Tours Trade Fair with India as guest country, a chanson festival at Domaine de la Mulotiere, a comic-book convention in Noyant-de-Touraine and a Loire-side guinguette: six picks for the May 8 long weekend.
The 8 May 2026 long weekend lands at the perfect time in Indre-et-Loire. Three public-holiday days to enjoy a dense and varied programme, between the closing days of the Tours Trade Fair, an intimate chanson festival in Langeais, a comic-book convention in the countryside, and the Loire-side guinguette that has just reopened. Below is a six-stop tour, from the Tours metro area to the southern Touraine villages.
Foire de Tours - India as guest country at the Parc des Expositions, until Sunday 10 May
You cannot talk about the May 8 weekend in Tours without starting with the Foire de Tours. The major spring event in the Tours area runs from 1 to 10 May at the Parc des Expositions, and the long weekend coincides with its closing days. More than 625 exhibitors, 45,500 sqm of space, eleven themed worlds: housing, food, crafts, fashion, gardens, vehicles, tourism and leisure.
The 2026 guest country is India, with a dedicated pavilion and a programme that flows through the food village and the music stage. Free concerts on the Village Stage, world cuisines, crafts, demonstrations: the formula has stayed the same for years and still draws tens of thousands of visitors. Free admission and parking - a strong argument for a family outing. See the festival page.
Le Chant des Possibles - French chanson and local food at Domaine de la Mulotiere, Friday 8 and Saturday 9 May
In Langeais, Le Chant des Possibles rolls out its third edition on 8 and 9 May 2026. Created in 2024, this young festival already drew 3,000 visitors during its second edition, thanks to a line-up that mixes well-known names from French chanson with emerging artists.
At Domaine de la Mulotiere this year: Oldelaf, Merlot, Pourquoi Pourquoi, and Lionel Suarez with Mouss and Hakim. The festival's signature is its blend of music and local food: small-scale farmers, food trucks, friendly atmosphere on a vineyard estate. Intimate format, carefully crafted programme, this event stands apart from the big summer festivals and appeals to chanson lovers and curious visitors alike. See the festival page.
La BD en Folie - the comic-book convention in Noyant-de-Touraine, Sunday 10 May
To wrap up the long weekend, head to Noyant-de-Touraine and the Ida de l'Aigle community hall, which hosts La BD en Folie on Sunday 10 May. This annual comic-book convention, run by the Art'No Limit association, schedules a full day of signings, encounters and exchanges with many authors.
The 2026 edition welcomes high-profile guests in a friendly, family atmosphere. Open from 10am to 6pm, free admission: the format is sized for a short and relaxed outing, perfect with kids or for comic-book fans who want to meet their favourite authors without the bustle of larger urban festivals. See the festival page.
Tours sur Loire - the multidisciplinary guinguette on the banks of the Loire
For a riverside break, Tours sur Loire reopened its five sites on 1 May and runs through to late September. This open-air guinguette-festival, run by the Le Petit Monde association, brings the Loire embankments to life with concerts, theatre, dance, tastings, workshops and family activities.
Free access, riverside vibe, food trucks and terraces: this is the archetypal Tours spring outing, just as popular with locals as with visitors. The detailed programme for the long weekend is best checked on site or online, but one thing is certain: there is always something happening at the guinguette. See the festival page.
Les Moments Musicaux de Touraine - chamber music in heritage venues
For classical music lovers, Les Moments Musicaux de Touraine offers a year-round chamber music cycle in remarkable heritage venues across the Centre-Val de Loire region. Founded in 2004, this volunteer-run initiative showcases high-level artists alongside very young musicians aged 13 to 19, mostly from the Tours Conservatoire.
The aim is to bring chamber music to sites that often sit off the beaten path. During the long weekend, several concerts are scheduled - exact venues and times are best checked on the festival website. A focused experience, recommended for music lovers who enjoy combining listening with heritage discovery. See the festival page.
Festival IMLI - free concerts around the Loire-Vienne confluence
Further west, around Candes-Saint-Martin and the Loire-Vienne confluence, Festival IMLI (Musical Moments in Unusual Places) offers free concerts in atypical settings. Run by the Ligeriens de Coeur association, the event is itinerant and schedules dates throughout the year, all open-air, in locations chosen for their heritage or scenic value.
Jazz, blues, world music: the line-up stays eclectic, and the open-air format suits May days well. A nice opportunity to combine a nature walk in one of the most beautiful villages of France with a free concert at dusk. See the festival page.
To sum up
Six picks, from a major popular fair to intimate formats: the Foire de Tours and its India pavilion, a chanson festival at Domaine de la Mulotiere, a comic-book convention in southern Touraine, a Loire-side guinguette, chamber concerts in heritage sites and free gigs at the confluence. From Tours to Chinon via Langeais and Candes-Saint-Martin, Indre-et-Loire offers a many-sided May 8 weekend. To explore more local events, check out all the festivals in Indre-et-Loire.
