BNF Exhibition Celebrates French Underground Press and Fanzines

The Bibliothèque nationale de France (BnF) is hosting 'Underground! La presse alternative des années 1970 en France,' a complimentary exhibition running from May 5 to October 18, 2026, at Quai François Mauriac in Paris. Curated by Alexia Bauville and Eugénie Martin, this showcase highlights the alternative press of the 1970s through BnF's collections and research contributions from James Horton. Attendees can explore original materials and reproductions, such as vinyl sleeves and posters. Samuel Étienne identified three defining characteristics of alternative press: déprofessionnalisation, décapitalisation, and désinstitutionnalisation. Additionally, the Fanzinothèque de Poitiers, led by Andrew Hales, houses over 60,000 fanzines. The exhibition also examines the transition from early fanzines to punk publications and the complexities of institutionalizing counterculture.