Waterloo BD Festival
3rd edition of Waterloo's comic-book festival, themed western for Lucky Luke's 80th anniversary.
Leverage Lucky Luke's 80th anniversary and western theme to drive foot traffic and merchandise sales at a niche comic-book festival targeting collectors and families.
- Lucky Luke turns 80: celebrate the iconic cowboy with exclusive western-themed merchandise
- Comic-book collectors' guide to Waterloo BD Festival's 3rd edition
- Family-friendly western adventure: bring kids to meet Lucky Luke creators and artists
- Behind-the-scenes: how Lucky Luke shaped 80 years of European comic culture
The 3rd edition of Waterloo BD Festival celebrates the 80th anniversary of Lucky Luke with a western theme, running May 22–24, 2026, featuring author Yves Swolfs as guest of honour. The event transforms Waterloo into a true comic village for a weekend, with a focus on meeting between authors and readers in a convivial and accessible atmosphere, unlike larger impersonal comic conventions.
Friday 22 May
12:00–19:00 · Signings & collector's fair at Écuries · Piracy in Comics exhibition 10:00–18:00 at Nausicaa · Exhibition opening vernissage at 18:45
Saturday 23 May
10:00–18:00 · Signings & collector's fair (10:00–12:00 at Piracy venue) · Western in Comics & Frank Pé exhibitions · Nemo Awards ceremony 19:00 at Cultural Centre (invitation only)
Sunday 24 May
10:00–18:00 · Signings & collector's fair · Exhibitions open · BD Kids Corner 14:00–18:00 (western animations) · Auction at Écuries 16:00
- Signings with authors in the Écuries and downtown shops, a collector's fair at the Écuries, three exhibitions (Western comics at the Écuries running May 22–June 28, an Frank Pé tribute at the Cultural Centre, and Piracy in Comics by Guy Michel at Nausicaa pool), and the Nemo Awards ceremony on Saturday 23 May at 19:00
- BD Kids Corner with western-themed animations for children on Sunday 14–18h
- 80+ original western comics panels and drawings
- auction of originals
- 48 Belgian and international authors across varied genres (western, history, youth, sci-fi) including Marc Renier, Fabrice Meddour, and Manuel Tenret
- Authors scattered across multiple downtown venues (under marquee, Écuries, partner shops) making the town a walkable cultural circuit
- Rare Lakota heritage collection (beaded moccasins, feather headdresses, ritual garments from 1935 World's Fair tour) bridging Native American history with western comics imagination