The language of images in turbulent times: The biennial Erlangen International Comic Salon begins on Thursday, June 4. The largest festival for comic art and graphic literature in the German-speaking world and one of the most important in Europe runs until Sunday, June 7. For four days, everything in the city center will revolve around the "ninth art": in and around the castle garden there will be trade fair tents, exhibitions, rooms for readings, lectures, talks, workshops and much more. Over 25,000 visitors are expected by the organizing cultural office of the city of Erlangen.
With "Children love comics", a separate festival within the festival is dedicated to young readers, while the renowned Max and Moritz Prize honors the best new publications of the last two years. The Erlangen International Comic Salon is supported for the sixth time by its title sponsor, DATEV eG from Nuremberg.
Around 500 artists from all over the world take part
At the heart of the festival is traditionally the comic fair in marquee halls in the city center. Over 300 exhibitors - publishers, the comic trade, comic classes at universities, independent small publishers, individual artists and self-publishers - present their program there. German avant-garde, international graphic novels, French-Belgian bandes dessinées, American superheroes and Japanese manga - numerous new publications will be presented to the public for the first time. Around 500 artists from all over the world can be seen drawing and signing their books. Well over 200 individual events, readings, lectures, talks and discussions accompany the trade fair and exhibition program.
Comic Salon in the city (Photo: Erich Malter)
Excerpt from the program
Two major exhibitions will open before the festival: with "Christoph Niemann. To the Point", the Kunstpalais (Marktplatz 1), in collaboration with the Comic Salon, is presenting a major exhibition of the work of Germany's best-known illustrator from March 14.
Since the beginning of May, the Stadtmuseum (Martin-Luther-Platz 9) has been presenting "Was gibt`s denn da zu lachen? The comic art of Walter Moers", the first major retrospective of the illustrator and author's work in southern Germany will be shown in collaboration with the Ludwiggalerie Schloss Oberhausen.
During the festival, a retrospective will be dedicated to comic pioneer Isabel Kreitz at the Kunstmuseum Erlangen (Nürnberger Straße 9). The focus will be on comics without text - silent comics - and the Simpsons will be celebrated. Things get political with #iceoutcomics from the USA and "Schattenleben - Menschen ohne Papiere erzählen" (Shadow life - people without papers tell stories), and scientific with an aesthetic examination of the world of quanta. Numerous other exhibitions, some in collaboration with comic publishers, present artists and their latest works.
The recently opened culture and education campus kubic (Südliche Stadtmauerstraße) will be the second heart of the Comic Salon alongside Schloßplatz and Schlossgarten. The "Children love comics" festival, parts of the trade fair, the presence of Comic Solidarity and numerous events will take place there.
The Max and Moritz Prize is the most important award for graphic literature in the German-speaking world. One of the highlights of the Salon is the Max and Moritz Gala (Friday, June 5, 8:30 pm) in the Markgrafentheater. 25 titles have been nominated for the prizes, which are awarded in various categories. Posy Simmonds has already been chosen as the winner for outstanding lifetime achievement.
DATEV eG is the title sponsor of the Erlangen International Comic Salon for the sixth time in 2026. As an IT service provider for tax consultants, auditors and lawyers as well as their clients, such as medium-sized companies and municipal administrations, the cooperative is one of the largest employers in the Nuremberg metropolitan region and one of the most important software companies in Europe.
Detailed press information is available on the Internet at www.comic-salon.de.
Video with Lord Mayor Jörg Volleth from June 2:
A review of the 22nd edition from June 4 to 7
Erlangen International Comics Festival 2026
A recap of the 22nd edition, held June 4–7: Over 35,000 visitors attended the largest festival for graphic literature and comic art in the German-speaking world.
Erlangen International Comics Festival 2026
A recap of the 22nd edition, held June 4–7: Over 35,000 visitors attended the largest festival for graphic literature and comic art in the German-speaking world.