While the Moulin Rouge still draws crowds with feathers and sequins, the most thrilling cabaret in Paris right now is happening elsewhere. In basements, big tops, queer bars and borrowed theatres, a new wave of performers is reshaping what cabaret in Paris can be. Minimalism is out, and the decadence of cabaret is back and bolder than ever.
This subversive revival is being led by feminist troupes, queer collectives and drag artists who are reimagining the cabaret tradition with fresh political energy. These artists blend glamour with radical imagination, creating some of the most innovative cabaret shows in Paris, France.
If you are searching for the best cabaret in Paris, this guide highlights the avant-garde performers redefining the scene, along with a few unmissable classics that continue to shape the city’s nightlife.
Here are some of our favourite picks for anyone wanting to experience the most exciting cabaret in Paris today.
Avant-garde Cabaret
Le Cabaret de Poussière
A cult favourite within Paris’s bohemian underworld, Le Cabaret de Poussière is essential viewing for anyone seeking unconventional cabaret in Paris. This nomadic, neo-vintage troupe blends chanson, drag, poetry and surreal melancholy. With velvet-draped sets and a dreamlike atmosphere, their shows feel like stepping into a time warp. It stands out as one of the best cabaret experiences in Paris for lovers of theatrical weirdness.
La Bouche
La Bouche is the messy, glorious antithesis to polished cabaret. Run by and for the queer community, it is a performance night where burlesque, live music, poetry and punk collide. Bodies of all shapes, genders and desires are celebrated with joy and rebellion. For visitors seeking raw, unfiltered alternative cabaret in Paris, La Bouche is unmissable. The collective is currently between venues, so check their socials for updates.
La Barbichette
La Barbichette is a roving queer cabaret collective staging flamboyant, absurdist shows in squats, boats, warehouses and basements. Their shows are deliberately scrappy, surreal and political. Expect drag, satire and a kind of beautiful chaos. It is one of the most unpredictable and imaginative forms of cabaret in Paris, and perfect for those looking beyond the mainstream.
Venus Noire
Troupe Venus Noire centres queer Black femmes and femmes of colour in their powerful burlesque and cabaret performances. Sensual, political and magnetic, their work merges poetry, dance and eroticism. For many, Venus Noire represents the forefront of new cabaret in Paris, where the stage becomes a space for liberation, beauty and community.
Cabaret Bad Biches
Cabaret Bad Biches brings riot grrrl energy to Paris’s feminist burlesque scene. Their shows are cheeky, angry, hilarious and deliciously sensual. With pop-up events scattered across the city, they deliver a sharp, rebellious form of cabaret in Paris that blends punk spirit with playful provocation.
Théâtre ChoChotte
For something more intimate, Théâtre ChoChotte offers old-school erotic theatre in the heart of the 6th arrondissement. Billing itself as “érotisme chic,” it features nude female performers dancing with slow, teasing elegance. Moody lighting and close-up charm create an unapologetically adult cabaret experience. It is a distinct and seductive part of the broader cabaret shows in Paris, France.
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Cirque Electrique
Cirque Electrique sits at the crossroads of circus, punk and political theatre. Housed in a big top in the 20th arrondissement, the venue offers aerial performance, fire-breathing, pole dance, live music and surreal spectacle. Though not strictly cabaret, many of its productions lean heavily into sensuality and avant-garde performance. It is perfect for anyone wanting to experience the wild edges of cabaret in Paris.
Popular Classics
These venues remain pillars of the city’s nightlife and are often considered must-sees for visitors searching for the best cabaret in Paris.
Madame Arthur
A flamboyant queer cabaret tucked in Pigalle, Madame Arthur revives 19th-century music hall traditions through a modern, irreverent lens. Drag artists perform live chansons in French, often with witty reinterpretations. It is one of the longest-running and most beloved cabaret shows in Paris, France.
Paradis Latin
Designed by Gustave Eiffel, Paradis Latin blends classic cancan with contemporary choreography, fantasy and spectacle. Under the direction of Kamel Ouali, its headline show L’Oiseau Paradis is a lavish tribute to femininity and performance art. A strong contender for the best cabaret in Paris for visitors seeking tradition mixed with modern flair.
Le Cabaret Burlesque
For those drawn to glamour with a wink, Le Cabaret Burlesque is a rotating troupe of international artists who perform classic and neo-burlesque across several venues in Paris. Expect glamour, tease, slapstick and elaborate costume reveals. It is ideal for travellers interested in the sensual, theatrical side of cabaret in Paris.
Eiffel Follies
Set within a stone’s throw of the Eiffel Tower, Eiffel Follies offers a fresh, immersive take on Parisian nightlife. Combining circus, cabaret, and aerial performance, it’s a newer addition to the scene that embraces decadence and diversity. With an international cast and a taste for decadent aesthetics, it represents a bold, contemporary take on cabaret shows in Paris, France.
Crazy Horse
Crazy Horse is perhaps the most artistic of Paris’s historic cabaret institutions. Known for its hypnotic lighting, sculptural nude tableaux and immaculate choreography, it has collaborated with icons like Christian Louboutin and Dita Von Teese. Aside from the Moulin Rouge, Crazy Horse remains one of the best cabaret experiences in Paris, famed for its couture-level eroticism.
Featured image: Troupe Venus Noire
Read: The burlesque connoisseur’s guide to New York City: Pride edition
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Iso
Iso is a writer and filmmaker based in East London. She is passionate about all things erotic and leads a sexy, shame-free life in hope that she can inspire others to do the same. Originally from a Northern seaside town, she is naturally drawn to the best things in life: candyfloss, trashy karaoke bars and heart-shaped sunglasses.
