Led by VibeLab and local coordinators in each city, the Index offers a shared understanding of nighttime cultural activity, with an eye on the opportunities and challenges for local scenes; it lays a baseline for tracking change over time.
The research explores nighttime culture through six lenses: Creative Ecology, Space & Infrastructure, Diversity & Representation, Community & Belonging, Policy & Civic Health and Sustainability & Environment, 30 indicators which together explore topics including cultural activity, venue availability and affordability, safety, representation and the effectiveness of policies supporting nighttime ecosystems.
The study combined desk research, expert interviews, data collection, a public survey and focus groups. Researchers analysed more than 12,000 event line-ups, assessed over 3,000 venues and investigated close to 30,000 non-music cultural events. The research also drew on feedback from more than 700 survey respondents, 67 focus group participants and 14 nighttime culture experts.
The cost of nightlife varies significantly between cities
The Index highlights significant differences in the affordability of a typical club night in relation to minimum-wage earnings. In Sydney, admission represents approximately one hour of work, compared with 1.3 hours in Amsterdam, 1.7 hours in Seoul and 1.8 hours in New York. In São Paulo, the equivalent figure rises to nine hours, while in Lagos it reaches approximately 25 hours. These calculations do not include transport, drinks and other expenses associated with a night out.
The availability of dedicated music venues also varies considerably. Amsterdam and New York have approximately 50 venues per million residents, while Seoul has around 12, São Paulo seven and Lagos just over one. The report also highlights the contribution of informal, DIY and public spaces which offer alternative opportunities for artists and collectives to develop their work.
Jan-Willem van de Ven, Managing Director of ADE, says: “You can’t have a nighttime industry without a nighttime culture, and that culture depends on people being able to take part.” He adds that when admission costs a day’s wages or more, the issue should gain the attention of the wider industry.
Safety remains a concern beyond the doors of venues
Across all six cities, respondents generally felt safer inside nightlife venues as compared to the streets. The difference was particularly pronounced in São Paulo, where 73% felt safe inside venues, compared with 11% in the streets. In Lagos, the respective figures were 74% and 20%.
Safety concerns also impacted on participation. During the previous year, 70% of respondents in São Paulo and 84% in Lagos had avoided going out or visiting a particular place due to safety concerns. The research highlights significant gender disparities in perceptions of safety in relation to returning home at night. In Amsterdam, 28% of women reported feeling safe on their journey home, compared with 61% of men. In Sydney, the figures were 48% and 75% respectively.
Gender representation remains uneven
Women and gender-diverse artists comprise between 27% and 32% of event line-ups across the six cities, and are booked for fewer events on average. Experts in five cities also rated diversity in venue ownership and leadership as poor. Contributors in Amsterdam and Seoul report that representation behind the scenes is getting worse. Grassroots, alternative and queer communities are often at the forefront of building more inclusive events and safer spaces, but the rising costs are placing additional pressure on the resources required to sustain these initiatives.
Nighttime governance needs a cultural focus
Sydney, New York, Amsterdam and Seoul are among the cities which have dedicated nighttime offices or official roles overseeing activity after dark. Nevertheless, the Index finds that nighttime governance generally focuses on business, tourism and economics, rather than on cultural development.
Amsterdam’s 2021 vision for night culture is identified as an exception. Participants in São Paulo and Seoul called for nighttime culture to be recognised as part of a broader cultural policy, while researchers also highlight the importance of stronger co-operation between governments, artists, operators and local communities.
VibeLab co-founder Mirik Milan says that, despite the commercial pressures on nightlife, its cultural life remains vibrant. He argues that new ideas can emerge in times of crisis, and that nightlife culture needs space to bring people together.
The NCI aims to offer policymakers, cultural organisations and industry stakeholders a common evidence base for understanding nighttime culture and identifying where further support is needed. Jane Slingo, VibeLab’s Director for Asia Pacific, says that the dashboard highlights how the experiences of independent collectives, promoters and artists can enter into conversations which shape their cities. Despite the challenges which have been identified, the research also reveals opportunities to build more inclusive systems which protect nighttime culture and support its continued development.
