Dragon Ball Themed Manga Park to Be Built in France: Saudi-Backed Project Near Paris
France is preparing for one of its largest investments in manga and anime culture. According to an announcement by the French President, a large-scale manga theme park will be built just outside the capital, Paris, with support from Saudi Arabian funds. The project is expected to be Dragon Ball themed. The announcement came to light on August 25, 2026, and caused a major stir in both the French and international anime community.
According to the project's details, the park is positioned as a cultural and economic initiative aiming to bring Japanese manga culture to Europe as a physical experience space. While it is stated that financing will be provided by investment funds from Saudi Arabia, this is seen as a continuation of Saudi Arabia's global entertainment and tourism investments under Vision 2030. In recent years, the Kingdom also financed the world's first Dragon Ball theme park, built within the Qiddiya city and developed in collaboration with Toei Animation. The project in France is expected to be implemented using a similar model.
It is no coincidence that France is hosting such a project. The country is the world's second-largest manga market after Japan. With over 40 million manga volumes published annually in France, events like the Angoulême International Comics Festival also demonstrate the deep-rooted place of manga culture in the country. Particularly Dragon Ball, created by Akira Toriyama and published since 1984, has been watched by generations in France since the 1980s through the Club Dorothée program and has become one of the country's most beloved series. Following Toriyama's death in March 2024, interest and respect for the series have grown even further.
Official details such as the park's exact location, opening date, and budget have not yet been shared. However, the fact that the project will be located "just outside Paris" indicates a destination that is easily accessible for both local visitors and tourists from across Europe. According to behind-the-scenes discussions, the park is expected to feature attractions, interactive areas, and exhibitions based on iconic elements such as Son Goku, Vegeta, and Kame House. An official announcement is expected in the coming months from the French Presidency and Saudi investment partners, along with the release of concept visuals for the project.
This move once again proves that the manga and anime industry is no longer limited to publishing and digital platforms but is transforming into major entertainment investments on a global scale. If the park in France comes to fruition, it will be the first large-scale manga theme park in Europe and, together with similar projects in Japan and Saudi Arabia, will become part of a global network. These developments mean an opportunity for European fans to experience an authentic Dragon Ball experience without traveling to Japan.
