Following the unprecedented cancellation of the 2026 Angoulême International Comics Festival, the city of Angoulême and its cultural stakeholders are bouncing back with a unique alternative: a “Grand Off” event organized by local authors, publishers, and booksellers. From January 29th to February 1st, this free event, conceived in haste but with enthusiasm, aims to revive the original spirit of the festival.
A local program for a fresh start
The cancellation of the 2026 Angoulême International Comics Festival (FIBD) in November was a real shock, the first time it had been cancelled since its creation in 1974 – outside of a health crisis. In response, the city council, local authorities, and several private partners launched the “Grand Off,” with a budget of €1,25 million, nearly €1 million of which comes from public funds, according to the Angoulême city council.
The event, coordinated by the municipality for logistical and security reasons, relies on a radically different governance model: the programming is entirely entrusted to the local comics community. To date, 113 projects have been submitted, 53 of which were proposed by collectives of authors, according to figures given by the City at a press conference on December 19.
Exhibitions, book signings, screenings, live drawing performances, meet-and-greets… the event will take over some fifteen iconic locations in Angoulême, such as the L'Alpha media library, the Cité de la BD (Comics Museum), the Franquin space, and independent bookstores. All of this will be presented in a participatory spirit, open to everyone and far removed from the commercial interests criticized in the organization of the official festival.
Break with the FIBD and attempt at refounding
The decision to create this “Grand Off” program follows a deep crisis between comic book authors and the organizing company of the Angoulême International Comics Festival (FIBD), 9eArt+, which is accused of opaque management and commercial practices. The protests crystallized after the controversial dismissal of an employee who had filed a rape complaint, leading to a massive boycott of the 2026 edition by authors, including the 2025 Grand Prix winner, Anouk Ricard.
For Mayor Xavier Bonnefont, quoted by Les Échos and franceinfo, this initiative marks a desire for “rebuilding” after what he describes as a “major upheaval.” With this in mind, the City is already considering making the event a permanent fixture in a redesigned format. Two statues of Will Eisner and Osamu Tezuka—echoing the bust of Hergé already in the city—could also be unveiled, symbolizing the three major schools of world comics.
Meanwhile, the Greater Angoulême metropolitan area has released exceptional aid of €500,000 to support local businesses affected by the festival's cancellation. By leveraging its resources, Angoulême is attempting to turn this crisis into an opportunity: to make this "Grand Off" festival an artistic and collective renaissance, more faithful to the founding values of comics.
