Time Out, in partnership with Gay Times, 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 new research reveals queer nightlife is at an existential crossroads – but a new generation is rebuilding it.
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.
The Right to Dance makes clear that while queer nightlife continues to evolve, its future depends on greater recognition, funding and protection.
Solomon Thomson, Managing Director of Gay Times, says: “For me, just like for countless others within the community, queer nightlife has log 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.”
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.”
