Cinema, theatre, exhibitions, dance, music… Tours' cultural diary is very comprehensive.
The region lives at different rhythms according to season:
- from September to June, shows are programmed in the main auditoriums (tickets sold for each show or season tickets available)
- in summer, numerous festivals: over a relatively short period, many shows outdoors or in marquees.
3 complexes in Tours:
- Le Studio (films in the original version, rated art house films)
- MEGA CGR (2 multiplexes – recent films in the French version)
There are over 20 different films on every week in Tours. Reduced rates for students and season tickets available.
Every year, Printemps du cinéma (March) and the Film Festival (June) let you see as many films as you want for the price of one ticket.
There are several concert halls in and around Tours :
- the Vinci – classical, rock, French songs
- the Bateau Ivre: rock, indie
- the Petit Faucheux: jazz
- the Grand Théâtre: opera, classical.
- Espace Malraux – contemporary music.
Over the summer period, here are a few music festivals in Touraine:
- Le Printemps de Bourges (April) – rock and French songs
- Moments Musicaux en Touraine – classical music (May and September)
- Aucard de Tours – contemporary music (May)
- Chinon en jazz (June)
- Meslay music fetes – classical (June)
- Rayons Frais in Tours – multidisciplinary (July)
- Avoine zone blues – blues (July)
- Pad'non in Loches – contemporary music (August)
- The cosmopolitan festival of Genillé – contemporary music (August)
Tours has several theatres:
- The Tours regional drama centre (CRDT): contemporary creations, resident company – drama workshops for adults and the young ateliers
- Plessis theatre: eclectic programme, creations and special events
- National Choreography Centre of Tours (CCNT) –dance shows and workshops for adults
The Centre de Création Contemporaine organizes several exhibitions of contemporary art every year.
Tours' museums also put on temporary exhibitions: Musée des Beaux Arts, Hotel Gouin and Musée du Compagnonnage.
