March the 26th, 2026 – Amy Lamé, one of Europe’s leading experts on nightlife and urban development, will be attending the Tourisk 2026 international conference, which will be held from the 13th to the 15th of April in Petrčane near Zadar.
As London’s first “Night Czar”, she was appointed to the position back in 2016 by Mayor Sadiq Khan, with the aim of developing and protecting London as a global 24-hour destination. During her eight-year term, she has been a key figure in connecting the public and private sectors, local authorities, security services and the entertainment industry, working to improve the safety, sustainability and resilience of nightlife.
“The most important lesson I’ve learned as Night Czar is just how crucial partnerships actually are. Planning in a city at night involves many different people, spaces and priorities. Partnerships ensure that all voices are heard, but also that responsibility and success are shared. We’re always stronger together,” Lamé stated.
Her work has focused heavily on inclusivity and diversity, as fundamental prerequisites for the development of vibrant and sustainable urban environments.
“If we want a city to truly live, both at night and during the day, then we need to actively involve diverse nightlife communities in decisions that affect them,” she added. The pandemic hit the nightlife economy hard, and London was one of the cities that had to systematically work hard to recover the sector.
“The nightlife economy was the first to close down and the last to reopen, with devastating consequences. We introduced financial support, established a Reopening Taskforce and provided support to many businesses, artists and employees. The sector is actually still continuing to recover, but new challenges and opportunities still lie ahead.
”One of the biggest challenges facing all European cities today is the balance between urban development and the preservation of authentic nightlife spaces. It’s the biggest existential challenge for any city. We need to continuously monitor developments and work in partnership with property owners, investors and communities to protect the cultural scene.”
Speaking about the future, Lamé highlighted how nightlife is changing, but also opening up new opportunities. “The future of nightlife is young, diverse and independent, and probably less alcohol-focused than before. That’s why it’s crucial to give space to a new generation of creators to shape the nightlife they want.”
The Tourisk conference brings together over 200 participants from the fields of security, tourism, technology and the public sector, with the aim of developing more resilient and safe tourist destinations. Tourisk 2026 is an international conference dedicated to risk management, security and sustainability in tourism. It is scheduled to take place from the 13th to the 15th of April 2026 in Petrčane near Zadar and will bring together experts from tourism, security, the public sector and the workd of tech from across Europe.
