Lagos has been recognized as one of the world’s top nightlife destinations, securing the 14th spot globally and ranking second in Africa, just behind Cape Town, South Africa.
The ranking comes from a recent report by Time Out Magazine, which surveyed thousands of city residents and consulted nightlife experts to determine the best after-dark experiences worldwide.
According to the report, 79% of Lagos residents rated the city’s nightlife positively, outperforming other major African cities such as Cairo, Egypt (15th globally) and Marrakech, Morocco (19th globally).
Time Out highlighted Lagos’ dynamic nightlife evolution, noting its shift from exclusive high-end lounges to more inclusive underground rave scenes.
Popular spots like SweatItOutLagos and Our Group Therapy were credited as key contributors to the city’s vibrant nightlife culture.
Reacting to the achievement, Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, attributed the recognition to the state’s effective security measures.
“It shows that the security architecture put in place by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu is working. It speaks to the number of tourists who pour into Lagos daily and the success of the last Detty December,” he stated.
Omotoso also revealed plans to formalize tourism events into a structured calendar, particularly those held in the last quarter of the year. He added that Lagos is set to make history as the first African city to host the EI (water race) Championship this year.
“The end-of-the-year events, popularly described as Detty December, always have huge positive effects on the socio-economic landscape of the state,” he said.
The Commissioner further referenced Time Out’s observation: “Nightlife takes on lots of different forms, and cities all over the world have adapted to our changing habits when it comes to going out.”
This latest accolade follows Lagos’ previous ranking in Time Out’s September 2024 list, where it placed 6th globally for nightlife, ahead of cities like Rotterdam and Manchester. Time Out Magazine, a leading authority on urban culture since 1968, operates in 333 cities across 59 countries.
Time Out Magazine’s Top 20 Cities for Nightlife in 2025:
1. Las Vegas
2. Madrid
3. Paris
4. Shanghai
5. Berlin
6. Melbourne
7. Brighton
8. Mexico City
9. Dubai
10. Mumbai
11. Cape Town
12. Warsaw
13. Bangkok
14. Lagos
15. Cairo
16. Riyadh
17. Amsterdam
18. Medellín
19. Marrakech
20. Athens