Australians Are Going Out More at Night as Sydney Closes in on Melbourne's Night-time Crown
09/23/2026
- Aussies are heading out at night 15% more often than last year, at an average of 80.2 nights annually1
- Melbourne retained the top position in the Visa Australia Night-time Economy Index 2026, while Sydney significantly narrowed the gap, closing more than three-quarters of the distance to finish just two points behind
- Brisbane Inner City climbs eight places to enter the top 10, reflecting the growing strength of Queensland's night-time economy
- Small businesses cement their role as the backbone of a vibrant night-time economy, with 84% of consumers saying local businesses give an area its unique character1
Australians are embracing life after dark in greater numbers, with new research commissioned by Visa showing people are heading out 15% more often than they were a year ago.
Released today, the Visa Australia Night-time Economy Index 2026 (“Index”) provides a comprehensive picture of after-dark activity across Australia, combining Visa spend insights with measures of vibrancy, urban governance, safety and accessibility to rank metropolitan, suburban and regional precincts across the country.
The Index reveals an increasingly vibrant night-time economy, as consumers seek a broader mix of dining, live entertainment, and affordable activities like festivals, night markets, and community events.
Melbourne Inner held onto the nation's top-ranked position, narrowly ahead of Sydney City and Inner South in one of the closest contests at the top of the Index. Parramatta also secured a place in the national top three at the expense of the Eastern Suburbs, highlighting Western Sydney's growing influence in Australia's night-time economy.
| Rank | Index Score | Statistical Area 4 (SA4) | 2025 rank | Movement |
| #1 |
78.03 |
Melbourne Inner (VIC) |
1 | - |
| #2 |
76.65 |
Sydney City and Inner South (NSW) |
2 | - |
| #3 |
71.74 |
Parramatta (NSW) |
4 | +1 |
| #4 |
68.56 |
Inner South West Sydney (NSW) |
5 | +1 |
| #5 |
67.20 |
South West Sydney (NSW) |
13 | +8 |
| #6 | 65.15 |
North Sydney and Hornsby (NSW) |
7 | +1 |
| #7 | 63.69 |
Blacktown (NSW) |
9 | +2 |
| #8 | 62.88 |
Brisbane Inner City (QLD) |
16 | +8 |
| #9 | 62.84 |
Inner West Sydney (NSW) |
6 | -3 |
| #10 | 60.90 |
Canberra (ACT) |
12 | +2 |
The findings point to a shift in consumer behaviour, with Australians heading out an average of 80.2 times a year, up from 69.6 in 2025. The trend is also reflected in Visa's Spending Momentum Index, which found discretionary spending in Australia outperformed all other spending categories over the past 12 months.
Cost remains a factor for many Australians but concerns about affordability and safety are easing. The share of people citing cost as a barrier to going out fell from 66% to 60% year-on-year, while concerns around safety dropped from 45% to 34%. Australians are increasingly looking for experiences that offer both value and variety, with festivals, night markets and community events ranking among the most desired additions to local night-time offerings.
"What happens after dark tells us a lot about what's changing in Australia," said Alan Machet, Group Country Manager, Visa Oceania.
"The night-time economy is where people pursue the things they're passionate about. Whether that's seeing a favourite artist, going to a sporting event, exploring a night market or trying a new restaurant, these are choices driven by personal interests rather than necessity.”
"That's what makes these insights so valuable. How consumers spend their nights reveals what's changing beneath the surface, from the experiences they value to the places they choose to spend their time. For businesses, those shifts can provide an early signal of where customer preferences are heading."
New Challengers Emerge Beyond Australia's Traditional Nightlife Capitals
While Melbourne and Sydney retained the first two rankings in the Index, this year's top 10 reflects a more geographically diverse night-time economy, with both Queensland and the Australian Capital Territory now represented alongside Victoria and New South Wales.
Brisbane Inner City climbed eight places to enter the national top 10, while Adelaide - Central and Hills recorded significant gains in the Index, rising 11 places to #11 nationally. Newcastle and Lake Macquarie also improved, climbing five places to #14.
"The strongest-performing night-time economies don't emerge by accident. They are the result of long-term investment in planning, transport, safety, public spaces and precinct activation that makes it easier and more appealing for people to spend time after dark," said Dr. Anna Edwards, Director at Ingenium Research and leading expert in 24-hour economies.
“What this year’s Index shows is a broader geographic spread of strong night-time economies across Australia. Alongside our major city centres, we’re seeing stronger performance across suburban and regional centres, creating opportunities for residents, visitors, workers and local businesses”
The results suggest that growth in Australia's night-time economy is extending beyond the traditional CBD entertainment hubs. As investment in infrastructure, amenity and precinct activation continues, a broader range of suburban and regional centres are building compelling after-dark offerings for residents and visitors alike.
Local Businesses Give Precincts Their Edge
The research also reinforces the critical role local businesses play in creating vibrant places after dark.
More than five in six Australians (84%) say unique local businesses help give an area its character, while the same proportion value having a mix of independent and locally owned businesses. Nearly eight in ten Australians (78%) say businesses staying open into the evening is important to creating a thriving night-time economy.
The findings suggest successful night-time economies are not defined solely by major entertainment districts, but by the distinctive local businesses, venues and experiences that give precincts their identity and keep communities active after dark.
Access the full index here.
1 Source: Visa Night-time Economy research: Conducted by Lonergan Research, among 1,013 Australians in August 2026 and weighted to Australian Bureau of Statistics population estimates.
The views, opinions, and/or estimates, as the case may be (“views”), expressed herein are those of the Visa Consulting & Analytics team and do not necessarily reflect those of Visa executive management and other Visa employees and affiliates. This is intended for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon for operational, marketing, legal, technical, tax, financial, or other advice and do not in any way reflect actual or forecasted Visa operational or financial performance. Visa neither makes any warranty or representation as to the completeness or accuracy of the views contained herein, nor assumes any liability or responsibility that may result from reliance on such views. These views are often based on current market conditions and are subject to change without notice.
About the Visa Australia Night-time Economy Index 2026
The Visa Australia Night-time Economy Index was developed by Visa, led by Visa Business and Economic Insights, working in partnership with Dr Anna Edwards, leading expert in night-time economies. The Index combines global best practice in measuring consumer activity with locally relevant indicators of urban governance, vibrancy, and safety to provide the first national benchmark of its kind. Novel and informative measures of night-time economic activity is made possible using Visa’s data which show a wide cross section of spend by time of day, merchant location, sector and other depersonalised, anonymised cardholder persona characteristics.
About Lonergan Methodology
The research was commissioned by Visa and was conducted by Lonergan Research in accordance with the ISO 20252 standard. Lonergan Research surveyed 1,013 Australian 18+ years old. Surveys were distributed throughout Australia including both capital city and non-capital city areas. The survey was conducted online amongst members of a permission-based panel, between 7 and 11 August 2026. After interviewing, data was weighted to the latest population estimates sourced from the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
About Visa
Visa (NYSE: V) is a world leader in digital payments, facilitating transactions between consumers, merchants, financial institutions and government entities across more than 200 countries and territories. Our mission is to connect the world through the most innovative, convenient, reliable and secure payments network, enabling individuals, businesses and economies to thrive. We believe that economies that include everyone everywhere, uplift everyone everywhere and see access as foundational to the future of money movement. Learn more at Visa.com.