The prestigious Angoulême International Comics Festival, one of the world's most celebrated comic book events, faces potential cancellation following a widespread boycott by leading creators and publishers alongside significant government funding cuts.
Management Crisis Sparks Industry Rebellion
French Culture Minister Rachida Dati has withdrawn €200,000 (£176,000) in public subsidies from the festival, describing the event as being 'in difficulty and in danger'. The funding suspension will remain until fundamental changes are implemented in how the festival is organised and managed.
The crisis represents the most significant challenge in the festival's illustrious history, with serious doubts emerging about whether the 2026 edition can proceed as scheduled. A culture ministry spokesperson stated: 'Realistically, if there are no authors or publishers, it's hard to see how the festival can happen in 2026.'
Boycott Movement Gains Momentum
The controversy centres on allegations of toxic management practices and the dismissal of a female staff member who had filed a rape complaint following incidents during the 2024 festival. The employee's termination prompted outrage across the comics industry, leading to 285 female authors publishing a letter of support and calling for a social media 'girlcott'.
Among the prominent figures joining the boycott are award-winning comic book authors Riad Sattouf, Art Spiegelman (creator of Maus), and last year's grand prix winner Anouk Ricard. Twenty-two former prize winners have signed a letter demanding new management, stating: 'It is high time to turn the page on 9eArt+ so the festival can regain the values that helped build its international reputation.'
Economic Impact and Ongoing Investigations
Local MP Caroline Colombier warned that cancelling the festival would be 'a catastrophe' for the region, which she described as already facing 'a fragile economic situation'. The festival has been a cornerstone of cultural and economic activity in the western French city since its inception in 1974.
Meanwhile, the Angoulême public prosecutor's office has opened an investigation into the rape complaint, while the dismissed employee has taken her case to the Paris industrial tribunal to contest her termination. Festival director Franck Bondoux has stepped down amid the controversy, though his departure has failed to calm critics.
The French national publishing union, representing 24 major publishing houses, has declared that the 2026 edition 'can no longer go ahead' given the scale of the boycott movement. The festival's future now hangs in the balance as stakeholders seek a resolution that could preserve this vital institution of the ninth art.
