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- Bangkok has been crowned the world's best city for nightlife in this year’s ranking, followed by Berlin, New York City, Melbourne and São Paulo.
- The ranking is based on the views of more than 24,000 locals across 150 cities, alongside insights from Time Out's global editors and city experts.
- Time Out's Best Cities for Nightlife with Intrepid Travel celebrates the destinations where nights out are at their most exciting, welcoming and memorable – from neighbourhood pubs and cocktail bars to legendary clubs, drag shows, jazz venues and buzzing nightlife districts.
Bangkok has been crowned the world's best city for nightlife in Time Out's Best Cities for Nightlife with Intrepid Travel. Berlin, New York City, Melbourne and São Paulo complete the global top five.
Based on the views of more than 24,000 local residents across 150 cities worldwide, alongside insights from Time Out's global editors and city experts, the annual ranking celebrates the world's best cities after dark. Rather than focusing on clubs alone, it recognises destinations that excel across everything from neighbourhood pubs and cocktail bars to live music, drag shows, nightlife districts and late-night street food.
Unlike traditional nightlife rankings, Time Out's methodology looks beyond the quality of clubs and bars alone. It also considers how affordable it is to enjoy a night out, how easy it is to find connection and community, and whether a city feels exciting, lively, diverse, welcoming and safe after dark.
On the Best Cities for Nightlife list, Grace Beard, Travel Editor at Time Out, said:
“Time Out’s Best Cities for Nightlife with Intrepid Travel ranking is proof that nightlife is far from dead. A good night out is no longer defined by one type of venue; in 2026, street parties and rooftop raves are bigger than ever, while locals are no longer flocking to one or two big-name venues, instead heading to nightlife districts where bar-hopping is the name of the game.
What makes the cities on this list so special is their ability to adapt to our changing nightlife habits. From over-30s parties to speakeasies and listening bars, every city offers unforgettable experiences for every kind of night out and every kind of person. That's exactly what great city life should look like.”
The top ten cities on the list include:
1. Bangkok, Thailand
Bangkok takes this year's top spot thanks to its extraordinary variety, from rooftop bars and legendary clubs to late-night street food and buzzing neighbourhood cocktail spots. Seventy-three percent of locals rated the city's nightlife as "good" or "amazing", while Time Out's experts awarded Bangkok an outstanding 95 percent approval score.
2. Berlin, Germany
Berlin continues to set the benchmark for nightlife, with its legendary clubs now joined by pop-up parties, independent collectives and thriving neighbourhood bars. Seventy-eight percent of locals rated the city's nightlife highly, while 100 percent of Time Out's expert panel backed Berlin's after-dark credentials.
3. New York City, USA
Whether it's warehouse raves, rooftop drinks or neighbourhood wine bars, New York's nightlife continues to evolve while remaining one of the world's most exciting. Eighty-two percent of locals rated the city's nightlife as "good" or "amazing", alongside a 95 percent expert approval score.
4. Melbourne, Australia
Melbourne's after-dark scene is as eclectic as the city itself, with live music, LGBTQIA+ venues, cocktail bars and beloved neighbourhood pubs all playing a part. Seventy-seven percent of locals rated its nightlife highly, particularly praising the city's pubs and cocktail bars.
5. São Paulo, Brazil
São Paulo rounds out the top five with a nightlife scene spanning rooftop clubs, vinyl listening bars, samba nights and karaoke. Seventy-four percent of locals rated the city's nightlife highly, while many also praised its affordability and strong sense of community.
6. Medellín, Colombia
Medellín is one of Latin America's hottest nightlife destinations, where reggaeton reigns alongside a growing scene of listening bars and intimate cocktail spots. The city received the highest local nightlife rating in this year's survey, with 87 percent of residents describing its nightlife as "good" or "amazing".
7. Johannesburg, South Africa
From warehouse clubs and afro-house dancefloors to neighbourhood cocktail bars and live music venues, Johannesburg continues to reinvent its nightlife scene. The city also stood out for its affordability, earning a 66 percent affordability score, while 80 percent of locals said it's easy to find connection and community there – one of the highest scores in this year's ranking.
8. Brighton, UK
Brighton proves that great nightlife is about more than just clubs. Alongside its world-renowned LGBTQ+ scene, the city is packed with independent music venues, welcoming pubs and inventive club nights. It received the highest community score in this year's ranking, with 84 percent of locals saying it's easy to meet people and feel part of the city's community. Brighton also tied for the second-highest nightlife rating (83 percent) and, after New York, was the city most likely to be described as both "lively" and "diverse and inclusive".
