Lyon BD Festival

Lyon BD Festival: Twenty Years of Comic Strips in Lyon

Since 2005, Lyon BD Festival has established itself as one of the most important comic strip festivals in France, just behind the Angoulême Festival. Supported by the Collège Graphique and the City of Lyon, this event has created a strong identity around comics in a city that has a long history with graphic arts and illustration.

The Hôtel de Ville and the 1st Arrondissement Celebrate

Each year, the festival takes place in a prestigious setting: the Hôtel de Ville of Lyon and the surrounding streets of the 1st arrondissement. The halls of the Hôtel de Ville host signings, while exhibitions take over public spaces and cultural venues in the district. This location in the heart of Lyon gives the festival a special charm and allows for pleasant strolls between the different areas.

Recognized Literary Awards

Lyon BD Festival awards the Prix Lyon BD each year, an honor that highlights the best works of the year, and the Prix Lyon BD Jeunesse, dedicated to publications for young readers. These awards, selected and voted on by a jury of professionals and readers, contribute to the recognition of authors and the promotion of comic strips to all audiences.

A Free and Accessible Festival

One of the great strengths of Lyon BD Festival is its total freeness. Signings, exhibitions, conferences, round tables, and meetings with authors are accessible to everyone without tickets or reservations. The festival hosts a large number of authors—French and international—each year who participate in signings and exchanges with the public in a friendly and warm atmosphere.

Youth and Professional Programming

The festival offers programming dedicated to the young audience, with drawing workshops, readings, and meetings adapted for children. A professional day brings together publishers, booksellers, librarians, and authors for conferences and discussions on the comic strip industry, making Lyon BD Festival a complete event that appeals to all audiences.

20th Edition in 2025

The festival celebrated its 20th edition in 2025, an anniversary that testifies to the vitality of comic strips in Lyon and the attachment of the Lyonnais public to this event. In twenty years, Lyon BD Festival has helped make Lyon a recognized city for comics, alongside Angoulême and Brussels.