Nightlife Studies: Past, present and future

Abstract

This article attempts to present a comprehensive, synthetic and critical epistemological review of the interdisciplinary field of Nightlife Studies from the late 19th century to the present, unveiling a fascinating interplay between an “alternative cultural approach”, a “community approach” and a “geographical turn” that arose in the mid- to late 2000s. In turn, the article sheds light on the strong commitment that many nightologists showed to the future of nightlife during the pandemic, emphasizing how fundamental nightlife is for community-building, multicultural understanding and socio-emotional well-being at individual and collective levels. In its final part, and more than presenting a new research agenda, the article argues for the need to adopt a “militant/activist socioenvironmental approach” that allows shedding light on the old and new challenges and opportunities that exist on the road to promoting a greener, more resilient, inclusive and egalitarian nightlife.