Moulin Rouge Blades to Turn Again After 14-Month Hiatus

The Moulin Rouge's iconic blades will restart on July 10, 2025, after a 14-month restoration period following their collapse.

Key Points

  • • The Moulin Rouge's blades will start turning again on July 10, 2025, after a 14-month hiatus due to an accident.
  • • The blades, over 12 meters in diameter, fell on April 25, 2024, but no injuries occurred.
  • • New aluminum and steel blades were installed and inaugurated two months post-accident, with a new electric motor now operational.
  • • To celebrate, a performance will be held featuring the Moulin Rouge's troupe, attracting a surge in visitors ahead of the Olympics.

On July 10, 2025, the iconic blades of the Moulin Rouge will resume operation at 10:45 PM, marking a significant comeback after a 14-month break due to an accident. The blades, which are each over 12 meters in diameter, collapsed on April 25, 2024, fortunately without causing any injuries, although the incident did dislodge the first three letters of the cabaret's name from its façade.

In response to the incident, new blades made of aluminum and steel were installed and publicly inaugurated two months after the fall. A custom electric motor designed specifically for the Moulin Rouge has been added to power the blades, enabling their return to movement just in time for the 2024 Olympics. Jean-Victor Clerico, the venue's director, expressed relief at the restoration, stating, "It's a relief, we are returning to the 'normality' of Place Blanche and the façade of the Moulin Rouge. We hope this will continue for decades."

To celebrate this milestone, a performance featuring the Moulin Rouge's diverse troupe of about 90 performers will take place, emphasizing the venue's draw of approximately 600,000 visitors annually, a number that has surged due to the upcoming Olympics, attracting many international tourists. The Moulin Rouge hosts two shows each night, accommodating up to 1,700 spectators, and remains a vital cultural landmark in Paris.