Legendary club Plastic in Milan closes Another blow to the city's nightlife

A few days after the seizure of Leoncavallo, another icon of the city is closing its doors in Milan. The Plastic, the historic Milanese club founded in 1980, which over the years moved from viale Umbria to via Gargano, will not reopen for the 2025-2026 season. The news first appeared yesterday evening on the website of Rolling Stone Italia, then came through the official communication from the club’s managers. From international stars (Freddy Mercury, the Pink Floyd, Grace Jones, Madonna and Keith Haring are just some of the names that graced the Plastic’s dance floor during its early years) to Italian queer icons, both venues of the club, which moved to via Gargano in 2012, have shaped the history of Milan’s nightlife. With the closure of yet another historic venue in the city, one wonders which spaces for young people in Milan remain, and whether they will endure. Where do the new generations gather today? How can they grow, if they don’t have the space to do so?

In addition to becoming a permanent destination for Milan’s LGBTQIA+ community, Plastic has represented a safe space for all those who struggled to feel welcome elsewhere. Alternative, bold, fashionable, camp, irreverent: being on the dance floor at Plastic meant letting go, free from the prejudices of which Milan has always been a victim. The music of co-founders Sergio Tavelli and Nicola Guiducci as well as Stryxia will forever remain in the hearts of all those who have supported the club over the years, while the new generations—from those who had just discovered the venue to those waiting to be old enough to enter—will have to hope for new management, or perhaps a miracle, to experience the same emotions.

«June 29, 2025 was the last night of Plastic - wrote the management on Instagram - «since 1980, its pride has been to welcome extraordinary people and stories within its walls. It is only thanks to all of you that Plastic floated light and tentacular through Milan’s nights for over 4 decades. Thank you for taking part in a party that for us was unique and surprising. Let the party continue!». A message that was answered by hundreds of users, including other Milanese colleagues. Le Cannibale wrote: «A place of freedom, experimentation and beauty that for over 40 years has shaped generations. For us at Le Cannibale it was competition, home and friendship: three years of working together and special nights that we will always carry with us. Thank you Plastic for making Milan more alive and free».