BD dans l'Ain - Valserhône Comic Book Festival

A comic book festival rooted in the Ain since 1996

Founded in 1996, the BD dans l'Ain festival is now an integral part of the cultural landscape of the Ain department. Organised by the Arts & BD association, this annual event takes place every last weekend of November at the Centre Jean Marinet in Valserhône (formerly Bellegarde-sur-Valserine), a venue located in the very heart of the town, a five-minute walk from the SNCF railway station. The festival celebrates the ninth art in all its forms: Franco-Belgian comics, manga, graphic novels, American comics and illustrated children's books.

A rich and varied programme for all audiences

Each edition welcomes around thirty authors, writers and illustrators from every corner of the comics world. Visitors can discover how comics are made while enjoying privileged exchanges with the creators in attendance. The programme includes:

• Book signing sessions on Saturday and Sunday, mornings from 10am to 12pm and afternoons from 2:30pm to 6pm
• Exhibitions showcasing the universe of guest authors and the works of Jeunes Talents competition winners
• Workshops and activities for young and old, offering an introduction to drawing and graphic storytelling
• A free film screening related to the world of comics
• A theatre show connected to the world of the ninth art
• A bookshop area run by partner bookshop Le Pavillon Noir, offering albums by the attending authors
• A second-hand comics market and stands from regional publishers

The Jeunes Talents competition: encouraging creativity among secondary school students

One of the festival's distinctive features is its Jeunes Talents competition, organised in partnership with the Ain Departmental Council. Open to students in Years 9 and 10 living or studying in the Ain, the competition invites young people to complete a page started by a guest professional author. The top four winners receive statuettes and gift cards, while the next sixteen are rewarded with comic book selections. The twenty best works are exhibited during the festival, giving young creators a showcase before an audience of enthusiasts.

A team of passionate volunteers

The festival is run by the Arts & BD association, chaired by Christelle Jourdan and coordinated by Maëva Petitfrere. Around forty volunteers rally each year, organised into specialised teams: author reception, visitor welcome, logistics, communications and volunteer coordination. It is this collective energy, driven by joy and good humour, that makes BD dans l'Ain a warm and convivial occasion, true to the community spirit that has animated it since its creation.

Valserhône: a setting between the Jura and the Alps

Valserhône, a new municipality created in 2019 from the merger of Bellegarde-sur-Valserine, Châtillon-en-Michaille and Lancrans, sits at the confluence of the Rhône and the Valserine, on the doorstep of Pays de Gex and Bugey. Easily accessible by train from Lyon, Geneva and Annecy, the town offers a remarkable natural setting between the Jura and the Alps, ideal for extending your festival visit with a discovery of the region.