thumb|250px|Nightlife in [[Times Square, Midtown Manhattan. One of the many nicknames for New York City is The City That Never Sleeps.]]
thumb|[[São Paulo|São Paulo, Brazil, has the best nightlife in the world, according to the World's Best Cities 2026.]]
thumb|Attendees at a [[nightclub in Cape Town, South Africa]]
thumb|[[Offer Nissim perform at Haoman 17 in Tel Aviv, Israel]]
Nightlife is a collective term for entertainment that is available and generally more popular from the late evening into the early hours of the morning. It includes pubs, bars, nightclubs, parties, live music, concerts, cabarets, theatre, cinemas, and shows. These venues often require a cover charge for admission. Nightlife entertainment is often more adult-oriented than daytime entertainment. People who prefer to be active during the night-time are called night owls.
History
The lack of electric lighting, as well as the needs for agricultural labor, made staying up after dark difficult for most people. Larger ancient cities, such as Rome, had a reputation for danger at night. This changed in 17th and 18th-century Europe (and subsequently spread beyond) due to the development and implementation of artificial lighting: more domestic lights, added street lighting, and adaptation by the royal and upper social classes. The introduction of chocolate, coffee and tea, and cafes that stayed open through dawn, became part of the new culture.
Some sociologists have argued that vibrant city nightlife scenes contribute to the development of culture as well as political movements. David Grazian cites as examples the development of beat poetry, musical styles including bebop, urban blues and early rock, and the importance of nightlife for the development of the gay rights movement in the United States kicked off by the riots at the Stonewall Inn nightclub in Greenwich Village, Lower Manhattan, New York City.
There is debate about the degree to which nightlife contributes positively to social capital and the public goods of society. David Grazian points out that nightlife can "replicate the same structures of race, ethnic, and class inequality and exclusion found in the larger society." Research conducted by Euromonitor International indicates a growing demand for unique, immersive nightlife experiences among millennials and zoomers. Moreover, advancements in digital platforms and social media have reshaped how people discover and engage with nightlife, amplifying its influence and reach. As cities continue to embrace innovation and diversity, the nightlife procure remains a dynamic expression of modernity's ever-evolving spirit. The evolve in urban landscape reflects in the nightlife customs through the zeitgeists of contemporary society.
Regulation
thumb|upright=1.25|Restaurants in [[Place du Tertre, Paris]]
Australia
Nightlife venues must be licensed to serve alcohol.
United Kingdom
Nightlife venues must be licensed to serve alcohol under the Licensing Act 2003 (and the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 in Scotland). Venues with door security ("bouncers") are also required to ensure that the security staff are licensed by the Security Industry Authority.
Since the introduction of the Licensing Act 2003, pubs and bars have been able to apply to operate until later. For nightclubs, this has become a form of competition as patrons can stay in the same pub or bar rather than move on to a club.
United States
In the United States, legislation affecting nightlife is handled primarily at state and local levels.