A major celebration of comics, illustration and storytelling is set to take place in Dublin this month as the 11th Comic Book Festival launches at Alliance Française Dublin.
Organised in partnership with Illustrators Ireland, this year’s festival promises an expanded programme of live performances, workshops, exhibitions and panel discussions, bringing together some of the most exciting comic creators from Ireland and France.
The festival will run across several days in May, with organisers describing the event as a celebration of the “vibrant worlds of comics and illustration”.
Dublin's Comic Book Festival will take place from 20th to 23rd of May this year.
Building on the success of previous editions, this year’s programme introduces several new additions, including a professionally focused panel for creators and artists, as well as a unique collaboration with the Irish National Opera exploring the surprising links between the beloved French comic Astérix and Bellini’s opera Norma.
The festival will open on Wednesday, May 20, with an award-winning panel discussion featuring acclaimed French comic creators Fabien Tillon and Gaël Remise, alongside celebrated Irish artists Sarah Bowie and Sheena Dempsey.
Moderated by Karen Harte, the discussion will explore how comics evolve from initial sketches into published stories, while examining the role of culture and language in visual storytelling.
Visitors will also be able to enjoy book signings and sales following the opening event at Café Madeleine inside Alliance Française Dublin.
One of the festival’s standout events will take place on Thursday, May 21, with a special live reading showcase blending illustration, sound and performance.
The immersive event will feature a wide lineup of indie comic creators from Ireland and France, including Philip Barrett, Fiona Dowling, Kate Escolin, Katherine Foyle, Eoin Rogers and Willow Caufield.
Organisers described the experience as sitting “somewhere between theatre and animation”, with comics unfolding live on stage in real time before audiences.
Always a highlight of the Comic Book Festival, our 'Live Readings' session is a fun and dynamic showcase of some of the most exciting indie comic creators from Ireland and France, bringing their work to life on stage!
Thursday 21st May at 6pm
Free booking: https://t.co/GuuD1sLxtB pic.twitter.com/xuwUCBzHI6— Alliance Française Dublin (@afdublin) May 12, 2026
On Friday, May 22, the festival will host a special discussion titled Vive la Résistance! Imagining Gaul from Astérix to Norma, examining how Roman-occupied Gaul has inspired storytelling across both comics and opera.
The panel will include comics scholar Fabien Tillon, Dr Rebecca Usherwood from Trinity College Dublin, and Madeleine Boyd, set and costume designer for the upcoming production of Norma at the Gaiety Theatre.
The discussion will conclude with a live performance from Irish National Opera singers Deirdre Higgins and Heather Sammon.
Saturday’s programme includes a series of workshops and convention-style events aimed at both aspiring and established comic creators.
Legendary Irish artist Eoin Coveney will lead an all-day masterclass titled Show Me The Story, where participants will gain insight into the process of turning scripts into fully rendered comic pages.
The festival will also host a mini comics convention in partnership with the Dublin Comic Arts Festival (DCAF) and independent bookstore Little Deer Bookshop, featuring small press book sales and artist signings.
Families and younger comic fans are also being catered for, with children’s workshops hosted by Kate Escolin, while adults and teenagers can take part in a “Comic Page Speedrun” workshop led by Philip Barrett.
On the last day of the Comic Book Festival, it will be your turn to make comics! Join our hands-on creative workshops on Saturday 23rd at 3pm:
- Children with Kate Escolin
Book: https://t.co/98C3u8M6Y3
- Adults (and older teens) with Philip Barrett
Book: https://t.co/ZB8lvq5Gef pic.twitter.com/NIoUPNk6aD— Alliance Française Dublin (@afdublin) May 15, 2026
For the first time, the festival is also introducing a professional industry panel titled Indie Comics in Ireland: Fund, Create and Share Your Work, featuring comic creators Debbie Jenkinson, Paddy Lynch and Matt Melis discussing the realities of making and funding independent comics.
Alongside the live events, visitors can also explore the exhibition From Sketchbook to Story, running from May 14 to June 30 on the third floor of Alliance Française Dublin.
The exhibition showcases a diverse range of work from Irish comic artists and illustrators, highlighting everything from rough sketches to completed comic pages.
Meanwhile, throughout the month of May, The French Library at Alliance Française Dublin will host a curated collection of French-language comics and graphic novels, offering visitors a deeper look into the traditions of bandes dessinées and Franco-Belgian comic art.
Most events at the festival are free to attend, with charges applying only for workshops and masterclasses.
