Spring, summer, autumn, winter... festivals for every season
Angoulême is something of a capital for graphic and visual arts and beats to the rhythm of its festivals all year round. Its calendar features comic strips, photography, vintage cars and music and is attracting growing numbers of festivalgoers. Here’s our little reminder to make sure you don’t miss anything and you explore all our festivals!
Spring festivals
Emoi Photographique (Photographic Emotion)
Every spring, this photography festival invades a dozen locations in Angoulême and the surrounding areas. Each year revolves around a different theme and honours more than 20 photographers. Including at least one who uses traditional methods, one from Africa and one local artist.
Musiques Métisses (Blended Music)
A pioneer in its field, this festival has been getting Angoulême moving to the rhythms of world music for more than 40 years. Musiques Métisses has since become an unmissable fixture on the current and urban world music scene, mixing different cultures with infectious joy.
Summer festivals
Angoulême Francophone Film Festival
This festival founded in 2008 by Dominique Besnehard and Marie-France Brière has become one of French cinema’s key dates. With previews of more than 80 films, a comprehensive official selection of the films in the running for a Valois prize and a galaxy of stars, at the end of August Angoulême is the place to be for lovers of French-language cinema.
Autumn festivals
Circuit International des Remparts (International Ramparts Circuit)
Since 1939, this has been a must-do for lovers of classic cars in Angoulême: each year, the Circuit International des Remparts welcomes drivers from every country who come to take on epic courses. In their Aston Martins, MGs, Bugattis, Porsches and Lotuses, the drivers race around an urban circuit that’s been unchanged for almost 80 years. A style competition, vintage touring rally and exhibitions round off the programme for the weekend. It is dedicated to lovers of classic cars.
Piano en Valois
Every year, this piano festival welcomes some of the most talented pianists from the contemporary classical scene. The event, which draws crowds from all over Europe, breathes new life into the work of the biggest composers.
The Gastronomades
For almost 25 years, the Gastronomades has annually welcomed the cream of French and international cuisine to pay homage to the art of eating. Featuring cooking classes, tasting sessions, culinary competitions, an area dedicated to local flavours, a market with stalls from every region of France and street food, this festival takes over the entire town and will have foodies’ mouths watering!
Winter’s unmissable festival
The International Comics Festival: the superhero of Angoulême’s festivals
Each year, more than 200,000 festivalgoers descend on Angoulême to see what’s new in the world of graphic and comic book arts. Exhibitions, shows, meet and greets, autograph signings, live drawing and official competitions fill every corner of Angoulême. Not to be missed under any circumstances!
