European Museums' Night 2025
Ask for the program!
For this year's Nuit des Musées, the Abattoirs are once again opening up to the public Pablo Picasso's Stage Curtain, a major work in their collections.
Originally created in 1936 as a backdrop for Romain Rolland's play ‘Le 14 juillet’, it was used as a set for other performances before being donated by the artist to the city of Toulouse in 1965 and becoming part of the museum's collections.
To celebrate this event, the Abattoirs are giving this work back its original function: as a stage set!
It's up to you to cast the roles: come in costume, make-up and masks, and don't skimp on the tricks of the trade to interpret the character that inspires you. Invented, drawn from fiction, from your own life or from a historical figure, he or she can have any character.
Mask-making and make-up workshops will be available to help you perfect your costume before posing in front of the Curtain.
Show time! Drag queens and kings will be mingling with the works for performances full of surprises.
And because theatre is liberating, you can bring your characters to life at a fancy dress ball organised throughout the evening on the Abattoirs forecourt!
The program
Mask workshop and photoshoot!
From 6pm to 11pm
Make your own mask and pose in front of Picasso's stage curtain!
The monsters have gone, the landscape is deserted: take your place and put on your show!
Make-up workshop
From 6pm to 11pm
Get ready for the masquerade ball with make-up artist Yeux de bitch and her colourful graphic eyeliners that will keep you glowing all night long!
Between €5 and €10, payment by cash, PayPal or Lydia.
Drag performances
At 8pm, 9pm and 10pm (duration 1 hour)
To the sound of Camille Humeau's clarinet, drag queens and kings will mingle with the works for performances full of surprises.
Performance in French sign language
At 8.30pm (duration 30min)
Deaf actors mingle with the works of art in a performance combining theatre, photography and sign language.
Big fancy dress ball!
From 6pm to 11pm
Come and dance the night away in masks and costumes on the Abattoirs forecourt!
From 6pm to 8pm, DJ Anne-Ying, co-founder of the Mortel Chrome collective from Toulouse, will be taking you on a journey through different genres, playing electronic music, synth pop and new wave to get you dancing!
From 8-9pm, it's time for Kimia! More than just singing, what she chants in Lingala evokes tribal incantations as much as a summons that would bring together the rebellious spirits of free party and hip hop, where electro sounds merge with ancestral rhythms.
From 9pm to 11pm, DJ Nana will take you on an explosive set of urban Afro-pop and infectious energy!
Le bureau des souffleurs.euses
From 6pm to 11pm
Come and meet the Abattoirs' prompter to discuss Picasso's stage curtain and tell them your interpretation of the work. Ask your questions, express your opinion or your emotions: no holds barred!
And more:
Visit and workshop for parents and children
From 6pm to 7.30pm (duration 1h30)
Socheata Aing's family intimacy and Mélodie Bajo's embroidery of crazy words invite you to leave your secrets in our little handkerchiefs and leave with your creations in your pocket!
Bookings required: reservation@lesabattoirs.org
Workshop visit to the children's library
From 6pm to 7.30pm (duration 1h30)
Join us for a pop-up card workshop based on the world of Daniel Cordier, l'ivre d'arts, for 4-7 year olds.
Bookings required: reservationjeunepublic@lesabattoirs.org
Illuminations 10 min/1 work
From 7pm to 11pm
Art history students take part in a lightning tour to unmask a work in the Open Your Eyes exhibition.
Student mediation
From 6pm to 11pm
In the Studio, cultural mediation students offer workshops and games based on the Open Your Eyes exhibition.
Guided tours
At 7pm and 9pm (duration 1 hour)
A guide will take you on a guided tour of the Open Your Eyes exhibition.
Bookings required: accueil@lesabattoirs.org
Guided tour in French sign language
At 7pm (1 hour)
Juliette Dalle, a deaf mediator, offers a guided tour of the Open Your Eyes exhibition in sign language.
Screening of films by the PRIDE Toulouse association
From 6pm to 11pm (duration 1 hour)
In the auditorium, the PRIDE Toulouse association will be showing vignettes of LGBTQIA+ testimonies and memories from Toulouse and the surrounding area.
Public gallery
30 years of marching, 30 years of struggle’ exhibition
To mark the 30th anniversary of the Marche des Fiertés in Toulouse, come and discover the posters created for the marches in Toulouse over the last 30 years, as well as the history of LGBTQIA+ struggles in France since the 19th century.
Restaurant and bar
Treat yourself to tapas and wine at L'Hémicyle!
On the forecourt, you'll find La Gougnotte, a queer and feminist bar in the Saint-Cyprien district.
And coming soon to Les Abattoirs
Saturday 7 June: Pride at Les Abattoirs!
Once again this year, Les Abattoirs will be taking part in the Toulouse Pride with a float created by artist Damien Rouxel in collaboration with the Griffes d'Anges collective.
From 6.30pm, the float will be parked on the Abattoirs forecourt for the Pride After Party until 11pm (bar, DJ set, food trucks, etc.). Bookings required.
Saturday 21 June: let's sing!
Come and listen to the Voix des Fiertés choir perform live from 4pm to 6pm in the heart of the Abattoirs! Free admission.