Festival de la BD du Pays de Château-Gontier
The annual meeting for comic strips in Sud-Mayenne
About Festival BD Château-Gontier
The Festival de la BD du Pays de Château-Gontier is an annual event dedicated to the ninth art, organized every first weekend of October at the Pôle culturel Les Ursulines. Since 2011, this event, supported by the association BD au Pays de Château-Gontier, brings together about thirty authors for two days of book signings, thematic exhibitions, drawn concerts, workshops, and meetings. Each edition is built around a unifying theme and welcomes a guest of honor in the remarkable setting of the former Ursuline convent.
The Festival de la BD du Pays de Château-Gontier: the ninth art in a heritage setting
Created in 2011 by the association BD au Pays de Château-Gontier, the Festival de la BD du Pays de Château-Gontier has established itself over the editions as an unmissable event for comic strip enthusiasts in Mayenne and throughout the Grand Ouest. Every first weekend of October, the Pôle culturel Les Ursulines, located in the former 17th-century Ursuline convent, opens its doors to about thirty authors who come to meet the public for signing sessions, exchanges, and moments of sharing around graphic creation.
A unifying theme for each edition
One of the festival's unique features lies in the choice of an annual theme that permeates the entire program: exhibitions, conferences, drawn concerts, and activities are designed in coherence with this guiding thread. In 2024, the 14th edition honored cinema with Spanish artist Ana Mirallès as guest of honor, while the 15th edition in 2025 explored the theme of the sea with Emmanuel Lepage, the first comic strip author to receive the title of Official Painter of the Navy. In 2026, the 16th edition has the Western as its theme and welcomes cartoonist François Boucq as guest of honor.
Exhibitions, drawn concerts, and workshops
The festival offers a rich and varied program. Several exhibitions highlight the work of the guest of honor and established or emerging artists. Drawn concerts, combining live music and live graphic creation, constitute one of the highlights of each edition. Practical workshops allow visitors to learn drawing techniques and sequential narration, while round tables bring together professionals from the sector to discuss current events in the ninth art.
A family-friendly and accessible festival
The festival is designed as a family-friendly event open to all audiences, with a moderately priced entrance fee and free admission for children under 12. Youth activities are specially designed for the youngest: board games, audio escape games, animated readings, and meetings with authors. The exhibitors' area welcomes booksellers, independent publishers, and associations, offering visitors the opportunity to discover rare works or new releases. The exceptional setting of the former Ursuline convent gives the festival a unique atmosphere, between historical heritage and contemporary creation.
An event rooted in the territory
Co-organized with the Communauté de communes du Pays de Château-Gontier, the festival benefits from the support of numerous volunteers and local partners. Throughout the year, the association BD au Pays de Château-Gontier carries out cultural mediation actions with schools, media libraries, and social structures in Sud-Mayenne, contributing to spreading comic strip culture far beyond the festival weekend itself.
Festival BD Château-Gontier — edition 2026
The 16th edition of the Festival de la BD du Pays de Château-Gontier will be held on Saturday, October 3 and Sunday, October 4, 2026, at the Pôle culturel Les Ursulines. Under the theme of Western, this edition welcomes cartoonist François Boucq as guest of honor, surrounded by some thirty authors for two days of signings, exhibitions, a live drawing concert, and activities for all audiences.
16th edition of the Festival de la BD du Pays de Château-Gontier — Western theme
The Festival de la BD du Pays de Château-Gontier returns for its 16th edition on Saturday, October 3 and Sunday, October 4, 2026, at the Pôle culturel Les Ursulines in Château-Gontier-sur-Mayenne. The guiding theme of this edition is the Western, explored through exhibitions, meetings, and weekend activities.
The 2026 guest of honor is François Boucq, a major figure in French comic strips (Grand Prix du Festival d'Angoulême). He will be joined by some thirty authors present for signing sessions and exchanges with the public, including Laurent Astier, Fabrice Le Hénanff, Alain Goutal, Catherine Latteux, Philippe and Sylvie Sternis, Daphné Zemmouri, and the duo Christophe and Rodolphe Hoyas.
Also on the program: a live drawing concert featuring singer Gwennyn and cartoonist Alain Goutal, drawing workshops for young people (« Croqu'en Stock », « Le Coin des P'titous »), an audio escape game, board games, and theatrical sketches on the Western theme by the Pincées de Scène company.
