In Paris, the Cluny Museum is staging a Unicorn Ball for Pride Month.

Between a medieval chimera and a pop icon, the unicorn has never stopped captivating us. This summer, it leaves the tapestries to hit the dance floor at the Musée de Cluny for the very first Bal de la Licorne, imagined to celebrate the end of the exposition Licornes ! et s’inscrire dans le mois des fiertés. A nocturne festive envisioned as a magical crossing between the Middle Ages, queer culture and a flamboyant party.

Unicorns! : The Cluny Museum in Paris showcases an exhibition delving into the myth of the legendary creature
In Paris, the Musée de Cluny – National Museum of the Middle Ages – is showcasing the exhibition Unicorn!, dedicated to the legendary creature that has captivated the medieval imagination and lore. Running from March 10 to July 12, 2026, this major exhibition brings together nearly a hundred pieces from around the world to explore the symbolism, legends, and centuries-old fascination with the unicorn—spanning medieval art, mythology, and spirituality. [Read more]

Because behind its placid facade hides a far more elusive figure. Known since Antiquity, the unicorn has long fed beliefs and fantasies: a symbol of purity, a wild creature impossible to capture, an sometimes unsettling presence in certain medieval depictions, and it was also sought after for the supposed powers of its horn, reputed to be able to purify poisons. Today, it continues to shift its banner, having become a symbol of singularities and of the LGBTQIA+ communities.

For its first edition dedicated to adults, the museum is turning its medieval courtyard into a nocturnal realm where performances and music will make the ancient stones pulsate. The drag queen Élysée Moon will lead vocal performances and host a quiz about unicorns before a DJ set by Corrine will set the medieval hotel alight until nightfall. In the exhibition, students from École du Louvre will guide visitors through the works and stories that helped forge the legend of this mythical creature.

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The costumes are warmly encouraged—capes, veils and magical appearances are welcome—provided they don’t impede movement or safety. Rigid accessories, spikes and bulky structures should therefore stay wisely in the dungeon. With no on-site cloakroom, it’s best to opt for a silhouette as spectacular as it is practical.

The gathering is set for Saturday, June 13, 2026, starting at 7 p.m., with entry at €22, exclusively by reservation. Ticket sales open on May 13 at 10:00 a.m.

Between medieval heritage, Pride celebrations, and the fever of the dancefloor, the Bal de la Licorne is shaping up to be the most magical — and the most untamable — night of early summer in Paris.