Nightlife is the cultural pulse of our cities - where music, cultural identity and economic activity intersect. But across Europe, this vital ecosystem is under pressure. According to the latest NTIA data, nightclub spending in the UK alone has dropped by 16% in just one year, while LIVE DMA reports a 26% surge in operational costs across European venues since 2019. One out of three clubs has closed since 2020.
Soaring operational costs and shifting social habits leave venue owners and operators struggling to balance accessible pricing with financial survival while striving to provide necessary spaces for a vibrant culture and robust democracy. European nightlife fights for its future. Clubs, community radios, and collectives are building collaborative models to sustain not just venues, but values: access, experimentation, and local identity. This panel brings together key voices pioneering these approaches, asking: how can nightlife operators, cultural spaces, and communities forge new partnerships to ensure that club culture doesn’t just survive, but thrives in this changing landscape?”
Keynote by Silvia Käsk, Head of Live Music Estonia
- European Venue Survey: how has the live scene changed? Data from 2019-2022
Followed by a panel
Speakers:
- Richard Akingbehin, Co-founder of Refuge Worldwide, Founder of Kynant Records
- Giuseppe Moramarco, Founder of Scene Clubbing Heritage and Mäzen
- Sandy Kantola, Executive Producer of Oulu Capital of Culture 2026
- Micaela Saraceno, Programme and production manager of Club Hall
Moderator:
- Alessandro Paciaroni, Nightlife advocate