Programme Festival BD Château-Gontier 2026
Saturday, October 3, 2026 (12 PM - 7 PM)
- 3 PM - 7 PM — Signings by the attending authors
- 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM — Live drawing concert with singer Gwennyn and cartoonist Alain Goutal
- 3:15 PM - 4 PM and 4:45 PM - 5:30 PM — Drawing workshop « Croqu'en Stock » with Christophe Laze (9-12 years old)
- 2:30 PM - 6 PM — « Le Coin des P'titous »: drawing and coloring (5-10 years old)
- 2:30 PM - 6 PM — Board games (Jeux Bouquine bookstore)
- 3 PM - 5:30 PM — Audio escape game « 2222 »
Sunday, October 4, 2026 (10 AM - 6:30 PM)
- 3 PM - 6:30 PM — Signings by the attending authors
- 2 PM - 5 PM — Theatrical sketches on the Western theme by the Pincées de Scène company
- 11:15 AM - 12 PM, 3:15 PM - 4 PM and 4:30 PM - 5:15 PM — Drawing workshop « Croqu'en Stock » with Christophe Laze (9-12 years old)
- 3 PM - 5:30 PM — « Le Coin des P'titous »: drawing and coloring (5-10 years old)
- 10 AM - 12 PM and 2:30 PM - 6 PM — Board games
- 3 PM - 6:30 PM — Audio escape game « 2222 »
Guest of Honor: François Boucq. Announced Authors (selection): Christophe Ansar, Laurent Astier, Gérard Beaudoin, Coline Chevis, Sébastien Corbet, Pepito Ferey, Gilbert Gilb-Lions, Anaïs Goldemberg, Alain Goutal, Gaëlle Grizzly, Benjamin Hofseth, Christophe Hoyas, Rodolphe Hoyas, Éric Ivars, Catherine Latteux, Fabrice Le Hénanff, Alain Mary, Fabien Mater, Jean-Christophe Nègre, Chongrui Nie, Nathalie Nie, François Plisson, Philippe Sternis, Sylvie Sternis, Wray, Yaaryl, Daphné Zemmouri.
Highlights Festival BD Château-Gontier 2026
- 16th edition on October 3 and 4, 2026
- Edition theme: Western
- François Boucq, guest of honor
- Around thirty authors for signings
- Live drawing concert with Gwennyn and Alain Goutal
- Drawing workshops, audio escape game, and youth activities
- Theatrical sketches on the Western theme
Prices Festival BD Château-Gontier 2026
Practical information — Festival BD Château-Gontier
Access to Pôle culturel Les Ursulines
By car
The Pôle culturel Les Ursulines is located at 4 bis rue Horeau, 53200 Château-Gontier-sur-Mayenne. From Laval (approx. 30 minutes): take the D57 or N162 southbound. From Angers (approx. 50 minutes): follow the N162 northbound. From Le Mans (approx. 1h15): take the A81 then the N162 towards Château-Gontier. Several free parking lots are available in the immediate vicinity of the Pôle culturel, notably the Place André Counord parking lot.
By train
Château-Gontier station is served by the TER Pays de la Loire line connecting Laval to Angers. The Pôle culturel Les Ursulines is about a 10-minute walk from the station.
By bus
The Aléop transport network serves Château-Gontier-sur-Mayenne with departmental lines from the main towns of Mayenne.
Festival hours
The festival takes place over two days, the first weekend of October. For the 2026 edition: Saturday from 12 PM to 7 PM and Sunday from 10 AM to 6:30 PM.
Prices
Paid admission at a moderate rate: 5 € per day (with a 2 € purchase voucher) and 8 € for both days (with a 3 € purchase voucher). Free for children under 12. Book signings, workshops, and youth activities are freely accessible once admission is paid.
Catering
Food stalls are set up on the festival site. Several restaurants, brasseries, and crêperies are also located a few minutes' walk away in the historic center of Château-Gontier-sur-Mayenne.
Accessibility
The Pôle culturel Les Ursulines is accessible to people with reduced mobility. Specific arrangements are planned to facilitate movement in the exhibition and signing areas.
Accommodation
Château-Gontier-sur-Mayenne has several hotels, bed and breakfasts, and gîtes near the city center. It is advisable to book in advance for the festival weekend. The Office de Tourisme du Sud-Mayenne can guide you in your search for accommodation.
Contact and information
Website: bdpayschateaugontier.fr
Email: [email protected]
Facebook: BD au Pays de Château-Gontier
Festival-goer photos
No photo yet. Share yours!
Share your photos
5 photos max, 5 MB per photo (JPG, PNG, WebP)
Vous avez repéré une erreur ou une information manquante ?
Aidez-nous à garder cette fiche à jour. Toute proposition est relue par notre équipe avant publication.
Festival-goer reviews
No rating yet — be the first!
No review yet. Be the first!
Were you there?
Share your experience with the community
Where does it take place — Festival BD Château-Gontier
Pôle culturel Les Ursulines
4 bis rue Horeau, 53200 Château-Gontier-sur-Mayenne