À Tours de Bulles
The free comic strip festival in the heart of Tours since 2001
2026
About À Tours de Bulles
À Tours de Bulles is the annual comic book festival in Tours, organized every September by the association of the same name. Established in 2001, this free event takes place at Place de Châteauneuf and Espace Ockeghem, coinciding with the European Heritage Days. Run entirely by volunteers, the festival hosts dozens of authors for book signings, drawing workshops, live illustrated concerts, exhibitions, meet-and-greets, and film screenings at the Cinémas Studio.
À Tours de Bulles — edition 2026
The 22nd edition of À Tours de Bulles takes place from Friday, September 18 to Sunday, September 20, 2026, at Place de Châteauneuf and Espace Ockeghem in Tours. The program includes 34 authors for signing sessions, two illustrated concerts, four discussions and roundtables, drawing workshops, five on-site exhibitions, and two events at Cinémas Studio. Admission is free.
À Tours de Bulles 2026 — 22nd Edition
Tours' comic book festival returns from Friday, September 18 to Sunday, September 20, 2026. The main site, located at Place de Châteauneuf and Espace Ockeghem, is open from 10 AM to 6 PM on Saturday and Sunday. The Friday opening night and the Sunday film event take place at Cinémas Studio, 2 rue des Ursulines.
Signing sessions are held at Place de Châteauneuf on Saturday from 2 PM to 6 PM and Sunday from 10 AM to 12 PM and 2 PM to 6 PM; the Sunday morning slot is reserved for children. On Friday, Ronan Toulhoat and Vincent Brugeas will sign at Cinémas Studio from 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM, prior to the screening of "Hot Fuzz".
Four awards will be presented over the weekend. The Tour d'Ivoire honors a young author with three or fewer published albums. The A l'ombre de la Tour d'Ivoire award is selected by a committee including staff from the Tours prison, the Ligue de l'enseignement 37, prison visitors, and association members. The Tour d'Ivoire des Mômes is voted on by children aged 9 to 13. Bulles en Herbe recognizes a comic book created by Indre-et-Loire middle school students on the theme of biodiversity, in partnership with the Departmental Council.
Access to the site and events is free. Cinémas Studio screenings follow standard cinema pricing.
Highlights À Tours de Bulles 2026
- Opening night at Cinémas Studio on Friday, September 18 at 7:30 PM, featuring a carte blanche for Ronan Toulhoat and Vincent Brugeas around "Hot Fuzz"
- 34 authors signing at Place de Châteauneuf on Saturday and Sunday
- Illustrated concert "Chaussettes et Chuchotis" with Xavier Stubbe and Mickaël Roux, Saturday, September 19 at 5 PM, for ages 3+
- Illustrated concert with Gérald Genty and live drawing by Laëtitia Rouxel, Sunday, September 20 at 5 PM
- Award ceremony for the Tour d'Ivoire and A l'ombre de la Tour d'Ivoire prizes, Saturday, September 19 at 6:30 PM, Cour de l'Espace Ockeghem
- Lou Lubie retrospective at the Tours Central Library until September 20, with a meet-and-greet on Saturday at 2 PM
Programme À Tours de Bulles 2026
Friday, September 18, 2026
- 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM — Signing session with Ronan Toulhoat and Vincent Brugeas · Cinémas Studio, 2 rue des Ursulines
- 5:30 PM — Pre-opening and festival beer tasting: a special brew by La P'tite Maiz with a label designed by Sixtine Dano, Tour d'Ivoire 2025 · Bar La P'tite Maiz, place du Grand Marché
- 7:30 PM — Opening night: carte blanche to Ronan Toulhoat and Vincent Brugeas, who have selected Edgar Wright's "Hot Fuzz" (2007). Drinks served after the screening · Cinémas Studio · Standard cinema rates apply
Saturday, September 19, 2026
Place de Châteauneuf and Espace Ockeghem, 10 AM to 6 PM.
