Animation First Returns in February 2026

France has one of the longest and most storied histories of animation in the world. So much so that for the past nine years, L'Alliance New York has run a festival dedicated to the enduring legacy and trailblazing innovation of French and Francophone animation. Incredibly, the event has grown to become the biggest animation festival in the United States.

This year's festival will run from Tuesday, February 5, through til Sunday, February 8. It will present a special focus on Belgian films and will include six feature films, including old and new films, There will also be eight short film programs. Curators Delphine Selles-Alvarez and Chloé Dheu explain, “With this year’s program we are delighted to once again spotlight animation at its best, as an art form that engages, delights and surprises. From paper cut-outs and clay puppets to hand-drawn and CG animation, this year’s filmmakers mine the potential of animation to tell stories of deep contemporary social and political resonance, as well as engage in lighter subjects of friendship, story-telling and epic adventures. Children and adults alike are in for unique discoveries at Animation First 2026.”

This year's festival includes one North American, three U.S. and two New York premieres of feature films. Over a dozen international filmmakers and artists are in attendance to give talks, a First Look presentation and Q & A sessions. Back by popular demand, Animation Speakeasy is returning for a third year in a row, as is the juried competition for Francophone Shorts. The festival will also feature virtual reality experiences, an interactive stop-motion experience in the Tinker Lounge, and hands-on workshops with some of the world's leading animators.

Films include Dandelion's Odyssey, Tales From The Magic Garden, Allah Is Not Obliged, The Heart Of Darkness, The Songbird's Secret and Death Does Not Exist. Short programs include The Best Of Annecy, New Francophone Shorts 1-3, Bumper Shorts, and Student Short Competition. Other events include Animation Jam, First Look: Sidi Kaba and the Gateway Home, Magnificent Puppets: The films of De Swaef and James Roels and Animating the Surreal: A Conversation with Lavis and Szczerbowski.

Tickets and passes are available now from the festival website.