It's official: Singapore is the world's safest nightlife city – and ranks 19th overall

The verdict’s out: Singapore does know how to party. And it’s official – our city ranks No. 19 among the world’s best nightlife cities in 2026.

And Singapore has one particularly compelling thing going for it: safety. A whopping 93 per cent of locals described the city as safe, the highest score for that category across the entire ranking. 

The ranking, compiled by Time Out with Intrepid Travel, surveyed more than 24,000 locals globally on everything from the quality and affordability of nightlife, to safety, diversity, excitement and ease of finding a sense of community. And of course, a panel of Time Out editors and nightlife experts weighed in too, whittling it down to the final 20 – with only the top-scoring city from each country making the final cut.

For Singapore, the appeal lies less in flashy mega-clubs and more in a nightlife scene that has become increasingly DIY, niche and community-led. Collectives including Thugshop, Darker Than Wax, Ice Cream Sundays, GrooveTop and CultureSG are carving out their own corners of the city, while parties aimed at the over-30 crowd, hip-hop dinner clubs and daytime-to-night raves are giving Singaporeans new excuses to stay out past bedtime.

And the old guard is hardly sitting around shaking its leg either. Zouk reopened in June following a multi-million-dollar overhaul, bringing a revamped space, new lighting and sound technology, while Capital and Phuture continue to cater to more specialised tastes. Meanwhile, Singapore’s bar scene is increasingly experimental, with newer spots such as Milli, Bae’s Cocktail Club and Kossa playing with the traditional night-out formula. For those who prefer a cosy listening sesh, the city’s growing crop of vinyl listening bars offers just that.

So, who’s at the top of the leaderboard? Bangkok takes the crown, followed by Berlin and New York City. The Thai capital’s anything-goes mix of street-side drinking, mega-clubs, rooftop bars and late-night eats sent it straight to the top spot, while Berlin continues to flex its legendary club culture alongside a new wave of underground collectives and pop-up parties. New York, meanwhile, keeps its nightlife gloriously all over the place – from raves and dance parties to wine clubs and community-led nights – earning it the third spot.

Here are the top 20 world’s best nightlife cities, according to Time Out:

1. Bangkok
2. Berlin
3. New York City
4. Melbourne
5. São Paulo
6. Medellín
7. Johannesburg
8. Brighton
9. Beijing
10. Amsterdam
11. Porto
12. Hong Kong
13. Athens
14. Madrid
15. Hanoi
16. Seoul
17. Bengaluru
18. Accra
19. Singapore
20. Mexico City

Check out the full ranking here.

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