The Comic Strip Festival Angouleme, France 2024

Last updated on January 10th, 2025 at 05:02 pm

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250,000 people flock to Angouleme every year in January for the International Comic Festival.

Angouleme is a sleepy city in the Charente department in Southwest France just 30 minutes from where I live.

But in January, it plays host to the Comic Strip Festival Angouleme, becoming a playground for comic fans around the world.

Listen to a Podcast Episode about the City of Angouleme

A colorful illustration from a comic strip featuring two exaggerated characters flying through a sky filled with clouds, scattered comic book pages, and a skyline of buildings below. The character in the foreground appears surprised and is being carried by the second character, who is wearing a blue cap and has red curly hair, hinting at a dynamic and humorous storyline.

What is the Comic Strip Festival?

It’s a celebrated event in the world of comics and has been held annually since 1974. It’s the second-largest comics festival in Europe and the third-largest globally.

Each year, the festival attracts over 250,000 visitors, including 6,000 to 7,000 professionals and around 800 journalists.

And Angouleme comes into its own. Throughout the four days, its cobbled streets are alive with comic enthusiasts, creators, and industry professionals.

It’s a lot of fun and a fantastic way to get rid of the January blues.

A huge cartoon wall mural in colour on an old building in the French town of Angouleme depicting a man and a woman with a plane going over

Angouleme, the Cartoon Capital of Europe

There is a good reason for Angouleme being the host city of the comic festival and it’s not just because it’s a designated creative city by Unesco.

The city itself is a canvas for cartoons with several large wall murals created by some of France’s most famous comics artists.

Notable murals include “La Fille des Remparts” by Max Cabannes, located near the market on Boulevard Pasteur, and “Chassez le Naturel” by François Boucq, situated in a residential neighborhood at Rue du Dr Duroselle.

Another eyecatching piece is “L’Archiviste” by François Schuiten, featuring a million holes on a stainless steel plate, located on Avenue Gambetta.

A whimsical mural adorning the façade of a building under a clear blue sky. The artwork features cartoon characters in dynamic poses, with some appearing to climb out of windows, while others engage in playful antics. This creative street art adds a touch of humor and color to the urban environment.

The Classification of Arts in France

The way art is classified here in France certainly had me thrown the first time it came up in conversation.

You may have heard me talk about my French neighbour Anne. She lives down the road in the next village and has been a big supporter in my education of French culture.

Anyway, Anne loves art and I’d often heard her refer to the 1st Art or the 3rd Art. I had absolutely no idea what she meant, so I asked her.

Apparently, here in France art is categorised or classified, and it originally started with 5 main categories:

Architecture
Sculpture
Painting
Music
Poetry

These were used during the 19th and 20th centuries and more recently another five were added:

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

If you want to read more on the history of the art classification this article on Wikipedia is a good place to start >>>

The 9th Art in France – The Comic

It may seem strange to us that the French put so much importance on comics. But think back to your childhood. Did you not have comics when you were younger?

I know my brother and I did. He had The Beano and I had Twinkle. We loved them and couldn’t wait to get them each week from the newsagent.

Well in France they’ve taken their love of the comic one step further. Here in Angoulême they have a museum dedicated to comics, the Comic Museum of Angoulême.

Inside you’ll find a book shop dedicated to all things comics, and a display of famous comic book artwork.

Vibrant mural on a building wall in the city of Angoulême, featuring a dynamic scene of crimson mechanical creatures soaring against a stark blue background with yellow geometric patterns. The large-scale street art adds a futuristic touch to the urban landscape.

The 2025 Angouleme Comic Festival

In 2025 the festival runs from Thursday January 30 to Sunday February 2, 2025 and all the details can be found here Comic Strip Festival. Here’s a taste of what to expect with highlights from the 2024 festival.

Exhibitions

The festival featured several notable exhibitions:

Moto Hagio, Beyond Genres: At the Angoulême Museum, showcasing the influential work of Moto Hagio, a pioneer in shōjo manga.
Hiroaki Samura, Body and Weapon: Focused on Hiroaki Samura’s “Blade of the Immortal,” this exhibition will be held at the Espace Franquin.
Lorenzo Mattotti with Maria Pourchat, The Art of Running/Catching the Race: A collaboration between Lorenzo Mattotti and Maria Pourchat, this exhibition coincides with the Paris 2024 Olympics and explores the theme of running.
Thierry Smolderen, The Script is a Work in Progress: A spotlight on Thierry Smolderen’s work in comics writing, located at the Vaisseau Moebius.

