Disco never goes out of fashion, and believe it or not, disco changed the world. To learn exactly how, the Paris Philharmonic has opened a new exhibition exploring the influence and evolution of this music with regards to politics, fashion, design, queer culture, the cult of the DJ…

Travel back in time to the 1970s with the exhibition Disco – I’m Coming Out which has just opened at the Paris Philharmonic.

While disco conjures up images of Village People and Saturday Night Fever for some people, its apparently anodine exterior hides a very real political dimension, rooted in the black culture of soul, gospel and funk.

The exhibition presents numerous photos of the era and its iconic nightclubs (Studio 54, Paradise Garage, The Loft…), takes a look at the fashion, objects and works of art inspired by the music, and takes a look at the essential contributions from artists who made the style of music live forever – Chic, Cerrone, Sister Sledge, Donna Summer, Bee Gees, ABBA, Sylvester, Grace Jones…

The soundtrack to the visit is an immersive and exclusive mix from France’s own master of disco, Dimitri From Paris.

The exhibition also look at:

— the importance of disco (and parties) in the fight for black, Latino and LGBTQIA+ equality,

— the Africa-American culture behind disco,

— the rise of AIDS and modern organised protest,

— the arrival of electronic instruments,

— the undeniable French influence on a style mainly seen as American,

— the overexploitation (and thus lower quality) of the music, reaching a tipping point when disco records were publicly burned…

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Une publication partagée par Dimitri From Paris (@dimitrifromparisofficial)

Many of the events related to the exhibition are already sold out(!), but you can still take part in workshops or choose a guided visit, one of which is led by a singing drag queen Élysée Moon!

A catalogue of the exhibition (224 pages, around 39.90€) is also available here from your local Amazon.

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The exhibition Disco – I’m Coming Out is at the Paris Philharmonic (here) until 17th August 2025

Open every day except Mondays, weekdays from middat-7pm and weekends 10am-7pm. Closed 1st May

Admission: 15€ / 11€ / 9€

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Une publication partagée par Philharmonie de Paris (@philharmoniedeparis)