Le Palace, the legendary Paris nightclub that hosted stars like Mick Jagger, Grace Jones and Serge Gainsbourg, is set to reopen in early 2027 after decades of decline. The venue, which first opened in 1978, became one of Europe's most famous discos before closing in 1982 when owner Fabrice Emaer fell ill with cancer.
French producer Mickael Chétrit bought the iconic building last year and plans to restore it as a popular venue, respecting its original spirit. 'I knew it was a symbolic place but I never knew how much it meant to people,' Chétrit said. 'The idea of the renovation is to respect that spirit, the history and what people experienced here.'
The club originally modelled itself on New York's Studio 54, with an unusual door policy that admitted celebrities alongside ordinary locals with style. After Emaer's death in 1983, Le Palace reopened under new management but eventually lost its popularity, becoming abandoned to squatters and looters by the late 1990s. It later operated as a theatre and concert venue before closing in 2023.
Renovations begin next month to recreate a basement nightclub and a theatre-concert venue with capacity for up to 1,400 people. The project includes restoring original features such as chandeliers and a hand-painted fresco of naked dancers from 1912, which are listed and must be overseen by official architects.
Chétrit said he has received many requests from artists wanting to perform at the reopened venue. 'Everyone wants to come back and have a show here,' he said. 'When you said you were singing at Le Palace, it was like saying you were performing at Olympia.'
