There’s a New Report on the Health of Global Nightlife Culture — How Did New York Rate?
Categoria: Musica
Assessing the scenes in Amsterdam, Lagos, New York, São Paulo, Seoul and Sydney, the Nighttime Culture Index was unveiled Thursday (Oct. 22) at ADE 2026.
Por Billboard | 22/10/2026
Amsterdam-based consulting and advocacy agency VibeLab has released a new report assessing the health of nightlife culture in six major global cities across six continents. The report, the Nighttime Culture Index, was first presented Thursday (Oct. 22) at ADE, the dance industry gathering celebrating its 30-year anniversary this week in Amsterdam. The Index is a joint project by ADE and VibeLab, which sent representatives to Amsterdam, Lagos in Nigeria, New York, São Paulo, Seoul and Sydney to conduct research. See the Nighttime Culture Index here . Related How Much Nightlife Space Exists In Your City? VibeLab Will Tell You BTS' j-hope Joins Forces With Streetwear Legend Nigo for New Nike Sneakers: How to Shop the Drop This 'Glee' Star Is Ready to Reclaim Hot 100 Record From Drake: 'Challenge Accepted' Major takeaways from the report include the disparity in the price of a night out across cities, with nightclub entry costing approximately an hour of minimum-wage work in Sydney, nine hours in São Paulo and 25 hours in Lagos. (These figures exclude transportation, drinks and other costs.) Additionally, inequality persists, with female and gender-diverse artists making up just 27% to 32% of line-ups across the six cities. Experts across five cities also rated diversity in venue ownership and leadership as poor. Safety is also cited as an issue, with respondents reporting feeling less safe in the streets surrounding nightlife areas. The issue is particularly acute in São Paulo, where 73% of respondents feel safe inside venues, compared with just 11% in the streets. In Lagos, the figures are 74% and 20%, respectively. In New York specifically, the Index cites the main challenge in nightlife as how expensive it is, saying that “as with many major cities, cost was regularly raised as a barrier to entry for both promoters — particularly venue hire and permits — and audiences. It was suggested that the DIY scene was thriving, but costs were also blamed for making careers within the industry difficult to sustain. Many called for more funding for marginalized groups to put on events, as well as for informal and DIY spaces. Gentrification threatening venues were also raised regularly, as well as a need for more sustainable wages for workers at night.” In terms of what’s working well in New York, the report says the city’s legendarily vibrant nightlife culture has something for everyone, “with 94% agreeing that there is a variety and diversity of different scenes, styles, sounds and genres in New York. When asked for up-and-coming sounds and artists in New York, no artist, sound or style was named twice, reflecting the diversity [on] offer in the city. Our focus group felt strongly that New York was a place where new artists, sounds and styles can emerge and that New York’s nightlife community has the power to shape its scene.” The Index also notes that in terms of New York venues, ̶