Every June, Annecy becomes the world capital of animation. The Annecy International Animation Film Festival, the largest event of its kind anywhere, draws filmmakers, studios, students and animation lovers from across the globe for a week of screenings, encounters and discovery. The next edition runs from 13 to 19 June 2027. If you are planning to attend, here is what you need to know, and above all, why you should not wait to book your accommodation.
A global festival in a mid-sized town
Since it began in 1960, the Annecy festival has become the essential gathering of the international animation world. Alongside the screenings, the MIFA (the International Animation Film Market) brings together producers, distributors and industry professionals for a full week of meetings and deals.
For you, this means one crucial thing: during festival week, Annecy absorbs a huge influx of visitors, professionals and festival-goers alike, into a town that is, the rest of the year, a mid-sized destination. Accommodation books up months in advance, and the best options, especially in the old town, go quickly.
Why booking early genuinely matters
If you have ever tried to find somewhere to stay in Annecy during festival week, you will know how difficult it gets as the dates approach. Between festival-goers, industry professionals and the tourists who take the same opportunity to visit, availability shrinks fast and prices climb.
My advice, if your June 2027 dates are set or likely: book as early as you can, ideally several months ahead. This is especially true if you want an apartment in the centre, within walking distance of the screening venues and the buzz of the festival.
Why an apartment rather than a hotel
For a festival stay, an apartment has real advantages. You have your own kitchen, useful after long days of screenings and meetings. You have space to settle in, compare festival notes or simply switch off. And if you are travelling with colleagues, friends or as a couple, it is often more comfortable and more economical than several hotel rooms.
A place in Annecy’s old town puts you a few minutes’ walk from the Pâquier and the main festival venues, with the lake and canals as your daily backdrop.
Enjoying Annecy beyond the festival
The festival is intense, screenings, meetings, networking, but Annecy deserves to be enjoyed at another pace too. A walk along the lake, a wander through the old town, a Savoyard dinner after a day of screenings: the town offers a genuinely restful contrast to the festival buzz.
If a free afternoon comes up, I also offer a self-guided outdoor treasure hunt through the old town, an original way to discover Annecy between sessions, solo, with colleagues, or with family if they have come along.
Book direct for your stay
For a week in this much demand, booking directly with the owner has a real advantage: you skip the platform fees, and you have a direct contact to arrange your arrival, often late after a day at the festival, or to sort out any practical questions.
I have an apartment right in the heart of Annecy’s old town, a few minutes’ walk from the Pâquier and the festival centre. If you are planning to come in June 2027, feel free to get in touch now to book your stay directly, with no commission.
Any questions about your stay during the Annecy Animation Festival? Just write to me, I would be glad to help you plan your visit.
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