In the prior version of the ADBDA there was only one author union representative (SNAC-BD); now author unions and publisher groups — ie. the French comics industry — has a combined majority.
The old Angoulême Festival – FIBD, Festival International de la Bande Dessinée d’Angoulême – that had existed since 1974 is over. After over 50 years it will now be replaced entirely by…another international comics festival (for legal reasons it cannot be a full continuation nor possess the same name). It will seemingly maintain the same broad features, but with a more inclusive, respectful approach to programming, as per the demands of authors unions during the boycott. The desire is to maintain the festival feel that built the reputation of the town and – in the words of National Publishers Syndicate (SNE) representative Laura Baron, “not become a Comic Con”.
A new operator/administrative organization will be decided on by April. They will have the responsibility of immediately putting together the new event for 2027, as well as determining the name and identity for a new ongoing comics festival in Angoulême. They will receive a five year contract with the possibility for a one year extension. To compensate for the short time frame to put together an event in time for the calendar slot of late January 2027, the date may shift to March. FIBD had actually taken place in March once before – in 2022 – when it coincided with France’s reemergence from covid restrictions. It is unclear if the date will permanently shift to early spring, even if the March weather is more preferable than the depths of winter. It is also unclear if Franck Bondoux or his company 9e Art+ will attempt to make a bid – assuming that, now bereft of funding, the company has evaded bankruptcy.
The international rights market will definitely be back. It was an important feature of the ancien régime which enabled comics publishers from across the globe to network in a dedicated space (instead of the periphery of international book fairs). Many international pick ups released in English can be linked to this event, and likewise English-originated titles that saw publication overseas. Publishers previously present came from Italy, Spain, Argentina, Brazil, US, Canada, Sweden, Denmark, Poland, Taiwan, Hong Kong, South Korea and beyond.
The major awards (formerly known as the “Fauves”) will make a form of comeback, with extra consideration for funding decent prizes to winning authors – but under completely new names, and possibly an altered procedure. Interestingly, the Grand Prix – the highest honour in international comics that recognises a cartoonist’s entire body of work – is apparently not tied up with the Association FIBD. So that will definitely return.
As we mentioned previously, the trademark and copyrights to the old name and mascot (a cute cartoon cat named Fauve created by Lewis Trondheim) lie with the Association FIBD. Following the botched open call that reappointed the widely unpopular 9e Art+, this entity has renewed control of the trademark to the organiser until April 2031. Franck Bondoux, owner of 9e Art+, has already started initiating legal action against public representatives for withdrawing funding in November 2025, so the chances of the trademark being relinquished (even if 9e Art+ goes bankrupt) are low. Meanwhile the Association FIBD is seriously diminished in number after a sweeping number of resignations in December. What remains appear to be zealots, who have rallied around disgraced (and reappointed) Association FIBD president Delphine Groux, even as she indicated possible retirement. It can publicly be seen posting bizarre snipes from its Facebook page. The new ADBDA does not include the Association as a member – though it probably occurred more because of the Association’s own intransigence against constructive dialogue than a strategic measure by the prior ADBDA. At this point, the Association FIBD seems to be withering into irrelevance.
With wider industry backing and a regenerated new form of ADBDA to oversee major comics events in Angoulême, the future of the ‘capital of comics’ looks promising.
Grand/Interconnected Offs
Although FIBD 2026 is still very much cancelled, the dates (January 29 to February 1) will not be left vacant on next week’s calendar – especially since January is still promoted as ‘comics month’ in France. The town of Angoulême has cobbled an ad hoc event together, inspired by the fringe events that were unofficially part of the old festival. Special exhibitions, a small publisher fair (or “publisher village”), and presentations have been scheduled that will involve many local businesses and institutions – there will even be a History of Le Chat Noir exhibition about the beloved watering hole that has hosted festival guests from near and far for years. The town’s comics museum will have special limited exhibitions (different from those scheduled to coincide with FIBD to avoid legal issues by 9e Art+), and the Maison des Auteurs is still holding its annual open house of international residencies.
Outside Angoulême (and in one case, inside) members of the Girlcott protest movement – transformed into the newly trademarked Girlxcott collective – have coordinated thirteen hyperlocal, linked, grassroots comics fairs in 11 cities and towns across France (including Paris, Bordeaux, Marseilles, Lyons etc) as well as in Brussels, Belgium and Barcelona, Spain. These will be called ‘Fêtes Interconnectées de la BD’ or Interconnected Comics Fairs, with local independent publishers and authors participating. They will each have their own programming, including debates considering how to make the French comics industry and events as ethical, egalitarian, and inclusive as possible (a central tenet of this new ‘FIBD’ movement).
