More than 30 Irish and international speakers took part in Bright Nights, Big City: Culture, Music, and the Future of the Night-Time Economy at the National Concert Hall on 22 September. The event was presented by AIM Ireland and Dublin City Council's Night-Time Economy Advisor, Ray O'Donoghue, with support from the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport.

Throughout the day, contributors repeatedly argued for a coordinated strategy that connects culture, transport and safety with planning, licensing, affordability, and the needs of the people and businesses that power nightlife.

Ray O'Donoghue, Dublin City Council's Night-Time Economy Advisor, said: "If we're serious about creating a better Dublin at night, the night-time economy needs to be thought about from the start when we plan our city, not added on afterwards.

"Culture, transport, and safety are all connected. So are planning, licensing and public space. The next stage has to be about joining those pieces together and moving from good conversations and pilots towards long-term policy, investment, and delivery."

Industry voices underlined the role of grassroots venues in nurturing talent.

Colm Hanley, Managing Director of AIM Ireland, said: "Today's grassroots venue is where we'll discover the next headline act. We need to keep investing in Irish music and in the people and places that turn talent into careers."

Echoing the call for systemic change, Michael Kill, CEO of the UK Nighttime Industries Association, told delegates: "If we don't try to get ourselves into a position where we are embedded in governance, we are always going to be playing a part that's defragmented."

Speakers also highlighted mounting pressure on cultural spaces and independent nightlife. They urged greater protection for existing venues, pubs, clubs, independent promoters and creative businesses, and encouraged more inventive use of empty buildings, meanwhile spaces, streets and public areas. Richard Tierney, CEO of St Patrick's Festival, stressed the importance of community, Irish subcultures and creating events that reflect the character of the city, while others pressed for stronger backing for smaller venues and promoters that fuel creativity.

New figures from CORE Research underscored the scale of the challenge, showing the number of nightclubs in Ireland has plunged from 522 in the early 2000s to 82 today, even as 77% of the public still express an appetite for music.

Safety was another recurring theme. Nicki Killeen of the HSE spoke about building a "community of care" around nightlife, with harm reduction, bystander awareness, reliable late-night transport, well-run venues and busy streets all cited as contributors to a safer city after dark.

Regulation and licensing were examined through a cultural lens. Dr Ciara Power, an anthropologist specialising in music, culture and policy, told the conference that "policy makers must take lived experience seriously," as panellists discussed how rules can better reflect nightlife's cultural, social and economic value.

International perspectives came from Michael Stewart, Belfast Night Czar; Carly Heath, Bristol's former Night-Time Economy Advisor; Michael Kill; and Freek Wallagh, Night Mayor of Amsterdam. While learning from other cities, participants said Dublin should shape solutions that reflect its own culture, communities and character.

Wallagh captured the opportunity of a thriving night-time city, stating, "More is more, not less is more." He argued that streets can be safer with more people using them, and that cities should make space for local talent, backed by investment and trust.

Following the conference, a series of Bright Nights workshops and panel discussions will be announced to explore culture, transport, safety, licensing and space in depth, ahead of plans for Bright Nights, Big City to return in 2027.

Bright Nights, Big City: Culture, Music and the Future of the Night-Time Economy took place at the National Concert Hall, Dublin, on 22 September 2026.