France, Dec. 2 -- "The 2026 edition is cancelled. A letter was sent at the end of last week to inform the festival's public partners," said lawyer Vincent Brenot, representing the organising company 9e Art+.

He added that the decision, first reported by regional newspaperLa Charente Libre, was "the straightforward consequence" of the stance taken by public funders.

On 18 November, the French government withdrew €200,000 of public subsidies for next year's event, putting a major hole its finances.

It marks the first time since the festival's creation in 1974 - apart from the Covid-19 hiatus - that the event will not take place. The 53rd edition had been scheduled for 29 January to 1 February 2026.

At the heart of the scandal is t...