Festi'BD Manche

The largest youth book and comic strip festival in Manche

Since its creation in 1987, the Cherbourg-en-Cotentin Youth Book and Comic Strip Festival, also known as Festi'BD Manche, has established itself as a major cultural event in Normandy. Every year in May, the Espace René Le Bas (former military hospital) transforms into a festive space dedicated to books, comic strips, and illustration.

A rich and varied program

The festival offers a dense program over four days: signing sessions with invited authors and illustrators, thematic exhibitions, creative workshops for all ages, round tables and meetings with book industry professionals, as well as shows and public readings. Each edition is organized around a unifying theme that guides the selection of artists and the scenography of the exhibitions.

Inspiring themes

Recent editions have explored varied and stimulating themes. The 2024 edition's theme was "Asia", while the 2025 edition focused on time with "Over Time". The 2026 edition will invite visitors to explore mysteries and shadows with the theme "The Forest", for its 39th edition.

A commitment to youth reading

The festival's objective is to spark curiosity and the desire to discover the works of invited writers and illustrators, through exhibitions and meetings. It also aims to build audience loyalty and familiarize them with books and the entire creative process. Significant outreach work is carried out with schools throughout the year, in preparation for the festival.

A festival supported by the Academy of Normandy

The festival benefits from the support of the Academy of Normandy, the city of Cherbourg-en-Cotentin, the department of Manche, and the Normandy region. This institutional recognition highlights the importance of this event for promoting reading and literary and graphic creation among young audiences.