Late night events are an increasing feature of city entertainment and tourism. The phenomenon of Nuit Blanche, cultural festivals and museum nights has expanded across capital and other cities with a common aim and brand, but reflecting local and cultural aspirations. On the one hand, they provide an alternative to the problematic effects of late night binge drinking and mono-use of city centres by a younger cohort, and on the other hand, a global network of events that have expanded in scope and scale over the past decade. The article situates the event city within the competitive, 'cosmopolitan city' through a comparative analysis of late night events in capital cities, with examples from London's night-time economy and programmes of extended opening of museums and cultural venues.
