Annecy 2026: an exceptional week awaits ESMA students

The global animation event

For a week, Annecy becomes the focal point for the entire animation industry. International studios, directors, producers, recruiters, schools and artists gather there to discover the works that will shape the years to come and discuss developments in the sector.

Renowned for the quality of its programme and the scale of its professional market, the festival is an essential event for all animation enthusiasts. For students, it offers a rare opportunity to gain an insight into the realities of the profession and to meet the people shaping the industry today.

An entire cohort at the heart of the event

The 2026 edition marks a new milestone for ESMA. For the first time, the entire final-year cohort of the 3D Animation and Special Effects course will be travelling to Annecy.

This collective presence illustrates the school’s ambition: to enable its future graduates to experience a complete immersion in their professional environment before entering the job market. Between conferences, screenings, meetings with studios and discussions with recruiters, there will be plenty of opportunities to learn and make contacts.

22 June: a strengthened commitment alongside Women in Animation

The week will kick off with ESMA’s participation in the WIA 2026 World Summit.

Women in Animation is an international organisation working to promote diversity, inclusion and equal opportunities in the animation industry. Through its initiatives, its network supports professionals and encourages the emergence of new talent worldwide.

For the 2026 edition, ESMA becomes one of only two schools to support the organisation at this level, alongside the School of Visual Arts in New York.

This is a significant step forward that demonstrates the school’s commitment, and we will be returning to this in more detail shortly.

23 June: a student project selected for the Student Pitch

The following day, ESMA will be represented at the Student Pitch held at the Mifa Campus.

This event brings together ten teams from international institutions specialising in animation. Participants have the opportunity to present their project to industry professionals and receive practical advice on how to improve their communication skills and present their work.

The short film *La Nuit des Casse-Noisettes* has been chosen as one of the selected projects. It will be presented by Jeremy Leclercq and Yannis Naroyanin, who will be representing ESMA at this event.

Beyond the pitch itself, this experience offers a fantastic opportunity to engage with industry experts and develop one’s professional network.

24 June: ESMA students gather at ESMAnnecy

The Annecy Festival is also a special occasion for strengthening bonds between students.

On 24 June, from 6.30 pm to 9 pm, the Jardins de l’Europe will host ESMAnnecy, a large picnic organised by the school’s students. This event will bring together participants from all ESMA campuses in a relaxed and festive atmosphere.

The aim is simple: to encourage people to meet, forge new connections and share a convivial moment amongst animation enthusiasts. The first to arrive will leave with a personalised badge specially designed for the occasion.

25 June: an evening dedicated to the alumni community

25 June will mark the traditional gathering of ESMA alumni.

Eagerly anticipated every year, this event allows graduates from different cohorts to meet up in Annecy to share their professional experiences and chat with students still in training.

This gathering highlights the vitality of the ESMA network and the alumni’s attachment to their school. It also offers future graduates the chance to benefit from valuable advice and to chat with professionals already established in the industry.

26 June: the unmissable Annecy Picnic

The famous Annecy Picnic will once again be one of the highlights of the week.

Co-organised for several years now with major industry players such as Locksmith Animation, Blue Zoo, Aardman, Epic Games and DNEG, this event is led by Shelley Page, a key figure in the world of animation.

Reserved for invited guests, this event fosters direct exchanges between professionals and students in a particularly friendly setting. For the students involved in organising it, it offers a rare experience that allows them to meet recruiters, supervisors and internationally renowned artists.

These encounters are often a source of inspiration and can sometimes pave the way for future career opportunities.

A highly anticipated preview for the Class of 2026

Throughout the festival, visitors will be able to catch first glimpses of the films produced by ESMA’s Class of 2026.

Presented exclusively at the stand of Progiss 3DVF, a recognised partner of 3D and visual effects professionals, these teasers will highlight the richness of the creative worlds developed by the students during their studies.

Every year, these unveilings are a particularly eagerly awaited moment for professionals attending Annecy, who are always keen to discover emerging talent in animation.

After the festival, all the teasers will be gradually published on our Esma Movies YouTubechannel between 29 June and 26 August 2026.

A week that marks a journey

For final-year students, Annecy represents a full-scale immersion in the international animation ecosystem, an opportunity to reflect on the progress they have made and to prepare for the next stage of their professional careers.

With new discoveries, encounters, exchanges and moments of camaraderie, this 2026 edition promises to be particularly rewarding for the graduating class.

We wish all our students a wonderful week in Annecy and many inspiring encounters at the heart of the world’s biggest animation event.