Comics and graphic novels are the focus at the Frankfurt Book Fair.

Graphic novels, manga, comics, and webtoons constitute a huge market and are receiving a lot of attention at this year’s Frankfurt Book Fair (FBF).

According to Publishing Perspectives , comics and graphic novels continue their impressive growth trajectory globally, with an increase in publication numbers across all regions projected for 2026.

At the Frankfurt Book Fair 2026, two commercial directors of NielsenIQ BookData, Hazel Kenyon and Fabien Rondeau, shared the latest trends.

Two representatives from NielsenIQ share their insights at the Frankfurt Book Fair. Photo: Publishers Weekly.

Currently, sales of comic books and graphic novels in French-speaking markets remain high, while the English-language graphic novel segment for children is also on the rise. Comic fiction accounts for 21% of total sales of children’s fiction in the UK and Ireland.

The world of comics at the Frankfurt Book Fair

This growth trend is why this year’s FBF has dedicated a large space, called Messe Comics Universe, to graphic novels and manga

Charlotte Boschen, client manager at FBF’s new Comic Book Business Centre, located in Hall 3.1, said the decision to dedicate more space to graphic works and open a dedicated centre for this sector reflects the great potential of intellectual property (IP).

Boschen explained: “This development shows the evolving lifecycle of stories. A manga can be adapted into an anime, a webtoon can become a television series, or a graphic novel can reach audiences through film. Therefore, publishers and copyright experts are considering the work, the audience, and ownership across multiple media platforms.”

The center is expected to host 31 exhibitors from 10 countries. Additionally, France, Belgium, Latof graphic design at their booths

Boschen further shared: “Digital formats are a significant growth area. Webtoons, webcomics, and digital manga offer new ways to discover and enjoy the work. Publishers and copyright professionals are also looking for opportunities to adapt it into animation, film, television, games, and commercial licensing. This process creates new opportunities for both creators and publishers, while also raising new issues related to copyright, format, and target audience.”

Boschen added that this year’s FBF also focused on addressing these trends, including presentations from NielsenIQ on the changing global comic book market and a series of events centered around digital comics.

Prioritizing the reader experience.

Although Boschen emphasized that graphic novels “have long been a part of the FBF,” this year’s fair had a clearer program, focusing not only on the commercial aspect but also on the consumer experience. This year, the public was allowed to visit the book fair area from 11 a.m. on Friday (October 9th).

Readers had a rich and varied experience at this year’s Frankfurt Book Fair. Photo: FBF .

Nathalie Quillmann, who manages publisher relations for manga, anime, and video games at FBF, also stated, “Manga, cosplay, and Japanese popular culture have attracted a large audience to Frankfurt. We wanted to capitalize on that energy and create a prominent space at the book fair for these target groups.”

Some of the public activities at this year’s FBF include the Kira Kira Pop Art event with manga drawing workshops and hands-on activities, and the Japanese-style Main Matsuri program featuring stage performances, music , and cosplay competitions.

Commenting on this approach, Mark Fuller, CEO of Comic Book UK, an organization representing comic book publishers and authors in the UK, said: “It is gratifying to see the FBF’s commitment to the comic book and graphic novel business on an international scale.”

For a long time, this type of event has been a focal point for fans, with comic book festivals around the world attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors. Despite its bustling atmosphere, it lacks spaces for commercial activities.

Questions about AI in the digital comic book industry.

It would be remiss to discuss the development of graphic design without mentioning the role of AI. According to Bleeding Cool , the Frankfurt Book Fair paid special attention to the Singaporean publisher Novvel.co, through a full-page promotional interview in Publishers Weekly magazine.

In this article, Anumeha Bisaria, a former Google employee, introduced an “AI-based platform for creative graphic novel writing,” claiming it could cut production time and costs in half.

Bisaria explained: “You input your manuscript into the system. The system analyzes the context, the main characters, and the emotional highlights important to the reader, then creates a storyboard that is about 60-70% complete. After that, the editor, author, and illustrator work together to refine and finalize the work.”

However, The Bookseller argues that it is too early to say whether there is market demand for AI-generated graphic works. Nevertheless, it can be predicted that the phrase “AI-assisted” will be used more frequently when works seek to clearly define copyright issues, Publishers Weekly notes.

Original article
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