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Finnish Institute Launches Sarjakuva 2026—The Year of Finnish Comics in France

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Alan Gardner Published: March 11, 2026 Updated: March 12, 2026 1 minute 2 comments

An effort to promote Finnish comics in France has kicked off with “Sarjakuva 2026, the Year of Finnish Comics in France” The effort is to promote Finnish bande dessinée within France and promote exchanges between artists, professionals and comic fans. Sarjakuva 2026 is the brainchild of Kirsi Kinnunen, an award winning Finnish translator known for her work in translating comics.

From the Institut finlandais website:

Over the past few years, Finnish comics have established themselves as one of the most inventive scenes in Europe. With almost 130 titles published in French since the early 2000s, written by some sixty authors and supported by around forty French publishers, Finland is a major actor in today’s French publishing industry.

The institute will hold five exhibitions throughout France this year and feature a number of cartoonists.

• March 26–29: BD à Bastia Festival, featuring: Eeva Meltio, Juliana Hyrri, Ville Ranta, Tiina Pystynen, Janne Kukkonen and Ulla Donner.
• April 11 – May 23: Rencontres du 9e Art – BD Aix, featuring: Miissa Rantanen, Terhi Ekebom, Jyrki Nissinen, Siiri Viljakka and Roope Eronen
• September 25–27: Formula Bula Festival, featuring: Tommi Musturi, Aapo Rapi, Marko Turunen, Hanneriina Moisseinen, Emmi Valve and Roope Eronen
• Nov 20–22: BD Colomiers: Institut finlandais, Paris, Île-de-France. 
• Nov 7 – Dec 19: Finnish Institute in Paris, Exhibition dedicated to Juliana Hyrri.

Correction: Story has been updated to clarify the organizers of Sarjakuva 2026.