Lagos has earned global recognition for its vibrant nightlife, ranking 14th in the world and second in Africa, according to a new report by Time Out Magazine.
The ranking, published by the international lifestyle and entertainment outlet, places Cape Town, South Africa, in first position on the African continent and 11th globally. Lagos edged out other African cities such as Cairo, Egypt and Marrakech, Morocco, which ranked 15th and 19th, respectively.
According to Time Out Magazine, “Lagos is up next in fourteenth place, where 79% of locals rate the nightlife positively. The Nigerian city’s nightlife scene is shifting from exclusive lounges to inclusive underground raves such as SweatItOutLagos and Our Group Therapy.”
The publication noted that “four African cities claimed a spot in the new top 20,” including Cape Town, Lagos, Cairo, and Marrakech.
Time Out Magazine, a global brand renowned for spotlighting the best urban experiences, said the rankings were curated after quizzing thousands of city dwellers and consulting a panel of experts.
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“Lagos has once again earned global recognition, securing the 14th position in the latest ranking of the world’s best nightlife cities, and placing second on the African continent, just behind Cape Town, South Africa,” the report said.
The rankings considered how residents perceive their city’s nightlife. In Lagos, seventy-nine percent (79%) of locals who were interviewed rated the nightlife positively, citing its diversity, energy, and cultural transformation.
Cairo ranked just behind Lagos in 15th place, also with 79% of locals approving the nightlife scene, and 72% describing it as ‘cheap or free’ or ‘affordable’. Meanwhile, Marrakech landed at number 19, with 72% of locals rating it positively and ranking third safest among the top 20 cities.
Reacting to the recognition, Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, attributed the city’s nightlife success to improved governance.
“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 noted.
Omotoso also announced future plans by the state government to further boost tourism.
“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 added.
He revealed plans to institutionalise the tourism calendar and confirmed that Lagos will become the first African city to host the prestigious EI (water race) Championship later in 2025.
The report highlights how cities globally are redefining nightlife. “Nightlife has taken on diverse forms across cities globally, adapting to the evolving preferences of urban dwellers, a transformation Lagos has embraced with remarkable vibrancy.”
This is not the first time Lagos has been recognised by the publication. In September 2024, the city ranked 6th globally on a similar list, ahead of well-known nightlife destinations such as Rotterdam and Manchester.
Since its establishment in 1968, Time Out Magazine has become a leading authority on entertainment and urban culture, currently operating in over 330 cities across 59 countries.
Top 20 Cities for Nightlife in 2025, as ranked by Time Out Magazine:
- Las Vegas
- Madrid
- Paris
- Shanghai
- Berlin
- Melbourne
- Brighton
- Mexico City
- Dubai
- Mumbai
- Cape Town
- Warsaw
- Bangkok
- Lagos
- Cairo
- Riyadh
- Amsterdam
- Medellín
- Marrakech
- Athens