The Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur (PACA) Regional Book Agency, known as ArL PACA, has had to cancel several professional events planned for September and October 2026 due to financial limitations. The South Region, which is the agency's main source of funding, has confirmed that its contribution in 2026 will be 374,000 euros — about two-thirds of what it provided in 2025. This decrease follows a 5% reduction in overall funding for 2026. By December 2025, half of the 2025 funding had already been approved and paid, and by mid-2026, the agency's resources were expected to be fully used. An additional 80,000 euros was given to the agency, but it still faces a budget shortfall. ArL PACA has canceled three professional events, including one focused on artificial intelligence and two on the return of fiction and the humanities and social sciences. These cancellations follow similar actions by the New Aquitaine Regional Cultural Agency (ALCA), which stopped its programs for libraries and public reading after experiencing a drop in subsidies. Émilie Bousquet, president of ArL PACA, said the agency has also stopped producing video portraits of regional authors and has reduced its communication efforts due to budget constraints. The South Region is considering merging ArL PACA with Arsud, a public administrative body that focuses on the cultural sector, by 2027. This proposed merger would combine ArL PACA with the Regional Arts and Performing Arts Agency (l'Arcade) and the Regional Cultural Enterprise. The goal is to strengthen the agency’s ability to act, its technical support, and its presence in the region, while still maintaining its specialized focus. A feasibility study is currently being conducted by the Region and the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur Regional Cultural Affairs Directorate, with results expected during the second half of 2026. The South Region has described 2026 as a "transition year" for ArL PACA, highlighting the need to determine the funding for 2027 in agreement with the State, the agency's own resources, and the support of its partners. This year will be crucial in shaping the future of the agency, whether through the proposed merger or other potential strategies.