- 10 AM to 6 PM — Festival booth: posters, tote bags, cups, badges, bookmarks, t-shirts, and refreshments from La P'tite Maiz · Cour de l'Espace Ockeghem
- 11 AM — Discussion: "Addictions in Comics" with Terreur Graphique ("L'Addiction, s'il vous plaît", Casterman) and Émilie Gleason ("Junk Food – Les dessous d'une addiction", Casterman), in partnership with Bédélire bookstore · Espace Ockeghem, 1st floor
- 11:30 AM — Live comic book readings by festival volunteers · Espace Ockeghem, ground floor
- 2 PM — Meet the artist: Lou Lubie discusses her work and the dedicated exhibition · Tours Central Library
- 2 PM to 6 PM — Author signing sessions · Place de Châteauneuf
- 2 PM to 6 PM — Créa'Bulles booth: crafts, coloring, and badges · Place de Châteauneuf
- 2:30 PM — Comic book workshop with artists from the POP collective. Materials provided, limited spots, no reservation required · Place de Châteauneuf
- 3:30 PM — Roundtable: "Perspectives on Student Prostitution" with Sixtine Dano, Maybelline Skvortzoff, and health professionals from the University of Tours and Espace santé jeune, moderated by journalist Daniel Schneidermann · Espace Ockeghem, 1st floor
- 4:30 PM — Live comic book readings · Espace Ockeghem, ground floor
- 5 PM — Illustrated concert: "Chaussettes et Chuchotis" with Xavier Stubbe and live drawings by Mickaël Roux. For ages 3 and up · Espace Ockeghem, 1st floor
- 5 PM — Drawing battle with the POP collective: improvised live drawing in front of the audience · Place de Châteauneuf
- 5:30 PM — Mural unveiling by street artists Dupin and Duclos, invited by Le M.U.R Tours · Passage du Pèlerin, next to the Tour Charlemagne
- 6:30 PM — Announcement of the 2026 "Tour d'Ivoire" award · Cour de l'Espace Ockeghem
- 6:30 PM — Announcement of the "A l'ombre de la Tour d'Ivoire" award. Nominated albums: "Les héros du peuple sont immortels" (Stéphane Oiry, Dargaud), "Marcie, le point de bascule" (Cati Baur, Dargaud), "Un père" (Jean-Louis Tripp, Casterman), "Revoir Comanche" (Romain Renard, Le Lombard) · Cour de l'Espace Ockeghem
Sunday, September 20, 2026
Place de Châteauneuf and Espace Ockeghem, 10 AM to 6 PM.
- 10 AM to 6 PM — Festival booth · Cour de l'Espace Ockeghem
- 10 AM to 12 PM — Children's signing sessions · Place de Châteauneuf
- 10:15 AM to 10:45 AM — Guided tour of the "Secret Squelette" exhibition with author Cyprien Hotte, followed by a "draw your monster" workshop · Espace Ockeghem, ground floor
- 11:30 AM — Announcement of the four comics competing for the 2026-2027 "Tour d'Ivoire des Mômes" award · Place Châteauneuf
- 11:30 AM — Winner announcement for the "Bulles en Herbe" biodiversity comic contest, organized with the Indre-et-Loire Departmental Council · Place Châteauneuf
- 2 PM — Film & Signing: screening of "An American Tail" (ages 6+), followed by a snack and signing session with Dav, author of "Mickey et le roi des pirates" (Glénat) · Cinémas Studio, 2 rue des Ursulines · Standard cinema rates apply
- 2 PM to 6 PM — Author signing sessions · Place de Châteauneuf
- 2 PM to 6 PM — Créa'Bulles booth · Place de Châteauneuf
- 2:30 PM — Live comic book readings · Espace Ockeghem, ground floor
- 2:30 PM — Drawing workshop with the POP collective on the theme of "Fairy Tales" · Place de Châteauneuf
- 3 PM — Roundtable: "Politics in Comics" with Blanche Sabbah ("Mythes et Meufs", Dargaud), Mikko ("La guerre des voisins, la géopolitique à hauteur d'immeuble", Dargaud), and Marc Dubuisson ("Amour, fascisme et CDD", Pataquès) · Espace Ockeghem, 1st floor
- 4:45 PM — Drawing battle with the POP collective: improvised drawing challenges · Place de Châteauneuf
- 5 PM — Illustrated concert: singer-songwriter Gérald Genty, illustrated live by Laëtitia Rouxel · Espace Ockeghem, 1st floor
All Weekend
- Bédélire and Cultura bookstore stands, selling albums by attending authors · Place de Châteauneuf · Saturday 2 PM to 6 PM, Sunday 10:30 AM to 12 PM and 2 PM to 6 PM
- Komics Initiative stand, with Mickaël Géreaume presenting the latest releases · Place de Châteauneuf
- Departmental Council stand: students, teachers, illustrators, and nature guides present the "Bulles en Herbe" comic pages · Place de Châteauneuf
- Family treasure hunt, information at the festival booth · Place Châteauneuf
- Exhibition: "Sibylline, chroniques d'une escort girl" by Sixtine Dano, Tour d'Ivoire 2025 · Espace Ockeghem, 1st floor
- Exhibition: "Secret Squelette" by Cyprien Hotte, Tour d'Ivoire des Mômes 2025-2026 · Espace Ockeghem, ground floor
- Exhibition: "Ulysse & Cyrano" by Antoine Cristau, Xavier Dorison, and Servain, winner of the 2025 A l'ombre de la Tour d'Ivoire award · Espace Ockeghem, 1st floor
- Exhibition on the creation of the "Tour d'Ivoire" trophy by students from Lycée Grandmont · Espace Ockeghem, 1st floor
- Exhibition: "Bulles en Herbe" on biodiversity, featuring work by middle school students from Indre-et-Loire · Place de Châteauneuf
Pre-festival City Exhibitions
- "Il était une fois… Lou Lubie", retrospective · Tours Central Library, 2 bis avenue André Malraux · July 17 to September 20, 2026
- "Ma thèse en BD", comic pages by University of Tours PhD students and comic artists, with the SAPS department · Bar Le Cubrik, 15 rue du Change · September 1 to 30, 2026
- "L'addiction s'il vous plaît", pages by Terreur Graphique · Bar La Niche, 16 rue de la Rôtisserie · September 2026, dates to be confirmed
- Pages by Ronan Toulhoat, Vincent Brugeas, and Dav · Cinémas Studio lobby, 2 rue des Ursulines · September 14 to 20, 2026
Guest Authors
34 guests announced: Sixtine Dano, Cyprien Hotte, Lou Lubie, Ronan Toulhoat, Vincent Brugeas, Dav, Émilie Gleason, Terreur Graphique, Blanche Sabbah, Maybelline Skvortzoff, Cyril Elophe, Mikko, Cy, Teresa Valero, Titwane, Poyelp, Sti, Cyril Lieron, Benoit Dahan, Anne Truong Delfosse, Minh Truong Delfosse, Cynthia Thiéry, Ulysse Gry, Gaspard Gry, Laëtitia Rouxel, Marie Dubois, Lucile Thibaudier, Simon Hureau, Mo/CDM, Simon Bournel-Bosson, Marc Dubuisson, Arnaud Poitevin, Lucas Valera, Servain.
