Disco, I'm Coming Out: the festive and militant exhibition at the Philharmonie de Paris, our photos

After hip-hop, electro and metal, the Philharmonie de Paris turns its attention to disco music! But why disco? This year marks the double anniversary of the Philharmonie de Paris (10 years) and the Cité de la Musique (30 years). So what better way to illustrate this festive spirit than with disco music? This musical genre, which became a worldwide phenomenon in the 80s, is the theme chosen by the Philharmonie de Paris this year. On view from February 14 to August 17, 2025, the " Disco, I'm Coming Out " exhibition takes visitors back in time, following in the footsteps of this style born in the USA in the early 70s.

Firmly rooted in the history and culture of black America, disco music has left its mark on several generations thanks to cult tracks that have stood the test of time. Despite a rapid decline in the U.S. in the 1980s, disco has continued to keep the LGBTQ+ community dancing, while expanding in Africa, Asia and Europe. In recent decades, disco music has even made a comeback, inspiring artists from the worlds of pop (Madonna, Dua Lipa), electro (Daft Punk, Breakbot) and even French chanson (Juliette Armanet, Clara Luciani).

Through a series ofaudiovisual archives, photographs, costumes,instruments and objects, the " Disco, I'm Coming Out " exhibition aims to show the political and festive dimensions of this musical movement that has brought millions of dancefloor fans to their feet, and continues to do so today. What's more, disco has brought together different minorities and social classes on the dancefloor.

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Although the exhibition is designed to be open-ended, visitors can choose from four themes. "Lets' Groove" begins with the origins of disco, and a tribute to the pioneers of the genre. This is an opportunity to (re)discover talented visionary artists such as Chic, singer Sylvester and producers Giorgio, Cerrone and Jacques Morali, not forgetting legendary voices such as Diana Ross, Donna Summer and Grace Jones.

The exhibition then turns to the struggles that accompanied the music movement, with the theme"I am What I am". The exhibition features outfits by American comedian and drag queen Divine. The installation also recalls the Stonewall riots, which took place on the night of June 28, 1969, at the Stonewall Inn in New York.

We then move on to parties and nightclubs, including New York's iconic Studio 54, which became the emblematic pastime of the era. A chapter to be discovered in the third part of the exhibition, entitled"Night Fever". Finally, the final and fourth part, simply entitled"Celebration", looks back at the globalization of the disco phenomenon and demonstrates the eternal comeback of this fascinating musical genre.

Disco's aesthetic appeal to artists and designers is also explored, as is its integration into pop culture. We discover an outfit by Alessandro Michele for Gucci, worn by Clara Luciani on the "Respire Encore Tour", a jumpsuit by Loris Azzaro worn by Sheila in the "Spacer" video in 1979, a suit from the Christian Dior Couture collection worn by Juliette Armanet, and a jacket that belonged to Patrick Juvet in 1978.

There are also contemporary works inspired by the motifs of the iconic disco ball and neon, designed by the Dutch art collective Rotganzen, and Andy Warhol portraits of Grace Jones and Debbie Harry.

To ensure total immersion, the exhibition features a remarkable scenography designed by studio GGSV, with neon lights, faceted ball projections and printed carpet. And of course, the"Disco" exhibition was obliged to call on a specialist in the genre to provide musical accompaniment for the event. Dimitri from Paris has signed the soundtrack for this exhibition. On the program for this festive, ultra-danceable playlist? Chic, Diana Ross and Madonna.

Rich, well-documented and paying tribute to those who made this music,"Disco" can be discovered from February 14 to August 17, 2025 in the exhibition space of the Philharmonie de Paris. To mark this cultural event, a number of concerts are scheduled from February 21 to 23, including Cerrone, Dabeull Live Band, a disco party and a waacking dance battle! Find out all about the program on the Philharmonie's official website.