State of the Night Report

This annual report outlines the scale, composition and key trends shaping NSW’s night-time economy.

Vivid Sydney 2025 audience

The inaugural State of the Night report examines the performance of the NSW night-time economy (NTE) outlining how broader economic trends shape growth, diversification and participation. The first of an annual commitment in the updated 24-Hour Economy Strategy, the report enables the 24-Hour Economy Commissioner to provide independent advice to the Minister for Music and the Night-Time Economy under the new statutory framework.

Key takeaways from the report

NSW’s night-time economy is substantial in scale

In FY25:

  • $110B value generated by the NTE sector
  • 1.3M workers employed between 6pm to 6am (nearly 3 out of 10 workers in NSW)
  • 168,000 businesses in the NTE sector

Since FY23:

  • +120M (+0.1%) in value added by the NTE  
  • +11,000 (+0.9%) jobs 
  • +2,400 (+1.5%) businesses 
NTE spend is significant

In FY25:

  • $15.5B in-person
  • $22.9B online

Since FY23:

  • -1.0B (-6.0%) in-person  
  • +3.5B (+17.8%) online  
People flow powers the night

In FY25:

  • 149.2M Opal tap-offs  
  • 1.9B trips at night

Since FY23:  

  • +28.5M (+23.6%) Opal tap-offs
  • -6.2M (-0.3%) trips at night 
The NTE is growing beyond Sydney’s CBD

Since FY23:

In-person spend:

  • +2.7% in combined spending on accommodation, food services and arts and recreation in Illawarra-Shoalhaven  
  • +2.1% in combined spending on accommodation, food services and arts and recreation in Lower Hunter and Newcastle

Business growth:

  • +6.4% in food, drink and entertainment businesses in Central Sydney
  • +4.2% in food, drink and entertainment businesses in Western Sydney 
NTE in-person spend in NSW is diversifying

Since FY23:

  • +37.2% in  spending on cinemas and screen
  • +18.2% in spending on museums and other heritage activities
  • +5.9% in spending on sports and recreation

“With the State of the Night alongside our quarterly reporting, we can now tell the story of the night with clarity – tracking progress, celebrating recovery, and identifying new opportunities to strengthen participation and vibrancy at night.”

 

Michael Rodrigues, NSW 24-Hour Economy Commissioner.

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Contact us

For general enquiries: team24@24houreconomy.nsw.gov.au.

Download

Download State of the Night 2025 PDF 6.55MB File last updated on: 04 February 2026.

If you have any accessibility feedback or concerns related to this resource, please contact us.

Type: Report
Author: Department of Creative Industries, Tourism, Hospitality and Sport Office of the 24-Hour Economy Commissioner
Publication Date: 04 February 2026

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