A colorful and detailed illustration depicting a bustling scene at a comic festival. Various characters, some resembling famous comic figures, are engaged in activities typical of a convention, such as browsing artwork, cosplaying, and interacting with each other. The image is filled with energy, showcasing a diverse array of styles and costumes, capturing the lively essence of a comic festival.

Special Focus

Canadian Comic Art: The festival will highlight the richness of Canadian comic art, in partnership with the government of Canada.
Riad Sattouf’s Exhibition: The Grand Prix winner of 2023, Riad Sattouf, will present his work “L’Arabe du futur” in a comprehensive exhibition.
The festival will host various youth workshops and activities, encouraging the younger generation’s engagement with comics.

A quick history of Angoulême

Known as the “balcony of the southwest” Angoulême has a vibrant history. You almost feel like you’re stepping back in time as the architecture is a fusion of mediaeval and Renaissance, with a bit of Parisian glamour thrown in for good measure.

Sitting up high on a plateau overlooking the Charente River, its strategic position saw it become a fortified town when the Romans took possession.

You could get lost for hours wandering over the ramparts and discovering all that Angouleme has to offer.

A view of the Charente river and the town of Angouleme

Angouleme is also closely related to England through Isabella of Angoulême, daughter and heiress of Aymer Taillefer, Count of Angoulême and Alice of Courtenay.

She was rumoured to have been a great beauty, and as such caught the attention of King John of England, son of Eleanor of Aquitaine, when she was just 12 years old.

They were married on 24th August 1200, at Bordeaux. She was crowned Queen of England on 9th October at Westminster Abbey.

When he died she returned to France and married Hugh X of Lusignan and together they built the Hotel de Ville. However, her effigy lies in Fontevraud Abbey with Henry II of England, his wife, and Isabella’s mother-in-law, Eleanor of Aquitaine, and her brother-in-law, Richard the Lionheart.

Two medieval effigies in repose at Fontevraud Abbey, portraying figures with painted details on their garments. The closest effigy, with a red and grey stone sarcophagus, depicts a female figure in a recumbent position wearing a crown. The effigy behind shows a male figure with hands crossed, in a blue and red painted sarcophagus.

Suffice it to say Angouleme’s history has certainly been full of turbulence and ups and downs.

And there’s plenty to see and do. But one thing you’ll notice as you walk around the city is the street art I mentioned earlier.

Everywhere you look, walls are filled with murals. The streets pay homage to comic artists with a variety of statues. Even the street names have little speech bubbles, indicating the comic roots of the city.

The one that gets most people when I bring them to Angouleme is the giant cartoon figure sat on top of the main train station building.

Oversized cartoon sculpture of a male character lounging atop Angoulême Train Station, featuring exaggerated features such as a prominent nose, slick black hair, and a laid-back pose. He sports a black leather jacket, blue jeans, and oversized red sneakers, adding a playful element to the architecture.

Is the Angouleme International Comics Festival worth going to?

If you love comics then yes, the Comic Festival in Angouleme is definitely worth going to.

Now the type of comics we’re talking about have certainly moved on a little from the ones I used to read in the 80s. Today’s comics are works of art and include series such as TinTin and Asterix.

Their value is reflected in a variety of awards presented throughout the event including a lifetime achievement award, Grand Prix de la ville d’Angoulême, given to a comic’s author for his contribution to the world of comics.

FAQS: Angouleme Comic Festival

Is the Angoulême Comic Strip Festival important?

Yes, the Angoulême International Comics Festival is highly important in the world of comics. It’s one of the largest and most prestigious comic festivals globally, celebrating the art and artists of the comic book industry.

What is Angoulême’s history with comic books?

Angoulême has a long-standing history with comic books, being home to the International Comics Festival since 1974. This event has helped establish the city as a significant hub for comic art, attracting artists, publishers, and fans from around the world.

Why are comic books so popular in France?

Comic books are popular in France due to their diverse appeal across ages and interests, high-quality artwork, and strong cultural support. French comics, known as “bandes dessinées,” are considered a serious and respected art form, often referred to as the “Ninth Art” in French culture.

What is a French comic called?

A French comic is called a “bande dessinée,” often abbreviated as “BD.” This term, which translates to “drawn strip,” encompasses a wide range of French-language comics, known for their distinctive art style and storytelling.

Final thoughts on the Angouleme International Comics Festival

If you happen to be in Angoulême in late January it’s well worth a visit and for details on times, authors who will be exhibiting etc. visit the official website for more details >>>