PARIS.- Step onto the dance floor of history at the Philharmonie de Paris, where the exhibition Disco: I’m Coming Out is bringing the infectious beats and bold spirit of disco back to life. Running from February 14 to August 17, 2025, this immersive showcase at the Musée de la Musique celebrates the music that swept the world in the 1970s, revealing its deeper roots and lasting impact.
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Born in the gritty clubs of downtown New York, disco wasn’t just about glitter and good times—it was a cultural force with a story to tell. The exhibition takes visitors beyond the stereotypes, tracing the genre’s origins to the African-American, Latino, and LGBTQ+ communities who found freedom and expression in its rhythms. “This isn’t just a party,” says Olivier Mantei, General Director of Cité de la Musique - Philharmonie de Paris. “It’s a chance to honor a movement that united people and challenged norms, right on the dance floor.”
The timing feels just right: 2025 marks 30 years of the Cité de la Musique and a decade of the Philharmonie de Paris, making disco’s jubilant energy a fitting centerpiece for the celebration. Walking through, you’ll hear a soundtrack mixed by DJ Dimitri From Paris, blending vintage tracks with the vibes of legendary spots like Paradise Garage and The Saint. The vibe is electric, thanks to a scenography by studio GGSV—think neon-lit spaces, a massive printed carpet doubling as a dance floor, and “houses” showcasing everything from funky costumes to retro sound gear.
More than 50 years after disco first hit, the exhibition digs into its layers. It’s a musical journey, sure, but it’s also a tribute to the innovators—DJs, divas, and producers—who turned soul and funk into something new. You’ll see how pioneers like Donna Summer and labels like Motown shaped a sound that broke boundaries. And it doesn’t shy away from the politics: disco’s rise paralleled civil rights battles, gay liberation, and feminist strides, making every twirl a quiet act of defiance.
The show’s packed with treasures—vintage projectors, stage outfits, and rare archives from places like the Andy Warhol Museum and the GLBT Historical Society. There’s even a nod to disco’s wild side, with nods to the hedonism and creativity that fueled spots like Studio 54. “It’s about feeling the extravagance,” says Marie-Pauline Martin, Director of the Musée de la Musique. “But also remembering the struggles it came from.”
For visitors, it’s a chance to dance through history—literally. The central space invites you to move, while surrounding displays unpack disco’s evolution from underground sensation to global craze, and its quieter fade amid backlash and the AIDS crisis. Yet, its spirit endures, echoing in today’s pop and electronic beats.
Tickets are €15 (with discounts for younger folks), and the exhibition’s open Tuesday through Sunday, with extended hours during school holidays. Whether you’re here for the nostalgia, the music, or the story, Disco: I’m Coming Out proves one thing: this is a legacy that still gets the world grooving.
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