premières

Premières is the plural form of première, a French term used to denote the first public performance or screening of a work. The word can refer to the debut of a play, ballet, opera, film, or television production, and is commonly found in professional settings, program notes, and media coverage. In practice, a première often carries a ceremonial or promotional aspect, sometimes including a red-carpet event and press attendance.

In cinema, a première is the opening screening of a film, typically held before its general release to generate publicity. In theatre and dance, the première marks a work’s first public staging. The concept extends to other performing arts as well, and festivals frequently schedule multiple premières to showcase new productions.

World premieres (première mondiale) denote the first-ever public performance of a work anywhere in the world, while national, regional, or European premières indicate first showings within a specific locale. The term is also used in literary and multimedia contexts to describe the initial presentation of a work or project.

Etymology and usage notes: première is the feminine form of the French adjective premier, meaning first. In English, premiere (without the acute accent on the e) is often used as a loanword for first showings, while the plural premières is primarily found in French-language writing or contexts that adhere to French terminology. The plural form signals multiple debut events or debuts.