Methodology
The Nighttime Culture Index studies and scores each city’s nighttime culture by combining data, desk research, a survey, interviews and focus groups.
In short
Every city is measured on 30 indicators in six dimensions. Evidence comes from five sources, from desk research to focus groups.
Who we spoke to
- 767Survey responses
- 67Focus group participants
- 14Expert interviews
What we analysed
- 12,664Event line-ups
- 3,073Venues assessed
- 29,727Non-music cultural events researched
- 1,236Individual events analysed
Indicators and scores
- 180Indicator analyses: 30 indicators x 6 cities
- 144Final scores: 24 indicators carry an index score
- 574Individual scores entered: 6 indicators reported as figures or findings
Data sources
Survey
A total of 767 people across six cities answered an online survey in English, Dutch, Portuguese and Korean. They include engaged members of scenes as well as nightlife-goers. The survey recorded their views on nightlife in their home city, including issues like perceived safety at night.
Focus groups and interviews
Six focus groups, one in each city, enriched our findings with lived experiences from 67 stakeholders. Discussions ranged from emerging artistic trends to diversity and representation. Interviews with 14 experts from the nightlife industry and government showed where the gaps in policy and understanding were.
How scores are built
Each indicator is scored from 0 to 100 against a fixed target, such as venues per million people or hours of minimum wage. Some indicators combine measures with set weights. A total of 574 reviewer scores were used to triangulate results.
Why 2026 is the baseline
Why these cities
The first edition covers six cities, one from each inhabited continent: Amsterdam, Lagos, New York, São Paulo, Seoul and Sydney. These cities represent a mix of emerging and established markets, from which new and vibrant talent, ideas and culture are exchanged and represented on the global stage. More cities will join in future editions.
Missing data
Limits of this edition
The survey and focus groups are not representative of each city’s population. The data sources cover some cities better than others, especially Lagos. Six indicators are not scored. The area measured differs between cities, from the city itself to the wider region.