Comic-Book Pilgrimage: Turin, The Orangery and Europe’s Graphic Novel Scene

Beat the planning paralysis: a graphic-novel road map for 2026

If you love graphic novels but hate hunting across dozens of websites, social feeds and forum threads to build a weekend trip, this guide is for you. In 2026 graphic novel tourism is no longer a fringe hobby — it's a curated cultural route you can plan in a weekend. Start here: Turin as a base for transmedia studios like The Orangery, paired with festival stops in Lucca and Angoulême, museum pilgrimages in Belgium, and indie illustration walks across Barcelona and Berlin.

Why 2026 is a turning point for comic-focused travel

Two forces are converging to make Europe a must-visit region for fans of graphic novels and transmedia IP.

• Industry momentum: Big-agency signings of European transmedia studios mean more adaptations, exhibitions and public programming. In January 2026 Variety reported that The Orangery — a Turin-based transmedia IP studio founded by Davide G.G. Caci — signed with WME, a signal that European graphic-novel IP is on the global production map.
• Cultural tourism trends: Travelers are choosing niche, experience-led trips (illustration tours, studio visits, festival weekends) over generic sightseeing. Cities are responding with targeted exhibitions, residency open-studios and collector-focused pop-ups (see our pop-up playbook for models that scale quickly).

Turin first: why this city is central for the modern comic pilgrim

Turin’s creative ecosystem has quietly matured into a transmedia hub. The Orangery — best known for the hit graphic series Traveling to Mars and Sweet Paprika — anchors a cluster of studios, galleries and independent bookshops that blur the lines between comics, TV/film development and illustration.

“The Orangery’s WME deal in January 2026 shows how Turin-based creators are being packaged for global audiences,” — industry coverage, January 2026.

What to do in Turin (actionable):

• Studio research & outreach: Many transmedia studios, including The Orangery, accept press or fan inquiries. Email in advance to request a short, respectful studio visit or to learn about open days — most will accommodate small groups during festivals or market weeks.
• Illustration and gallery walk: Build a half-day walking route through Turin’s historic Quadrilatero Romano and San Salvario neighborhoods where small galleries and independent publishers often host rotating illustration shows.
• Buy signed editions: Ask local shops about signed or limited editions from regional artists — Turin bookshops and cartoonists will often hold a small stock of exclusives that don’t reach global distribution.
• Transport tips: Turin is a great rail hub: Milan is 1–1.5 hours by fast train; Genoa and the Ligurian coast are also easy day trips for a mixed culture/beach itinerary.

Must-visit European comic cities and what to expect

Below are curated stops, each selected for a specific type of experience: festivals, museum depth, indie scenes, or transmedia deals.

1. Lucca, Italy — the convention capital for fans

Why go: Lucca Comics & Games (held every October) is Europe’s biggest comic convention for fans, creators, and collectors. Expect cosplay parades, publisher booths from across Europe, and late-night artist talks in medieval piazzas.

Practical tips:

• Book accommodation 3–6 months ahead for October — demand remains high post-2024 as the event expanded programming for transmedia creators.
• Buy advance badges and plan the tents and exhibition halls you want; schedule meet-and-greets early.

2. Angoulême, France — the art-comics and industry hub

Why go: The Festival International de la Bande Dessinée d’Angoulême remains the industry bellwether for European graphic novel trends. Curated exhibitions, retrospectives and publishers’ markets make it a top destination for collectors and professionals alike.

Practical tips:

• Attend portfolio reviews — Angoulême’s professional program is ideal for emerging artists seeking feedback and networking.
• Use the festival’s official app to track talks and exclusive pop-up exhibits in 2026 (the city continues to expand digital scheduling features).

3. Brussels & Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium — history and the Hergé legacy

Why go: Belgium is the cradle of Franco-Belgian bandes dessinées. Visit the Belgian Comic Strip Center in Brussels and the Hergé Museum in Louvain-la-Neuve for immersive historical context and original art displays.

Practical tips:

• Combine both museums over two days and leave room to browse local comic shops in Brussels’ Sablon district.
• Look for guided walks that highlight mural art — Tintin and other comic murals are part of Brussels’ public-art trail.

4. Bologna & Turin loop — BilBOlbul and small-press culture

Why go: Bologna’s BilBOlbul festival (focused on authorial and art comics) and the city’s university libraries create a dense, research-friendly environment. Pair with Turin for studio access and transmedia opportunities.

Practical tips:

• Check BilBOlbul dates (usually in November) and look for residency open-studios — many guest artists present works-in-progress.
• Use regional trains to travel between Turin and Bologna in one scenic day, leaving time for small-press bookstores and independent zine fairs.

5. Barcelona and Berlin — illustration tours and indie scenes

Why go: Barcelona and Berlin are both hotspots for contemporary illustration and indie comics. Expect gallery shows, experimental zine fairs, and lively café culture where artists sketch and critique work publicly.

Practical tips:

• In Barcelona, combine neighborhood wandering (Gràcia, El Born) with stops at local illustration shops. Look for weekend zine fairs.
• In Berlin, focus on Kreuzberg and Neukölln for independent galleries and pop-ups; Berlin’s small-press community frequently runs workshops and live-draw events.

How to build a 7-day graphic-novel pilgrimage (sample itineraries)

Pick a starting city and tailor these plans to festival dates and your travel pace.