9. Beijing, China
Beijing's nightlife rewards curiosity, from hidden hutong bars and craft breweries to cutting-edge techno clubs and daytime coffee raves. It was named the most affordable city in this year's ranking, with a 77 percent affordability score, while 72 percent of locals rated its nightlife highly and 80 percent said it's easy to find connection and community after dark.
10. Amsterdam, Netherlands
Amsterdam rounds out the top ten with a nightlife scene that extends far beyond the city centre, from waterfront warehouse clubs to listening bars and neighbourhood cocktail spots. Seventy-seven percent of locals said it's easy to find connection and community in the city, while 67 percent rated its nightlife as "good" or "amazing". WorldPride 2026 has further cemented Amsterdam's reputation as one of Europe's most welcoming and inclusive places to go out.
The full list of Time Out's Best Cities for Nightlife 2026 is as follows:
- Bangkok, Thailand
- Berlin, Germany
- New York City, United States
- Melbourne, Australia
- São Paulo, Brazil
- Medellín, Colombia
- Johannesburg, South Africa
- Brighton, United Kingdom
- Beijing, China
- Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Porto, Portugal
- Hong Kong, Hong Kong
- Athens, Greece
- Madrid, Spain
- Hanoi, Vietnam
- Seoul, South Korea
- Bangalore, India
- Accra, Ghana
- Singapore, Singapore
- Mexico City, Mexico
This year's ranking is supported by Intrepid Travel. Joanna Reeve, General Manager UK & Ireland at Intrepid Travel, said:
"Some of the most amazing travel experiences happen after dark. Whether it's discovering a hidden cocktail bar, joining locals for live music or eating incredible street food late into the evening, our leaders have the local know-how on how to experience a city after the sun goes down too. Nightlife offers a unique window into a city's culture, and we're proud to partner with Time Out to celebrate the destinations where those experiences are at their very best."
The full Best Cities for Nightlife 2026 ranking can be found at https://www.timeout.com/travel/best-cities-for-nightlife-2026
- ENDS -
Notes to editors
Time Out's annual Best Cities for Nightlife ranking reflects what local residents and Time Out's editors consider the world's most exciting cities after dark. Travelers should always check their own government’s official travel guidance and follow local rules and restrictions before planning a trip, and follow all local rules and restrictions.
Methodology
To compile Time Out's Best Cities for Nightlife 2026, Time Out surveyed 24,000 local residents across 150 cities worldwide, alongside input from more than 100 Time Out editors and city experts.
The final ranking combines 70% local sentiment and 30% expert evaluation, using a weighted scoring model based on:
- Overall quality of nightlife
- Affordability of a night out (including pubs, bars, clubs, live music, theatre and cinema)
- Sense of community and belonging
- City vibe, including how exciting, lively, diverse, welcoming and safe a city feels
- Expert assessment of the city's nightlife scene in 2026
To ensure global representation, only the highest-ranked city from each country was included in the final list.
The full Best Cities for Nightlife list can be found at
https://www.timeout.com/travel/best-cities-for-nightlife-2026
For more information or interviews, please contact pr@timeout.com
About Time Out Group
Time Out Group is a global brand that inspires and enables people to experience the best of the city. Time Out launched in London in 1968 to help people discover the best of the city - today it is the only global brand dedicated to city life. Expert journalists curate and create content about the best things to Do, See and Eat across over 350 cities in over 50 countries and across a unique multi-platform model spanning both digital and physical channels. Time Out Market is the world's first editorially curated food and cultural market, bringing a city's best chefs, restaurateurs and unique cultural experiences together under one roof. There are currently Markets in 13 cities including Lisbon, New York and Dubai, with several new locations expected to open in 2026 and beyond, in addition to a pipeline of further locations in advanced discussions. Time Out Group PLC, listed on AIM, is headquartered in London (UK).
About Intrepid Travel
Intrepid Travel has been a world leader in responsible travel for more than 35 years. The company’s mission is to create positive change through the joy of travel, which comes to life on more than 900 trips all designed to truly experience local culture. With its own network of country offices in 33 countries, Intrepid has unique local expertise and perspectives. Globally recognised for their commitment to transparency and ethical travel, they became B-Corp certified in 2018, and their not-for-profit, The Intrepid Foundation, has disbursed more than £9.7million to more than 160 partners. In December 2025, Intrepid was named a Which? Recommended Provider for Escorted Tours.
For more information, download the company’s 2024 Integrated Annual Report and follow Intrepid on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok or LinkedIn.