Angoulême comics festival in crisis as creators and publishers declare boycott

French government withdraws funding after claims of toxic management and dismissal of staff member who lodged rape complaint

One of the world's most prestigious comic book festivals is under threat of cancellation after leading graphic novelists and publishers announced they would boycott the event and the French government withdrew a tranche of its funding.

In the biggest crisis in its illustrious history, the Angouleme festival of la bande dessinee (comic strip) may not take place in 2026 after claims of toxic management and the dismissal of a member of staff who had lodged a rape complaint.