Culture gets an after-hours glow-up this May as The Late Shows returns for two unmissable nights across Newcastle and Gateshead.
Calling all culture vultures! The Late Shows is back.
Facilitated by North East Museums, this award-winning event is now in its 17th year. And I’m a big fan.
From a glow stick yielding volunteer to a glittery-faced event organiser and culture crawler – I’ve been lucky enough to experience it from all angles. I can still remember bopping about in a silent disco one year, surrounded by neon artworks and the shimmer of a disco ball!
Armed with my insider knowledge, I’ve rounded up what you need to know to make the most of this cool cultural gem in our local calendar.
What is The Late Shows?
The Late Shows is a free late-night culture crawl that gives you the chance to discover a variety of artists’ studios, galleries, museums, historical buildings and other creative spaces.
Alongside opening their doors after hours, participating venues also host special one-off exhibitions, tours, performances, parties, food and drink pop ups, DJs and fun activities, making the evening fully immersive.
Think of it as a late night playground for all things creative.
You can experience familiar venues in a whole new way or discover ‘hidden’ places you’ve probably walked past a thousand times.
And, is it just me, or do these kind of spaces exude a curious, magical quality after dark? They definitely give me Night at the Museum vibes!
Even though it’s a late night event, it’s open to all ages and you’ll find a mix of family-friendly and adult-only activities.
When and where is it taking place in 2025?
The Late Shows returns on Friday 16th and Saturday 17th May, 2025.
On the Friday night, you can explore venues across the Ouseburn valley, dubbed Newcastle’s hip cultural quarter, between 6pm – 10.30pm, with last entry at 10pm.
It’s then central Newcastle and Gateshead’s turn on the Saturday evening.
What's on this year?
Over 70 venues will be taking part this year, undoubtedly the most eclectic programme I’ve seen yet. Here are some of the activities that have piqued my interest so far.
Ouseburn
In the Ouseburn, you can feed cute animals at Ouseburn Farm, take part in a silhouette light painting photoshoot at The Biscuit Factory, get stuck into a photobooth challenge at Flea Circus, watch an adults-only performance celebrating Mr Benn at Seven Stories, or make your very own zine at the Star & Shadow Cinema.
And see out the night in style at Cobalt – the place to be once the other venues close their doors. It’ll be releasing tickets for its after party soon. I also recommend Ernest for cocktails, which stays open til 1am.
Newcastle
In the heart of Newcastle, explore the Reimagining Sleep pop-up exhibition at Northumbria University, build an engineering-themed Lego model at The Common Room, make a film poster at Tyneside Cinema, or join a torchlit churchyard tour at Newcastle Cathedral.
Gateshead
Across the river in Gateshead, head to Vane for a performance from Berlin-based artist, Jorn Ebner, featuring bee sound samples in his live sets, make your own personalised shirt cuff bracelet at Green Heart Collective or enjoy a tour on the top deck of Dunston Staiths until dusk.
Check out the full listings on The Late Shows website, where you can filter the programme by location and event type.
Planning your night
There’s no set trail to follow – simply pick and choose which venues you want to visit most.
I suggest looking at The Late Shows website beforehand and identifying which ones you’d definitely like to visit. Some events also require pre-booking.
Use your top picks to guide your route, but don’t shy away from being spontaneous on the night and exploring other spaces that catch your eye.
From my experience, you can expect to cram in around five to six venues across the four-hour period, obviously dependent on how long you spend at each one and whether you stop for food and drinks.
And another thing: carry a tote bag in case you buy any artworks or want to take your crafty creations home!
Getting around
Most of the venues are within short walking distance of each other – so wear comfy shoes! This is also one of my favourite things about the event; seeing the streets abuzz with visitors and mingling in the crowds. It’s such a vibe.
It’s worth noting there’s also a free shuttle bus service on both nights to help you get around more easily.
Grab your neon badge
Don’t forget to collect a neon button badge as you make your way round.
In case you didn’t know, a few years ago these metal badges replaced the glow sticks that used to be synonymous with The Late Shows, to help reduce the event’s environmental impact.
Now, you can collect a different colour badge from each zone across the city, making them the perfect souvenirs!
For more information about The Late Shows and to view a map of all the venues, visit thelateshows.org.uk. And don’t forget to sign up to my mailing list for more cultural highlights all year round.