Organizer's note: Ronan Toulhoat and Vincent Brugeas will sign on Friday at Cinémas Studio before the opening night. Arnaud Poitevin will sign on Saturday and Sunday afternoons. Mo/CDM will only be present on Saturday. Dav will sign on Saturday until 6 PM and Sunday morning, then head to Cinémas Studio on Sunday afternoon for the film event. Lou Lubie will sign on Saturday afternoon at Place de Châteauneuf, following her talk at the Central Library. General signing hours are 2 PM to 6 PM on Saturday, and 10:30 AM to 12 PM and 2 PM to 6 PM on Sunday. The organization reserves the right to distribute signing tickets via a lottery system.
Prices À Tours de Bulles 2026
Screenings at Cinémas Studio (Friday opening night and Sunday film event) are at standard cinema rates; tickets available in advance or at the door.
Practical information — À Tours de Bulles
Practical Information
Locations
The festival takes place at Place de Châteauneuf and Espace Ockeghem, 15 place de Châteauneuf, 37000 Tours. Screenings are held at the Cinémas Studio, 2 rue des Ursulines, 37000 Tours.
Access
- By train: Tours station
- By bus: Line C2, St Martin stop
- By tram: Nationale stop, then walk along rue des Halles to rue de Châteauneuf
- By car: Paid parking is available nearby in the city center of Tours
Opening hours
Place de Châteauneuf and Espace Ockeghem: Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM. The opening event takes place on Friday evening at the Cinémas Studio.
Admission
Admission to the festival site and all activities is free. Screenings at the Cinémas Studio are at standard cinema prices.
Contact
Association À Tours de Bulles — 06 75 48 15 17 — [email protected] — www.atoursdebulles.fr
A free comic book festival at Place de Châteauneuf
À Tours de Bulles is the comic book festival for the city of Tours, founded in 2001 by the association of the same name. It is held every September, during the European Heritage Days, at Place de Châteauneuf and Espace Ockeghem. Admission is free, and the event is organized by a dedicated team of volunteers.
What to expect
- Book signings: Dozens of authors, writers, and illustrators, both emerging and established, sign their albums at Place de Châteauneuf.
- Drawing workshops: Hosted by the POP studio in Tours, these are open to both children and adults and feature improvised public drawing battles.
- Illustrated concerts: A musician performs on stage while an artist draws live, with a session for young audiences on Saturday and one for the general public on Sunday.
- Exhibitions: Original plates featuring award-winning albums and guest authors are displayed at Espace Ockeghem and various locations throughout the city.
- Screenings: Comic-related film sessions at the Cinémas Studio, followed by discussions with the authors.
- Creative corner: Coloring activities, badges, and crafts for younger visitors, managed by the association's volunteers.
Four annual awards
The Tour d'Ivoire award recognizes a young author who has published no more than three complete albums. The Tour d'Ivoire des Mômes is voted on by children aged 9 to 13, in partnership with libraries and middle school documentation centers in Indre-et-Loire. The A l'ombre de la Tour d'Ivoire award is selected by a reading committee composed of staff from the Tours prison, the Ligue de l'enseignement 37, prison visitors, and association members; it honors a life story. Bulles en Herbe rewards a comic book created by middle school students in the department, in collaboration with the Indre-et-Loire Departmental Council.
Support and partners
The festival is supported by the City of Tours, the Indre-et-Loire Departmental Council, the Centre-Val de Loire Region, the DRAC, and Sofia. It partners with the Cinémas Studio, the Central Library of Tours, the Ligue de l'enseignement 37, the Bédélire and Cultura bookstores, the POP studio, and Le M.U.R Tours. Its dates coincide with the Heritage Days, allowing visitors to explore the historic city center and enjoy the festival over the same weekend.
Where does it take place — À Tours de Bulles
À Tours de Bulles in brief
History of À Tours de Bulles
Edition 2025 Sep 2025Other festivals near Tours
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