Leading night-life experts from across the globe will gather in Sydney for two days this October to discuss the future of night-time economies as the Office of the 24-Hour Economy Commissioner hosts the 2024 NEON Forum.

The two-day event, taking place from 30-31 October, will bring together experts from Europe, Asia, the United States and United Kingdom, alongside leaders from the NSW Government, industry and the state’s broader night-time economy sector.

NEON Forum will serve as a platform to exchange ideas and best practice when it comes unlocking the potential for the night-time economy.

Last year’s NEON Forum helped catalyse NSW’s landmark Vibrancy Reform package (December 2023) which among other things introduced a new regime for managing noise complaints.

NEON Forum 2024 will spotlight the work being done to implement the Reform agenda as well as the broader work for the Office of the 24-Hour Economy Commissioner with its expanded remit across NSW.

Highlights include the raft of initiatives that are already helping enliven diverse going out precincts across NSW (including Special Entertainment Precincts, the Uptown District Acceleration Program and the internationally recognised Purple Flag program).

In addition to the existing policy stream, NEON Forum 2024 will include a dedicated nightlife and entertainment stream in partnership with the Night Time Industries Association. This stream will enable sharing of industry best practice and innovation as well as examining changing audience behaviours.

This year’s forum will feature an impressive lineup of international speakers, including:

  • Michael Kill, CEO, Night Time Industries Association, London
  • Alicia Scholer, Vice President, Responsible Hospitality Institute, San Francisco, California
  • Simone d’Antonio, Lead Expert, URBACT Cities After Dark Network, Rome, Italy
  • Natalie Mets, Nighttime Advisor, Tallinn, Estonia
  • Andreina Seijas, Founder Night Tank, Associate Gehl, Paris
  • Sean Lee, CEO d’strict, Republic of Korea

Co-located with NEON Forum 2024 is Unlock, a dedicated forum for media and marketing professionals operating in the 24-hour economy, hosted by Unmade on Thursday, 31 October.

NEON Forum 2024 will be held at the Sydney Masonic Centre, on Wednesday, 30 October and Thursday, 31 October.

Expressions of interest to attend NEON Forum 2024 are now open, and available at NEON Forum 2024 (nsw.gov.au).

24-Hour Economy Commissioner Michael Rodrigues said: "We are thrilled to once again host our global peers at NEON Forum 2024.

“Cities across the planet are grappling with changing audience preferences and the rise of the at home entertainment economy. NEON Forum is a great way to exchange best practices and innovative strategies to enhance the going out experience; to get people off the couch and back into communities.

“We are excited to gain valuable learnings from our international colleagues as well as to showcase the cutting-edge work being done here at home. A lot’s been done in the last 18 months; from how we are leveraging technology to establish a unified data platform for night-time economy data, to sharing the transformative impact of our precinct building investments and our success in streamlining regulatory processes to sustainably grow night-time activities.”

Night Time Industries Association (NTIA, Australia) CEO Michael Gibb said: “NEON Forum 2024 is an opportunity for operators of different size and scale to come together to gain new perspectives, foster new partnerships and build relationships that help shape the night-time economy.

"By coming together at this international forum, we have the chance to create a more resilient and dynamic night-time economy."

Unmade publisher Tim Burrowes said: “We are delighted to work with the Office of the 24-Hour Economy Commissioner to bring together, for the first time, this community of media and marketing professionals who want to not only adapt to but lead the charge in shaping the 24-hour economy.

“Unlock will be a place where those focused on the sector can develop a better understanding of consumer behaviour in this evolving sector and to network, gain insights and strategies into the opportunities for brands, and learn from innovative case studies and marketing best practice."