2026 Angoulême Comic Festival Cancelled
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The most prestigious comic festival in the world, the Angoulême International Comic Festival, has been cancelled by organizers after a sustained call for change by notable cartoonists and publishers from around the world. The event has been held annually in southern France since 1974 (omitting Covid-19 hiatus).
According to Le Monde, Noémie de La Soujeole, commercial director and head of protocol sent the following message to the festival partners:
We would like to inform you that, as of today, production of the 2026 edition of the Angoulême Festival has been put on hold. We will get back to you very soon with further details. Thank you for your understanding.
The chance of cancellation has been growing all year and became almost inevitable this fall as nearly 400 acclaimed artists and publishers threatened a boycott and the French Government withholding subsidies that consist of nearly 50% of the festival’s organization budget.
Sequence of Events
- 1974 – Angoulême International Comics Festival formed (FIBD)
- 2003 – Franck Bondoux brought on to develop the festival partnerships
- 2006 – Bondoux appointed Bondoux as General Delegate of the festival
- 2007 – Bondoux incorporates 9e Art+
- 2008 – 9e Art+ becomes festival organizer
- 2016
- Jan 2016 – Festival accused of sexism after all-male grand prix prize nominees
- Jul 2026 – French government suggests a public interest group should manage the festival
- Sep 2023 – Chloé (not real name) hired to work for 9e Art+ as communications manager.
- 2024
- Jan 27 – During 2024 festival, Chloé wakes up naked with a co-worker with no memory of the night before.
- Mar 4 – Chloé put on leave during investigation of her allegations
- Mar 14 – Chloé is fired for “gross misconduct”
- 2025
- Jan 24 – Humanité publishes story on 9e Art+ describing a toxic culture, financial irregularities and details of Chloé rape.
- Apr 17 – Nearly 400 artists call on festival owners to NOT sign a 20-year renewal contract with 9e Art+
- Jul – FIBD release a RFP for an event organizer
- Aug 3 – Nearly 400 artists and 12 associations sign petition to boycott the 2026 unless FIBD ends its partnership with 9e Art+
- Nov 8 – FIBD announces 9e Art+ wins event organizer contract
- Nov 10 – 22 Artists sign statement calling for new festival organizers
- Nov 17 – FIBD invalidates decision to retain 9e Art+, announces Bondoux retirement, 9e Art+ will organize 2026 and 2027 events.
- Nov 18 – French government withdraws €200,000 of public subsidies for 2026 event
- Nov 20 – Mayor of Angoulême calls for cancellation
- Dec 1 – 9e Art+ announces cancellation
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