250,000 people flock to Angouleme every year in January for the International Comic Festival.
Only thirty minutes from my house is the peaceful city of Angouleme, which is located in the Charente province of Southwest France.
it hosts the Comic Strip Festival Angouleme in January, turning it into a global playground for comic book lovers.
The Comic Strip Festival Angouleme
The Comic Strip Festival honors artistic expression, creativity, and originality. It unites comic book creators and fans worldwide to express their love of this distinctive art form. Attendees can interact with their favourite creators and discover new talent as the festival highlights the wide variety of styles and genres in the comic book business.
In the comic book community, it’s a much-anticipated annual event that began in 1974. It’s the third-biggest comics festival worldwide and the second-biggest in Europe.
Over 250,000 people attend the festival every year, including about 800 journalists and 6,000–7,000 professionals.
And Angouleme finds its footing. Its cobblestone streets come alive with comic book fans, writers, and business people over four days.
It’s a great way to break out of the January blues and a lot of fun.
Angouleme, the Cartoon Capital of Europe
Angoulême is a haven for cartoon fans and creators alike, nestled in the beautiful Charente region of France. This quaint city, which has a rich Roman past, has developed into the Cartoon Capital of Europe and is home to the annual International Comics Festival. Angoulême’s streets are like walking through a living comic book, with vibrant paintings covering the walls and strange monuments honouring well-known cartoon characters.
Remarkable paintings can be found at Rue du Dr Duroselle, in a residential area, and “La Fille des Remparts” by Max Cabannes, which is next to the market on Boulevard Pasteur.
François Schuiten’s “L’Archiviste,” which is situated on Avenue Gambetta and has a million holes on an iron plate, is another striking artwork.
The Classification of Arts in France
The visual arts, performing arts, and literary arts are the three primary categories into which French arts are typically divided. Painting, artwork, photography, and architecture are all included in the visual arts, to which renowned French artists like Monet and Rodin have made major contributions. French theatre, dance, opera, and circus acts have a rich history that dates back to the Commedia dell’arte and continues to enthral audiences throughout the globe.
When art was first classified in France, it was divided into five primary categories:
- Architecture
- Sculpture
- Painting
- Music
- Poetry
These were in use in the 19th and 20th centuries, and five more were added more recently:
- Performing Arts, dance, theatre, mime, and circus
- Cinema
- Media Arts, TV, radio, and photography
- Comics – this is where Angoulême comes in
- Video Games and multimedia.
The 9th Art in France – The Comic
For an extended period, French comics have been praised for their distinctive fusion of visual art and story. With its wide range of styles and genres—from graphic novels to bande dessinée series—French comic artists also referred to as “BD creators,” have pushed the frontiers of the medium. The movement has spurred a global cultural revival, winning praise from critics and the general public alike.
French comics, featuring well-known figures such as Tintin, Asterix, and Lucky Luke, have not only provided readers with amusement but also functioned as a window reflecting social issues and political criticism.
The 2025 Angouleme Comic Festival
Comic Strip Festival has all the information you need to know about the festival, which takes place in 2025 from Wednesday, January 29 to Sunday, February 2. Here are a few highlights from the 2024 event to give you an idea of what to anticipate.
Exhibitions
The festival featured several notable exhibitions:
- Moto Hagio, Beyond Genres: An exhibition at the Angoulême Museum featuring the groundbreaking shōjo manga pioneer Moto Hagio’s work.
- Hiroaki Samura, Body and Weapon: This exhibition, which will take place in the Espace Franquin, will centre on Hiroaki Samura’s “Blade of the Immortal.”
- Lorenzo Mattotti and Maria Pourchat, “Catching the Race/The Art of Running”: This show, which explores the idea of running and is a collaboration between Lorenzo Mattotti and Maria Pourchat, opens in conjunction with the 2024 Olympics in Paris.
- Highlighting Thierry Smolderen’s comic book authoring, The Script is a Work in Progress is a Vaisseau Moebius exhibit.
