From October 29 to November 2, 2025, the Tuscan city of Lucca will once again be transformed into a huge stage for comics, games and pop culture. For the 59th edition of what is probably the largest European festival of its kind, the organizers have been seduced by France: "French Kiss" is the leitmotif - a tribute to France and its influential tradition of the bande dessinée.
Liberté, Créativité, Diversité
Rébecca Dautremer designed the festival poster. Entitled "Six people in search of an author", it brings together a colorful company: a vampire countess, a monster, a wolf-man, a witch, a warrior and a specially invented character called Lukawa - half manga, half Lucca. They stand on an imaginary stage, inspired by Pirandello's famous play, and search for the kiss that will continue their story. According to the French illustrator, this motif is intended to represent the dialog between cultures and art forms.
Dautremer will also be represented with a large exhibition of her work at Palazzo Guinigi. There, she will provide insights into the sketches and work processes for her latest work "Ruby Rose", which will be published in France in 2026.
There are other highlights to discover alongside her in the Palazzo:
Kevin Eastman, co-founder of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, presents sketches and storyboards and tells the story of how his cult series came about.
The exhibition "L'Eternauta: Beyond Space and Time" documents a masterpiece of Argentinian comics using one hundred original drawings. Héctor Germán Oesterheld 's gloomy vision of the future stands as an allegory against totalitarianism - and became tragic for the author personally, as he was later one of the "desaparecidos".
Grazia La Padula is one of the most exciting voices in Italian comics - from early magazine articles to her new work "Les insoumises".
Foodmetti - Artists of the Tables" offers culinary art: recipes, drinks and kitchen worlds are reinterpreted in illustrations, workshops and live cooking.
Hexagons
The creative tour de France continues in the "Hexagones" exhibition. At the headquarters of the Fondazione Banca del Monte di Lucca aka Palais de France, twelve influential voices of the bande dessinée are presented - including Claire Bretécher, Moebius, Philippe Druillet, Gotlib, Jean-Marc Reiser and Jacques Tardi. They had a profound influence on the development of the pictorial narrative in terms of its meaning, methods and impact by unleashing the emotions of readers and new potentials of the medium. From the 1970s onwards, female artists in particular explored their inner world through very personal works and turned them into an extension of their mind and body.
The show will be complemented by panel discussions and signing sessions. Florence Cestac and Edmond Baudoin will talk about their careers and the social significance of the "ninth art". The intention of Lucca Comics & Games 2025 is to span an arc from the French tradition to the present day in an intergenerational discourse.
International stars
In addition to the French guests, the festival has announced a promising line-up of international illustration greats:
Tetsuo Hara, legendary illustrator of "Fist of the North Star", is showing over a hundred original drawings and exclusive collector's items for the first time in Italy at the Chiesa dei Servi. His works combine action with a spiritual dimension - he even lends humanity to his opponents.
Kei Urana and Hideyoshi Andou, creator of the graffiti manga "Gachiakuta", will also be traveling to Lucca for panels and workshops.
If you stay focused amidst the many cosplayers, you might also come across the French-Canadian comic artist and animator Guy Delisle . He is known for his autobiographical graphic novels such as "Pyongyang" or "Notes from Jerusalem".
Lovers of independent US comics can rejoice: Mike Richardson, founder and CEO of Dark Horse Media, is coming from the USA. He will be accompanied by David Scroggy, a formative figure at the publishing house founded in 1986, who will share over five decades of experience - from agent and bookseller to Vice President of Product Development.
News from Italy
The big names of the Italian scene will not miss out either. Zerocalcare, Milo Manara, Leo Ortolani and Fumettibrutti (Josephine Yole Signorelli) will be there with fresh works. The cartoonist and activist from Sicily, who already won the Gran Guinigi Award in 2019, is now considered a permanent fixture on the European comic scene.
The new, strongly autobiographical projects by Zuzu (Giulia Spagnulo), also a 2019 award winner, are eagerly awaited. The festival is thus placing a clear emphasis on young voices that combine illustration, diary and social observation.
A festival of encounters
The interesting program, an expanded children's section, numerous innovations in gaming and streaming as well as live musical acts - including from the cult band Elio e le Storie Tese - are the best omens for celebrating five full festival days with fans of all ages and cultures in the heart of Tuscany.
Lucca Comics & Games 2025
October 29 to November 2, 2025
