BD Boum

BD Boum: The Blois Comic Strip Festival

BD Boum is the second largest comic strip festival in France and the first free festival of its kind. Created in 1984 in Blois, in Loir-et-Cher, it has become over the decades an unmissable event for fans of comic strips, manga, comics, and graphic novels. Every year in November, over 30,000 visitors converge on Blois for three days of festivities around the 9th art.

A Free and Popular Festival

One of BD Boum's unique features is its complete freeness. Access to all exhibitions, meetings, signings, and activities is free, making the festival a popular event accessible to all audiences. This philosophy of cultural openness has been at the heart of BD Boum's identity since its creation.

The Grand Boum - City of Blois Prize

Each year, a comic strip author receives the Grand Boum - City of Blois Prize, the highest distinction awarded by the festival, recognizing an entire career. The laureate chairs the following edition of the festival and is the subject of a major retrospective at the Maison de la BD. Past laureates include prestigious names in French and international comics.

A Rich and Diverse Program

The BD Boum program covers the entire spectrum of comic strips: thematic and monographic exhibitions at the Halle aux Grains and the Maison de la BD, signing sessions with dozens of authors, meetings and debates, screenings of animated and documentary films, concerts, and festive evenings. The festival regularly features a guest country, such as Taiwan in 2025.

The Maison de la BD: A Permanent Cultural Venue

Beyond the annual festival, BD Boum runs the Maison de la BD, a permanent cultural space dedicated to the 9th art located at 3 rue des Jacobins in Blois. Open from Tuesday to Saturday, it offers temporary exhibitions, educational workshops, a specialized library, and outreach activities throughout the year.

Strong Local Roots

BD Boum takes over several emblematic locations in Blois during the festival: the Halle aux Grains, the Maison de la BD, the Les Lobis cinemas, and various cultural spaces in the city. The festival significantly contributes to the cultural and tourist influence of Blois and the Loir-et-Cher region, attracting a loyal audience from all over France.