Complete Guide to the VIII Hispano-French Comic Salon of Sabiñánigo
Sabiñánigo is once again the Aragonese capital of comics this weekend. From August 28 to 30, the eighth edition of the Hispano-French Comic Salon (Festival Franco Espagnol de la bande dessinée BD) will take place.
Organized with the usual passion by the Aragonese Association of Comic Authors (AAAC) and the City Council of Sabiñánigo, this year’s event arrives completely renewed while preserving its characteristic family, professional, and international spirit.
The first major surprise of this eighth edition is its strategic change of location and dates. The salon is moving from the urban center to a unified setting at the Espacio Ciudadano Pirenarium. Moreover, it has shifted its celebration to the last weekend of August with a fantastic purpose: to share space and audience with the Sabiñam Fest, the major gastronomic event of Alto Gállego. Fanzines and comics alongside snacks from food trucks!
The Pyrenean spirit visually infuses this edition thanks to the spectacular official poster designed by the renowned illustrator and sculptor Marta Martínez García (“Batman: Barcelona, el caballero del dragón,” with Diego Olmos and Mark Waid), a master of drawing and color. Her work recreates a legendary forest where figures from Pyrenean mythology—such as the sleeping serpent of Sabiñánigo or the shepherd Guillén—coexist with local wildlife species like the brown bear Claverina, with comics serving as a thread connecting and symbolizing cultural transmission between generations.
Invited Authors and Signing Sessions
The Salon is characterized by connecting all players in the comic book industry: publishers, promoters, booksellers… and especially authors and readers. Signing sessions will be located at the stands in the Espacio Pirenarium at various afternoon slots (starting at 5:00 PM and 6:00 PM on Saturday, and on Sunday morning).
This year highlights the presence of Genís Rigol (“Brunilda en la plata,” APA-APA, 2025), an award-winning animation director (“Knockstrike,” co-directed with Pau Anglada and Marc Torices, 2017) recognized at the Sundance Film Festival.
Also present is Juan Berrio, who has roots in the Jaca region, a leading figure in the clear line style and regular contributor to Madriz, NewsWeek, Elle, CQ, El País, ABC, Humo, Usted está aquí, La Resistencia, M21… He is the International Graphic Novel Prize Fnac-Sins Entido winner. Among the critics, promoters, and collectors will be Fréderic Michel, Yaneck Chareyre, José A. Serrano, Jesús Lacasa, Aída Santos…
Exhibitions
“Comic Tribute to Goya” arrives at the municipal art hall of Sabiñánigo after passing through Zaragoza (Comic Salon, Goya Museum, Children’s Hospital, Juan de Lanuza School, Ángel Rivier Public Special Education School) and Calatayud (UNED). It is a tribute to the universal painter from Fuendetodos, including the comic “Goya. On the Edge of Sanity” (Asín, Bernal, and Royo, 2022) and other pieces created by cartoonists from around the world in homage to Goya, showcasing the importance of his artistic and intellectual figure. It will be on display until September 6.
Additionally, many businesses will decorate their shop windows with samples of comic pages and illustrations from August 26 to September 30. This is an excellent excuse to stroll through Sabiñánigo, discovering art from panel to panel. Titled “Dust, Fog, Wind and Sun,” and reflecting on depopulation like José Antonio Labordeta, the texts woven by Miriam Stolisky, librarian of Villanúa, express the sentiment of those intimately connected to the territory. Contributors include: Ana Asión and Josema Carrasco, Carlos Azagra and Encarna Revuelta, Rubén Blanco, Chesus Calvo, Carlos Enríquez, Sara Jotabé, David Maynar, alongside members of the Aragonese Center of Barcelona, Guillermo Montañés, María Peguero, Gonzalo Royo, Alfonso Miguel Sánchez, Óscar Sanz, Piter Saura, Daniel Viñuales, and Eloy Yanguas.
Meanwhile, “Dystopian and Rural” is the result of the I Comic Research and Creation Laboratory of Villanúa coordinated by Miriam Julián. During a weekend in October 2023, the Villanúa library invited artists to experience new modes of creation, formats, and mediums while sharing work processes. Members of the AAAC joined this exhibition of art, rurality, reflection, critique, freshness, and emotion.
Professional Meetings
All salon activities are free, although some require prior registration. The program is designed to maximize interest for both casual readers and industry professionals:
The VI meeting of ACBD / ACDCómic critics analyzes the state of the cross-border market, trends, and publishing challenges. Cultural managers and public librarians will meet at the II Comic and Libraries of Aragon Meeting. The goal: to enhance and structure the presence of comics in public centers in Aragon, promoting workshops and sharing success stories to encourage reading through panels.
Activities for All Ages and Families
In the morning, emerging authors, fanzine collectives, and self-published creators will present their projects directly to the public at the Open Mic for Fanzines and Self-Publishing.
“Playing in Panels” features live demonstrations of board games inspired by popular comic characters and universes, with adapted areas and giant games for the little ones.
Though considered art, the relationship between comics and institutions designed for art is not as fluid as it could be. Asier Mensuro addresses the synergies of merging museums and comics from both the publisher’s and the author’s perspectives.
The Children’s Drawing Battle is one of the most entertaining moments of the salon. Young talents compete in quick drawing duels guided by humorous thematic prompts.
The gala for the awards and recognitions will take place on Saturday night.
The TRAN de la Memoria is an honorary award granted annually by the AAAC and coordinated by Jesús Lacasa to commemorate prominent Aragonese cartoonists.
Schedule
Friday 28: from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM.
Saturday 29: from 10:30 AM to 2:00 PM and from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM.
Sunday 30: from 10:30 AM to 2:00 PM.
Don’t miss the chance to enjoy the fresh mountain air of Aragon, devour exceptional comics, and experience the best gastronomy. See you at the Espacio Ciudadano Pirenarium!
