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Time Out, in partnership with Gay Times, today launches The Right to Dance: Queer nightlife in 2026, a new report exploring the current state - and future - of LGBTQIA+ nightlife in the UK.
The full report is available to download here: https://forms.timeout.com/the-right-to-dance
The research paints a stark picture of a scene under pressure.
77% of respondents say the number of queer nightlife spaces in their area has decreased, while 82% feel these closures have directly impacted their sense of community. Just 7% say they feel well represented by the spaces that remain.
At the same time, the report highlights a resilient and evolving community - one that continues to show up, adapt and rebuild.
Nearly three-quarters (74%) of respondents attend queer nightlife at least monthly, while 90% say they are willing to travel for the right space, music and crowd - underlining the continued importance of these spaces as cultural and social infrastructure.
Solomon Thomson, Managing Director of Gay Times, says:
“For me, just like for countless others within the community, queer nightlife has long been a vital space for self-expression, identity exploration, connection and existence. This report shows both the urgency of the challenges facing the scene and the resilience of the communities continuing to build it.”
A scene at a crossroads
From historic queer venues to grassroots nights, nightlife has long been central to LGBTQIA+ identity, connection and expression. But rising costs, gentrification and a lack of institutional support are placing increasing strain on the sector.
- 1 in 2 say gentrification has negatively impacted queer nightlife
- 6 in 10 say there is not enough government support
- 80% cite rising costs as a key driver of venue closures
For many, these spaces are not optional - they are essential.
Community over infrastructure
Despite the decline in physical venues, the report finds that queer nightlife is not disappearing - it is shifting.
What defines a queer space today is less about bricks and mortar, and more about who is in the room.
- 99% say a predominantly LGBTQIA+ crowd is important
- 83% prioritise queer organisers and promoters
- Only 30% say it matters whether a venue is formally LGBTQIA+
A new generation of promoters, collectives and creatives are building spaces that prioritise community, safety and representation, often operating outside traditional structures.
Where next: building in the gaps
The report highlights a growing movement towards smaller, more agile and community-led formats - from pop-ups and warehouse events to multi-use cultural spaces.
51% of respondents believe community-led models are the future of queer nightlife, with many favouring independent, grassroots spaces over mainstream venues.
Rather than seeking assimilation, the community is calling for autonomy, support and investment.
A call to action
The Right to Dance makes clear that while queer nightlife continues to evolve, its future depends on greater recognition, funding and protection.
As Robson Carter-Browne, Partnerships Manager at Time Out, said:
“Queer nightlife has always been a space of resistance and survival - it’s where communities are built, identities are explored and new futures take shape in the face of marginalisation. What this report shows us is that the energy always has been, and always will be there, but the support isn’t keeping up.”
Queer nightlife isn’t going anywhere - but the way it exists is changing, and what happens next depends on whether it’s properly supported.
- ENDS -
For more information or interviews, please contact pr@timeout.com or group@gaytimes.com
About the research
The Right to Dance: Queer nightlife in 2026 combines quantitative data from 147 respondents across the Time Out and Gay Times audiences with in-depth interviews from leading figures across the UK’s queer nightlife scene, including venue founders, promoters, performers and community organisers.
Full report is available for free at https://forms.timeout.com/the-right-to-dance
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 12 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 Gay Times
Gay Times is Europe’s longest running LGBTQIA+ media brand. Launched in 1984 against the backdrop of the AIDs crisis, Gay Times has long been a globally respected leader in cultivating LGBTQIA+ conversation and discourse.
Today, Gay Times is a social and digital first publication, reaching a global audience of over 70M. Through a monthly magazine that’s available digitally, and highly engaged social and digital channels, the brand sits at the epicentre of the queer and allied community.
Through powerful editorial content that reflects the lived experiences of its community across the globe, the publication is a trusted editorial voice. With wide-ranging coverage of key cultural moments and focused community storytelling, Gay Times inspires millions around the world, positively impacting the lives of forward thinking, creative people, every day.