Everything You Need To Know About… The Late Shows
Our guide to getting the most out of Newcastle's annual culture crawl
The Late Shows is something of a jewel in Newcastle's cultural crown, a free "culture crawl" that sees over 60 venues across the city and into Gateshead open their doors to the public during the evening to host fun events.
With the 2025 edition nearly upon us, we wanted to give you all the information you need to make the most of this unique event so you don't need to miss a thing.
What are The Late Shows?
The Late Shows has been described as a ‘late-night culture crawl’, which sums it up nicely. For two nights a myriad of art studios, galleries, museums, cultural spaces and other venues open their doors in the evening and stage a host of special events to celebrate the vibrant and unique cultural scene in Newcastle and Gateshead. This year marks the 17th edition of The Late Shows and the line-up is as exciting as even with more than 60 venues involved across the city.
When are The Late Shows taking place?
The Late Shows take place across two evenings: on Friday 16th May, activity is focused on the Ouseburn area, while on Saturday 17th May, things spread out to include venues across Newcastle and Gateshead. Timings for each event will vary, so check out the listings on The Late Shows website or with individual participating venues. Please note that none of the venues will be open both nights, so it’s best to do a little research before planning your Late Shows adventures.
Who is taking part?
On Friday evening, things are focused on the area around the thriving creative hub of Ouseburn to the east of the city. Galleries like The Biscuit Factory, Shieldfield Arts Works and Northern Print and cultural spaces like Star and Shadow Cinema and Seven Stories will all be taking part alongside many others.
On Saturday, venues in the city centre and Gateshead take over so you can visit big attractions and landmarks like The Glasshouse International Centre for Music, Newcastle Arts Centre, Bessie Surtees House, Newcastle Castle and Tyneside Irish Centre.
What can I expect?
It’s easy to say ‘expect the unexpected’ but with all these creative hubs pulling out all the stops for The Late Shows, it really is true.
You could dance the night away with a reading retreat at Newcastle City Library, help create a large-scale collaborative artwork at Great North Museum: Hancock or take a torchlit tour of the churchyard at Newcastle Cathedral.
So, from tours and exhibitions to performances and hands-on fun, there really is something for everyone!
How do I get involved?
This couldn’t be easier: you just show up. Everything is free and un-ticketed, but with so many exciting events happening – especially on the Saturday where things are more spread out – the best thing would be to sit down with The Late Show website line-up and plan a route for the evening. It should be noted that some activities do need to be booked in advance due to limited venue capacity.
The Late Shows team will also be handing out neon button badges as souvenirs for participants, with each Late Shows zone having a different coloured version. Why not make a weekend of it and collect them all?
Is it family-friendly?
Obviously, some events are more family-friendly than others but there’s plenty aimed at kids and families. There’s Lego building at The Common Room, the chance to get hands-on with drawing at Hancock Gallery and which family wouldn't love feeding the animals at Ouseburn Farm after dark?
How do I get around between venues?
A lot of venues taking part in The Late Shows are within easy walking distance of each venue, but organisers North East Museums also offers free buses transporting people between venues. For bus routes and timetables, visit The Late Shows website.
The Late Shows really is one of the highlights of Newcastle's cultural calendar, allowing people to explore venues and activities they might not usually consider. Whether you want to have a dance, get crafty or do something silly and fun like hop on a bouncy castle, this is the time of the year to do it - so check out the listings and get involved!
The Late Shows take place on Friday 16th May 2025 and Saturday 17th May 2025. For more information visit www.thelateshows.org.uk.
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