Special Focus
- Canadian Comic Art: In collaboration with the Canadian government, the festival will showcase the diversity of Canadian comic art.
- Exhibition by Riad Sattouf: The 2023 Grand Prix winner Riad Sattouf will showcase his piece “L’Arabe du futur” in an extensive show.
- The festival will provide a range of youth workshops and events aimed at promoting comics literacy among the younger demographic.
A quick history of Angoulême
The town of Angoulême, once known as Ecolisma, has a long and colourful history that begins in Roman times. Later on, it developed into the magnificent cathedral and strong walls that define the historic city we see today. In the fourteenth century, Angoulême emerged as a major hub for the manufacture of paper, which gave rise to a large number of printing businesses.
King Francis, I brought prosperity to Angoulême in the 16th century and turned the town into a centre of culture. During this period, the renowned Château d’Angoulême was constructed, displaying the exquisite Renaissance architecture that is still intact today. The small village served as a vital fortress throughout numerous battles throughout history due to its advantageous placement atop a hill overlooking the Charente River. Currently, the most well-known event in Angoulême is the yearly international comic strip festival, which draws fans and artists from all over the world.
Through Isabella of Angoulême, the daughter and heiress of Aymer Taillefer, Count of Angoulême, and Alice of Courtenay, Angouleme is also intimately related to England.
When she was just 12 years old, King John of England—the son of Eleanor of Aquitaine—reportedly noticed her because of her extraordinary beauty.
On August 24, 1200, they were joined in marriage in Bordeaux. On October 9th, she was crowned Queen of England at Westminster Abbey.
Following his passing, she went back to France, wed Hugh X of Lusignan, and the two of them constructed the Hotel de Ville. Her effigy, however, is interred in Fontevraud Abbey with that of Henry II of England, his spouse Eleanor of Aquitaine, Isabella’s mother-in-law, and Richard the Lionheart, her brother-in-law.
Let’s just sum it up by saying that Angouleme has had a turbulent and turbulent past.
There is also a lot to see and do. But as you go across the city, you’ll notice the street art I indicated before.
There are murals on walls everywhere you turn. Several artworks throughout the streets honour comic book creators. The city’s comedic origins are evident in the little speech bubbles that appear even in the street names.
When I take visitors to Angouleme, the large cartoon character perched atop the main rail station structure always seems to catch their attention.
Is the Angouleme International Comics Festival worth going to?
Yes, the Comic Festival in Angouleme is well worth visiting if you’re a comic book lover.
The comics we’re discussing today are not the same as the ones I read back in the 1980s. Modern comics, which include Asterix and TinTin among others, are artistic creations.
Several honours are given out at the event to recognize their worth, such as the Grand Prix de la city d’Angoulême, which is granted to comic book authors for their lifetime achievement and commitment to the comic book industry.
FAQS: Angouleme Comic Festival
Is the Angoulême Comic Strip Festival important?
In the comic book industry, the Angoulême International Comics Festival is indeed quite significant. Celebrating the art and artists of the comic book business, it’s one of the biggest and most respected comic festivals in the world.
What is Angoulême’s history with comic books?
Since 1974, Angoulême has been the home of the International Comics Festival, a longstanding celebration of comic books. This event has drawn comic book creators, publishers, and fans from all over the world, solidifying the city’s reputation as a major hub for the genre.
Why are comic books so popular in France?
Because of their strong cultural support, excellent artwork, and appeal to a wide range of ages and interests, comic books are very popular in France. French comics, or “bandes dessinées,” are regarded as a serious and esteemed art form; in French culture, they are frequently referred to as the “Ninth Art.”
What is a French comic called?
“Bande dessinée” is the term for a French comic book, frequently shortened to “BD.” Translating to “drawn strip,” this word refers to a broad category of French-language comics that are renowned for their unique storytelling and visual aesthetic.
Final thoughts on the Angouleme International Comics Festival
For information about the timings, writers who will be exhibiting, and other facts, check out Angoulême in late January if you chance to be in the area.