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The Late Shows is an award-winning late-night free culture crawl.
During The Late Shows, open art studios, music and performance venues, galleries, museums, studio collectives and landmark historical buildings come together to host intriguing interactive events for visitors. It’s all about encouraging people to do something cultural with their evening.
The Late Shows take place between 6-10.30pm, with last entry at 10pm. Friday night is for Ouseburn Valley venues. Saturday night's event takes place at venues across central Newcastle and Gateshead with Gateshead venues open from 6-10pm, last entry at 9.30pm.
The Late Shows began in 2007 and has grown considerably in size. In the first year, 14 venues took part, rising to 63 venues in 2024. It attracts 20-30,000 visits from people of all ages and backgrounds. The main objective of The Late Shows is to encourage people to visit a cultural venue that they may not have been to before, share the audience across venues, whilst delivering an event that appeals to younger visitors.
Many venues are within walking distance from each other but we also offer some free buses to help you go further afield.
Like to get involved? We are now open for entries!
If you would like to take part in The Late Shows 2025, then please download the guidance notes and submit your entry form by Sunday 26 January 2025.
We’ll also be looking for volunteers to Steward the event. Details of what is involved and how to apply will be shared on the website and social media in January 2025.
If you have any questions, please email info@thelateshows.org.uk.
Creative Central NCL is a project funded by the North East Combined Authority and Newcastle City Council. It is one of three Cultural and Creative Zones in the region funded by the North East Combined Authority.
Creative Central NCL is located within the city centre's conservation area, with Clayton Street acting as a central spine and spreading outwards as far as The Common Room to the east, the Discovery Museum to the west, Grainger Market to the north, and the Centre for Life to the south.
With £1.7m of funding from 2022 – 2027 the project aims to make the city centre a place where creative people and careers thrive. The programmes and opportunities provided by the Creative Central NCL will be tailored:
The Late Shows is co-ordinated by North East Museums in association with Gateshead Council, Newcastle City Council and Arts Council England.
The Late Shows is back on Friday 16 May in the Ouseburn Valley, then on Saturday 17 May it will take over venues across Gateshead and central Newcastle.
We will be handing out neon metal button badges for participants to pick up as a souvenir of the event. Each zone will have a different coloured neon badge, can you collect them all? Or, if you still have your badge from a previous year why not wear it again to start off your 2025 collection?
During The Late Shows, volunteer stewards will give out free event programmes and you can also use this website on your phone to see what's on near to where you are.
All venues taking part in The Late Shows are free to enter during the weekend event and the vast majority of events are drop in. Some attractions have limited capacities and many need to be booked in advance. Some venues may charge an admission fee for special exhibitions or participatory activities with an artistic element. Venues do not receive any funding to cover the costs of taking part in the event, they may be selling their products as well as food and drink and your support either by making a purchase or a donation is hugely appreciated.
Many venues are within walking distance from each other but we also offer some free buses to help you go further afield.
For all enquiries please email info@thelateshows.org.uk.
Co-ordinated by:
Sponsored by:
In association with:
Maintained by Harry Bailey