Purple Flag Forum: Young People's Role in Co-Creating the Night Time Economy

The traditional image of the night-time economy is shifting. Post-Covid, consumer demand and behaviour are changing, and nowhere is this more visible than among the younger generation.

Having spent many of their formative teenage years navigating lockdowns, it's little surprise that young people are approaching nightlife spaces differently, with less emphasis on alcohol and more focus on connection. So how do our existing spaces meet that shifting demand?

Understanding young people's experience and making sure their voices are part of the conversation is one of the most powerful steps we can take to strengthen our night-time economies, helping them shape the towns and cities they'll inherit after dark.

That's the focus of our final Purple Flag forum of 2026, where we'll explore what meaningfully engaging young people looks like in practice.

We'll be joined by Mary-Helen Young, NTE consultant and Purple Flag assessor, who'll share insights from her work facilitating…