Option A — Torino-focused long weekend (3–4 days)

1. Day 1: Arrive in Turin, do an afternoon illustration walk through San Salvario. Evening: local bookshop crawl and aperitivo near Piazza Vittorio.
2. Day 2: Morning: studio call — request a short visit at The Orangery or attend a scheduled talk. Afternoon: visit contemporary galleries and independent publishers.
3. Day 3: Day trip to Milan or a Ligurian town for coastal scenery and smaller comic book shops; return to Turin for a guided comic-history talk if available.

Option B — Festival sprint (Lucca + Florence + Turin, 7 days)

1. Days 1–3: Lucca Comics & Games — panels, signings, and cosplay events. Pre-sell tickets and queuing strategy are essential for headline guests.
2. Day 4: Transfer to Florence for museums, smaller illustration shows and quiet research time.
3. Days 5–7: Turin — studio visits, gallery walks, and a deeper look at transmedia producers like The Orangery.

Actionable planning checklist for smart comic-book tourism

• Calendar sync: Match your trip with festival and museum programming — festivals often post schedules months in advance.
• Contact creators early: Email studios, galleries and artists with a clear, polite request for a short visit or signing opportunity; offer to buy work in advance.
• Budget for shipping: Signed books and art can be heavy; ask shops about international shipping rates or bring a small collapsible box for purchases.
• Language prep: Learn key phrases in Italian or French for polite interactions; many artists speak English but a little local language goes a long way.
• Local passes and rail: Use regional rail passes for multiple-city loops. Book high-speed tickets early for the best fares.
• Portfolios and networking: If you’re an artist, bring a one-page portfolio PDF and business cards — festivals and open-studio events offer chances for quick, meaningful feedback.

Finding the hidden gems: how to discover off-grid events and pop-ups

In 2026, many small exhibitions and studio open-days are announced on social media and local newsletters rather than big portals. Use these tactics:

• Follow hashtags and creator accounts: Search tags like #graphicnoveltour, #illustrationtour, #TheOrangery and city-specific tags to catch last-minute pop-ups.
• Join local Facebook/Telegram groups: Many cities have tight-knit comics communities that post zine fair dates and gallery openings in real time.
• Subscribe to festival newsletters: Angoulême, Lucca and BilBOlbul newsletters often announce satellite events and residencies months ahead.

What to expect from transmedia studios in 2026

The industry is shifting: studios that began as graphic-novel houses now operate as full transmedia IP developers. Here’s how that changes your travel experience:

• More public programming: Studio deals with agencies and platforms lead to gallery retrospectives and public script or storyboard exhibitions.
• Cross-format promotions: Expect to see immersive installations, VR tie-ins, and scripted reading series based on comic IP — many of which are debuting in regional festivals.
• Collector opportunities: Limited edition releases tied to screen or audio adaptations — these are often sold first at festivals or studio events.

Safety, etiquette and responsible collecting

Respect creators’ space and copyrights, especially when photographing originals or panels. A few ground rules:

• Always ask before photographing original pages or in private studio spaces.
• Support creators directly when possible: buy at signings or through their official online stores.
• Be mindful of queues at signings — many festivals operate strict ticketing systems for autographs in 2026 to manage crowds.

Quick-reference resources (2026)

Start with official festival and museum sites for up-to-date programming and ticketing info. Also sign up for publisher newsletters and follow studios like The Orangery on social platforms for sneak previews of releases and events.

Takeaways — plan a smarter, richer comic pilgrimage

• Use Turin as a transmedia base: The city is increasingly central to European comic-to-screen development thanks to studios like The Orangery.
• Match travel dates to festivals: Lucca for fan energy; Angoulême for industry depth; BilBOlbul for art-comics discovery.
• Prioritize outreach: A short, polite email to studios and galleries will unlock visits and exclusive buys more often than cold parking at a shop.
• Pack smart: Plan for shipping, budget for limited editions, and bring digital copies of your portfolio if you’re an artist.

Final note and call-to-action

Graphic-novel tourism in 2026 offers more than souvenirs — it gives you backstage access to the creators, studios and festivals shaping the next wave of transmedia storytelling. Whether you want a studio tour in Turin, a collector’s haul in Lucca, or mural hunts in Brussels, the route is ready. Start planning now: sign up for our tailored Illustration Tour Itinerary to get a printable 7-day plan, packing checklist and contact templates to request studio visits and signings.

Related Reading

• Studio Spotlight: Sunflower Yoga’s Community Playbook and What Other Studios Can Learn (2026 Review)
• Scaling Calendar-Driven Micro‑Events: A 2026 Monetization & Resilience Playbook for Creators
• Digital PR + Social Search: A Unified Discoverability Playbook for Creators
• Micro‑Events, Mod Markets, and Mixed Reality Demos: The Evolution of Indie Game Pop‑Up Strategy in 2026
• Stop Losing to Lag: Router Tweaks Every Gamer Should Make Today
• Keep Your Pizza Hot on the Way: Hot-Water-Bottle Hacks for Delivery and Picnics
• Top Phone-Plan Tricks to Cut Accommodation Costs on Your Next Trip
• Awards Season Tradebook: How WGA and Critics’ Circle Honors Move Film Rights and Streaming Bids
• How to Write De-escalation and Conflict-Resolution Experience on Your Resume