The small town of Brûlon in Sarthe, France, is preparing to host the international chainsaw sculpting open championship in 2026, marking a significant milestone for the community that has been organizing its annual agricultural fair for 190 years. Local officials announced the exciting news following the successful conclusion of this year's comice, an agricultural fair that attracted over 10,000 visitors and served more than 2,200 meals over the weekend.

The 2025 comice concluded under sunny skies, just as it had begun, with organizers celebrating what they called a tremendous success. Despite having fewer animals on display than in previous years due to health regulations – only about a hundred compared to usual numbers – the event maintained its charm and drew large crowds, evidenced by packed parking lots throughout the weekend. Benjamin Genot, the comice president, acknowledged the absent livestock breeders, saying, "We're thinking of the breeders who aren't here and we're inviting them for next year!"

The two-day event featured numerous merchants and artisans, with Sunday's flea market on André-Mary Avenue attracting many exhibitors and visitors. A particularly popular attraction was the display of vintage cars and about thirty exceptional vehicles from the Auto Passion 72 Club, including eye-catching Porsches, Alpines, Maseratis, and Corvettes that drew admiration from attendees throughout the weekend.

Equestrian shows featuring acrobatics and stunts by Caval Production proved to be crowd favorites, with six performances over the two days receiving enthusiastic applause. The event's success was rounded out by various attractions including local producer markets on Sunday morning, a carnival, outdoor dining areas, barbecue stations, and a spectacular fireworks display on Saturday evening. The entire event was made possible through the dedication of approximately one hundred volunteers and excellent organizational planning.

The announcement of the 2026 international chainsaw sculpting championship represents a major coup for Brûlon, building on the success of the French championship that was organized during the 2024 comice. The French Chainsaw Sculptors Association has submitted an application to organize this international-scale competition, with continued support from the Brûlon Comice Association. Officials confirmed that participation from eleven different nationalities and thirty sculptors has already been validated for the upcoming event.

"We've never had an event of this scale in France or even in Europe," explained Benjamin Genot, emphasizing the significance of bringing such a prestigious competition to their small community. He described hosting such an event as "a reward for all the people who have worked closely or distantly on organizing the comice for 190 years." The international championship will transform the traditional agricultural fair into something much larger in scope and scale.

For 2026, organizers plan to double the number of exhibitors while maintaining their focus on local artisans. However, Genot announced that "we're going to open the doors to the entire LBN territory," expanding the geographical reach of participating vendors and attractions. Beyond the chainsaw sculpting competition, the expanded comice will continue to feature the traditional carnival and agricultural displays that have made it a beloved annual tradition.

With expectations of doubling attendance to approximately 20,000 visitors for 2026, the event's budget is projected to reach around 200,000 euros. To secure the necessary funding for this ambitious expansion, Genot has already begun seeking additional sponsors and partners to support what promises to be an unprecedented cultural and artistic celebration.

The community has scheduled several upcoming events to maintain momentum, including a prize ceremony on October 11th featuring a dinner dance with traditional Sarthe stew priced at 20 euros for adults and 12 euros for children. Reservations for this event can be made by calling 06 75 81 74 23. Additionally, lottery events are planned for November 2nd and March 15th to help raise funds for the ambitious 2026 celebration that will put Brûlon on the international map for chainsaw artistry.