Cartoon Forum 2026: Toulouse Reinforces Its Status as the Hub of European Animation, the 37th Premier Industry Gathering Kicks Off in September

From 14 to 17 September 2026, the 37th Cartoon Forum will once again take centre stage at the Pierre Baudis Congress Centre in Toulouse, France. As Europe’s most influential pitching and co-production marketplace for animated television content, this landmark event will host 66 curated animation projects for pitch sessions, with a combined total production budget reaching €283.58 million. It further validates Toulouse’s irreplaceable standing as the core gathering place for Europe’s animation sector.

An Industry Cornerstone: 36 Years of Legacy as Europe’s Hub for Financing and Cross-border Collaboration

Organised by CARTOON Aisbl, Cartoon Forum was founded in 1990 with support from the Creative Europe MEDIA Programme. Decades of development have cemented its reputation as an industry barometer, creative incubator and cross-border collaboration nexus recognised by animation professionals worldwide.

The forum operates on a proven, highly efficient industry matching model. Selected creators are granted just 30 minutes to pitch their concepts to a global audience of broadcasters, investors and distributors, showcasing creative concepts, visual designs and commercial strategies. Parallel one-on-one business meetings facilitate negotiations over cross-border co-productions, pre-sales, global distribution rights and derivative licensing. This streamlined framework enables countless animation concepts to progress swiftly from ideas to production and international broadcast.

Since its launch, 903 projects pitched at Cartoon Forum have secured financing and entered production or rolled out globally, representing an aggregate production budget of €3.87 billion. More than one-third of pitched projects successfully move into production — an impressive success rate that draws leading European broadcasters, independent studios and cross-border investors year after year.

Beyond commercial dealmaking, the forum nurtures a tight-knit industry community. Signature events including Croissant & Coffee Shows, the Welcome Dinner and the Farewell Evening transcend pure business negotiations, fostering long-term professional networks among creators and financiers. These connections sustain the continuous export capacity and healthy growth cycle of European animation.

The 2026 Line-up: Diverse Territories and Broad Audiences Demonstrate Sector Resilience and Creative Scope

Organisers shortlisted 66 outstanding animation proposals out of 111 submissions from across Europe. The roster comprises 61 animated series and five animated specials, amounting to 330 hours of finished content with an average production budget of €4.3 million per project. The scale underscores the robust vitality of Europe’s animation industry.

Broad Geographical Representation, with Cross-border Co-production Prevailing

Lead producers of selected projects span 19 European nations. France leads the field with 32 projects, followed by Ireland (6), Germany (5) and Spain (4). Central and Eastern Europe and the Nordic regions each field six projects, diversifying the landscape beyond Western European production powerhouses.

International co-production remains integral to the event’s DNA. Twenty-six projects, accounting for 39% of the full line-up, are developed as cross-border collaborations involving 15 co-producing territories. France, Luxembourg, Austria and Germany stand out as key co-production partners. Joint ventures help studios share production costs and expand global distribution reach, a defining competitive advantage of European animation.

Local industrial support also features prominently: three projects originate from the host Occitanie Region, strengthening Toulouse’s indigenous animation ecosystem and reinforcing its identity as Europe’s animation capital.

Content Diversification: Rising Momentum for Teen, Young Adult and Adult Animation

The Selection Committee evaluated entries based on four core criteria: originality, creative ambition, financial viability and international appeal. This year’s selection clearly signals a shift toward greater content diversity within the sector. Seventeen projects, or 26% of the roster, target teenagers, young adults and adult audiences. The data illustrates that European animation is breaking free from its traditional focus on children’s content and expanding narrative boundaries to cater to viewers of all ages.

The forum maintains a multi-tier creative pipeline to nurture emerging talent. Two projects — WAW Resort by Spain’s Peekaboo Animation and OUCH! by France’s Anna Films — advanced from Cartoon Springboard. Another three projects secured their spots via partnerships with Animation Production Days and the CEE Animation Forum, forming a complete ecosystem for new talent discovery and project sourcing.

New Support Initiative to Tackle Financing Headwinds

Against a backdrop of increasingly challenging financing conditions across the animation sector, Cartoon Forum is renewing its “Fill the Gap” initiative for 2026. The programme targets past Cartoon Forum projects still seeking to finalise funding packages. Organisers will host trailer screenings, dedicated networking sessions and one-on-one meetings to reconnect creators with buyers, broadcasters and distributors, helping projects close budget shortfalls and lowering barriers for independent studios.

Industry Services & Media Partnership

In collaboration with leading trade publication The Animation Journal, Cartoon Forum offers exclusive supporting services for attendees. The media partner will distribute a dedicated pocket guide onsite featuring key information on all pitching projects. Animation studios can gain valuable exposure for their IP through dedicated special inserts. Parties interested are welcome to email info@animationjournal.news for further information.

About Cartoon Forum

Cartoon Forum is Europe’s flagship pitching and co-production event for animated television content, hosted at the Pierre Baudis Congress Centre in Toulouse, France. Initiated by CARTOON with sustained backing from the Creative Europe MEDIA Programme, it integrates project pitching, cross-border business negotiations, industry networking, talent incubation and financing support. As the pivotal platform for European animation ideas to materialise, cross-border co-production and global rights trading, it has accompanied the industrialisation and internationalisation of European animation over more than three decades.

Official Website: https://www.cartoon-media.eu/forum/ Venue: Centre de Congrès Pierre Baudis, 11 Esp. Compans Caffarelli, 31000 Toulouse, France