Bulles en Loire

The BD event of Anjou since 1988

Since 1988, the Bulles en Loire festival has enlivened Chalonnes-sur-Loire every winter with a weekend entirely dedicated to comic strips. Organized by the Calonn'Anim association with the support of the town of Chalonnes-sur-Loire, this free festival has established itself as a regular event for comic strip lovers in Maine-et-Loire, celebrating its 36th edition in 2026.

Authors, signings, and amateur competition

The heart of the festival lies in the signing sessions with professional comic strip authors and illustrators, who meet their audience throughout the weekend. In parallel, an amateur comic strip competition open to participants aged 14 and over allows aspiring artists to showcase their talent and be judged by a panel of professionals. A drawing workshop is offered before the festival to prepare the candidates.

Exhibitions and activities

Each edition of Bulles en Loire is accompanied by thematic exhibitions highlighting various graphic universes: manga, Franco-Belgian comics, comics, independent BD. Activities around comic strips — readings, screenings, creative workshops — complete the program to satisfy all audiences, from novices to seasoned collectors. A sales area also allows visitors to discover and purchase the latest releases.

A free and friendly festival

One of Bulles en Loire's strengths is its free admission, which promotes the accessibility of comic strips to the widest possible audience. The festival takes place in the Salle Calonna, in the heart of Chalonnes-sur-Loire, in a warm and relaxed atmosphere that encourages interaction between authors and readers. The Calonn'Anim association works all year round to make this winter weekend a moment of sharing and discovery around the 9th art.