The 2026 Angoulême Comics Festival faces cancellation after a major boycott over misconduct and mismanagement.

The Angouleme International Comics Festival risks cancellation in 2026 after a major boycott by authors, publishers, and industry groups over allegations of sexual misconduct, mismanagement, and poor leadership. Accusations include the firing of an employee who reported a rape at the 2024 event, leading to a withdrawal of 200,000 euros in French public funding. The festival’s private operator, 9eArt+, and its director Franck Bondoux face widespread criticism, prompting an open letter from 22 former prize winners demanding a complete overhaul. Despite promises of reform, major industry players refuse to participate, marking the most severe crisis in the festival’s history since its 1974 founding.