[4] The attendance is generally difficult to estimate because the festival takes place all over town, and is divided in many different areas that are not connected to each other directly.

In 1989, the name changed to the Alph-art awards, honoring the final, unfinished Tintin album by Hergé.

In 2007, Lewis Trondheim (2006 Grand Prix winner) created a mascot for the festival, Le Fauve (The Wildcat), and since 2008 the prize winners have received wildcat statuettes, with the Best Album statuette coated in gold.

Additionally, the Grand Prix de la ville d'Angoulême is awarded each year to a living creator honoring their lifetime achievement, and the Grand Prix winner becomes president of the next year's festival.

Four women have been awarded the prize: French author Florence Cestac, Japanese mangaka Rumiko Takahashi, Canadian Julie Doucet, and British cartoonist Posy Simmonds.