Time Out Names Bangkok Best Nightlife City for 2026, Berlin Second on 100% Expert Vote
In Time Out's 2026 evaluation of the finest cities worldwide for nightlife, Bangkok secures the top position with an impressive approval rating of 95 from experts, while 73% of local residents describe their nightlife experiences as good or amazing. The ranking is based on feedback from over 24,000 locals, alongside votes from Time Out's city editors and cultural experts, though the specific weighting remains undisclosed. Only one city from each country was considered, resulting in 20 cities across six continents. Bangkok's vibrant nightlife extends from Chinatown's Soi Nana, featuring venues like Ba Hao and Tep Bar, to Thonglor and Silom's rooftop bars, with Sing Sing Theater showcased in "The White Lotus." Berlin follows in second place, enjoying unanimous support and 78% local approval, despite 62% of residents favoring casual bars over clubs, as the phenomenon of Clubsterben continues due to redevelopment and rising rents. New York ranks third, with 82% local enthusiasm but the lowest affordability score at 40%. Medellín boasts the highest local quality rating at 87%, while Brighton achieves the best community score at 84%. Beijing offers the most affordable nightlife at 77%, and Singapore excels in safety with a score of 93. The list is rounded out by Melbourne, São Paulo, Johannesburg, Amsterdam, Porto, Hong Kong, Athens, Madrid, Hanoi, Seoul, Bengaluru, Accra, and Mexico City.
Key facts
- Bangkok ranks first in Time Out's 2026 nightlife index with a 95 expert approval score and 73% local quality rating
- Berlin takes second place with a 100% expert approval score, the highest awarded to any city
- New York finishes third with 82% of locals rating going out highly but only 40% calling it affordable, the survey's weakest
- Medellín records the highest local quality rating at 87%, with Seoul and Brighton next at 83%
- Brighton leads the community category at 84%, while Beijing tops affordability at 77% and Singapore safety at 93%
- The ranking draws on responses from more than 24,000 locals plus votes from Time Out editors and culture specialists
- Only the highest-scoring city in each country was eligible, spreading the 20 entries across six continents
- Berlin techno received UNESCO intangible cultural heritage status in 2024, and Germany is pursuing reclassification of clubs as cultural institutions
Entities
Artists
Institutions
- Time Out
- Sing Sing Theater
- Ba Hao
- Tep Bar
- G.O.D
- Bar Temp.
- Berghain
- Tresor
- KitKat
- Renate
- Sisyphos
- Else
- ÆDEN
- Lecken
- Kreuzwerk
- OXI
- Resident Advisor
- Pacha
- Solace Bar
- Coil
- Pride of Our Footscray
- Matiz
- Ephigenia
- Edifício Martinelli
- A Balsa
- Dulcinea
- Tutaina
- Medallo Club
- Medussa
- Mad Radio
- 55 dB Listening Bar
- Carfax
- Club A.M.
- AND Club
- Bad Manors
- A Street Bar Named Desire
- Six Bar
- Bar Broadway
- Revenge
- The Queen's Arms
- Patterns
- Casablanca
- Party in Your Pants
- Fairytopia
- Patio
- The Bees Mouth
- The Lion and Lobster
- Crossbar
- La Social
- Casa Bacardi
- Great Leap Brewing
- Shifter
- Modernista
- Groundless Factory
- Zhao Dai
- Solo
- Pillbox
- Rave AM
- Yinyang Productions
- Garage Noord
- Pllek
- Loop 51
- Door 74
- Club Raum
- Atman
- Apotecário
- Mr. Bean's
- Maus Hábitos
- Plano B
- Bar Leone
- Coa
- Quinary
- Penicillin
- Petticoat Lane
- Tasmania Ballroom
- Levels
- Play
- Dragon-i
- Upper House
- Line
- The Clumsies
- Baba Au Rum
- The Bar in Front of the Bar
- Lobby Bar
- King George hotel
- AUX Club
- Romantso
- Oddity Club
- Petra Theatre
- Dionyssos
- Island
- Bolivar
- Teatro Kapital
- Fabrik
- Médium Club
- Esotèrica Speakeasy
- Fenómeno
- Bar Frecuencia
- Workshop14
- Asia's 50 Best Bars
- The Haflington
- Unmute
- Long Biên
- Equation
- Cinderella Bar
- Storage Room
- Bar Geranium
- Aapex
- Charles H.
- Club BBang
- Cakeshop
- NB2
- Pecos
- Toit
- Biere Club
- Middle Room
- Bar Cameo
- Dali & Gala
- Bar Doubble
- Dude Party
- Kitty Ko
- Front Back
- Purple Pub
- Bloom Bar
- Republic Bar
- Barn Door Beer Garden
- La Villa Boutique Hotel
- Mad Club
- Heritage Craft Brewery
- Enzo Accra
- Garage Ghana
- Embar Accra
- One Percent
- South Village
- Fake Fridays
- Ace Tantra
- Tree House Osu
- Zouk
- Capital
- Phuture
- Milli
- Bae's Cocktail Club
- Kossa
- Thugshop
- Darker Than Wax
- Ice Cream Sundays
- GrooveTop
- CultureSG
- Somma
- Faba
- Natas
- Varde
- Rosso
- Dacopa
- LooLoo
- Funk
- Sic
- Cursi
- Bar Liebre
- Ruido
- Drama Café
- Sala de Despecho
- Sana Sana
- Penthouse
- Sirenito
- Bonito
- Bresh
- Travieso
- Cañita
- UNESCO
- The White Lotus
- Party in your Pants
- University of the Witwatersrand
- Tokyo
- BTS Skytrain
Locations
- 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
- Athens
- Greece
- Madrid
- Spain
- Hanoi
- Vietnam
- Seoul
- South Korea
- Bengaluru
- India
- Accra
- Ghana
- Singapore
- Mexico City
- Mexico
- Chinatown
- Soi Nana
- Thonglor
- Silom
- Laureles
- Poblado
- Provenza
- Manila
- Melville
- Rosebank
- Bolton Road
- 7th Street
- Sanlitun
- Noord
- Oost
- De Pijp
- Jordaan
- Reguliersdwarsstraat
- Lan Kwai Fong
- SoHo
- Psyrri
- Exarcheia
- Athenian Riviera
- Seongsu
- Gangnam
- Yongsan
- Jongno
- Indiranagar
- MG Road
- Koramangala
- Ulsoor
- Rajajinagar
- Whitefield
- Osu
- East Legon
- Labone
- La Roma
- Juárez
- Polanco
- Fitzroy
- Collingwood
- Kreuzberg
- Miami
- Braamfontein
- Vila Madalena
- Jardins
- Bushwick
- Williamsburg
- Manhattan
- Brooklyn
- Harlem
- New York