Also in Paris, in partnership with Girlxcott’s Interconnected Comics Fairs, an Alternative Publishers Festival will take place at cultural venue Ground Control, in the 12th arrondissement of the city. Based on the event listing, it will be “a weekend dedicated to contemporary comics, graphic design, and independent publishing”, and:
“These free, inclusive, and grassroots festivals aim to put creativity, solidarity, and respect for people back at the heart of the celebration of the ninth art. The Interconnected Comic Fairs promote a contemporary, committed, and resolutely inclusive vision of comic books, seen as a vibrant, diverse, and constantly evolving art form. A weekend to celebrate creativity, support independent scenes, and share comics in all their forms.”
The list of publishers listed to attend this “Alternative” Festival are actually a mix of independents and established houses – with large and known names including Dargaud, Delcourt, Dupuis, Futuropolis, Glénat, Le Lombard, Sarbacane, 2042, L’Association, çà et là, Cornélius and many more. There will also be a lot of respected and known names participating (many of whom locals) including: Aude Picault, Brecht Evens, Boulet, David B., Edmond Baudoin, Lorenzo Mattotti, and Marcello Quintanilha.
The future is still in motion but even with the jarring loss of Angoulême FIBD, comics are far from written off in one of the world’s biggest industries. Stay tuned.
Translation (via DeepL) of the Charter for the Fêtes Interconnectées de la BD/Interconnected Comics Fairs, from the Girlxcott website
— (btw ‘Fêtes’ can also mean ‘Fests’, or a smaller kind of festival)
Preamble
These interconnected comic book festivals were born out of a shared desire to celebrate comics in all their forms by creating joyful and inclusive spaces. Each Festival is autonomous, shaped by the people who wish to bring it to life. What connects these festivals is the desire to renew the ways in which we celebrate comics, to promote those who create, read, and sustain them, and to uphold common values of inclusivity, kindness, and social justice. Each city, each collective, and each group of artists is free to imagine an event that reflects who they are, in accordance with the values and commitments described in this Charter(1).
An inclusive celebration
We want to organize an inclusive, welcoming event that is open to everyone. All events at the Interconnected Comic Book Festival will be organized in such a way as to provide open, welcoming, and safe spaces for marginalized people. All participants and organizers will therefore be asked to be vigilant in ensuring that no sexist, racist, homophobic, transphobic, ableist, classist, or any other form of discriminatory behavior or language is tolerated. Where possible(2), events will be held in venues that are accessible to people with reduced mobility.
An ethical event
The Interconnected Comics Fair is a completely free event. As the fair is organized on a volunteer basis, voluntary contributions may be requested in order to support the artists, venues, organizers, speakers, etc. However, access to exhibition venues, events, or parties will not be subject to an entrance fee under any circumstances.
Similarly, we refuse partnerships or funding from sources that contradict the values of the movement. In the interest of transparency, organizers must be able to clearly answer questions about the organization, any funding, and partnerships.
The Interconnected Comics Fairs must not in any way reproduce the patterns of domination and exploitation that led to the boycott of the FIBD. All events must therefore be organized with respect for the venues and the people who work there (whether they are employed for cleaning, cooking, or organizing), the works on display, the artists, the speakers, the volunteers involved, the public, and life as a whole. Let’s also be mindful of our waste and our impact on the environment.
A grassroots celebration
We want to organize a grassroots celebration that showcases all comic book workers, without any hierarchy of fame or dominance of profession, by placing the joy of creating and coming together around a love of comics as a whole at the heart of our events. We will therefore be honoring writers, translators, colorists, layout artists, booksellers, publishers, illustrators, critics, journalists, and more. We refuse to pit works and their authors against each other by creating rankings and awarding arbitrary prizes. However, humorous and parodic ceremonies are encouraged(3)!
A committed event
It is important to provide at least one information point per city or per group of events concerning comic book unions and associations defending the rights of authors, whether national or local, in order to highlight their essential work: STAA CNT-SO, SNAP CGT, Ligue des auteurs professionnels, Charte des auteurs et des illustrateurs de jeunesse, Snéad-CGT, SNAC BD, ABDIL, SCAA, etc.
This information can be made available by individuals (union representatives, spokespersons, informed artists and authors, etc.) or by providing printed documentation at the event venues.
(1) Failure to comply with these essential requirements will result in local liability for managers and organizers who have not taken the necessary steps to protect and accommodate workers and the public in the best possible way.
(2) As the Interconnected Comics Fair is an event organized on a voluntary basis and without funding, some venues, such as artists’ studios and community centers, are not always equipped to accommodate people with reduced mobility.
(3) Like the Misma awards at BD Colomiers, but not like the FIBD awards in 2016.
