The number of nightclubs in Germany has almost halved in a decade. The industry warns of new locks. Youngsters now seem to systematically avoid excess, a fact that worries, if not scares, club owners across Germany: in Berlin, Frankfurt, Leipzig, Cologne, Stuttgart, Hamburg and Munich.

In recent decades, Berlin has successfully maintained the myth of the capital of clubs. In 1978 the Dschungel (Jungle) opened its doors in the Schönberg district, where legendary musicians David Bowie and Iggy Pop used to entertain. After the reunification of East and West Germany in 1990, clubs flourished with lots of sex, drugs and electronic music, especially in the former East Berlin. Techno and House music “specialist” Berghain, for example, which started operating in 2004, had a strict door, long queues, dark rooms, famous DJs and naked dancers.

From 2020 onwards, night life in clubs is experiencing an unprecedented decline. Historical clubs, such as the Wilde Renate or the Watergate, are closing one after the other. The “Club Committee” of the German capital warns of more and more lockouts. According to a recent survey, almost 50% of the clubs that participated in the survey are thinking of closing their doors once and for all in 2025.

Better Spotify and Tinder than going out

The Federal Association of German Clubs and Entertainment Centers, which belongs to the Hotel and Catering Association DEHOGA, has a different opinion. Spokeswoman Aurelie Bergen states: “I cannot confirm that the clubs are dying.” He admits, however, that the industry faces many challenges every day, such as “ever-increasing copyright fees, increasing red tape and the impact of low incomes among young people”.

The reasons for the unprecedented clubbing crisis include streaming services as well as social networking, which now satisfy needs that were previously met only by nightclubs. Examples include the popular Spotify music and Tinder dating apps. On top of that, large festivals or celebrations with dancing organized at regular intervals in small and large halls, even in… barns or meadows, attract more and more visitors.

Taking all this into account, it is worth taking a look at the solar group that nightclubs mainly target: the 18 to 25-year-olds. Research on entertainment partially confirms the prejudices against Generation Z, which avoids stress, eats healthily, has less sex and sleeps more. Some of the clichés are scientifically proven: Young people today, for example, drink less alcohol than previous generations.

“Is the Party Over?”

The Saturday night out for fun is no longer a one-way street. It’s just one of many options. The consulting company Havas compiled a report this year on international trends. Title of “Is the Party Over?” (“Is the party over?”) involving thousands of people. According to the report, home entertainment programs, food delivery services and online gatherings during the pandemic lockdown are still affecting nightlife today.

Interestingly, the majority of Gen Z respondents prefer to stay home on the weekend. Most people like to have fun at home or with friends rather than in a club. About 75% of respondents consider it important to maintain self-control and not deviate in a public space, e.g. when they are drunk.

In addition, news of terrorist attacks, sexual assaults and sexual harassment in clubs heightens the security awareness of the younger generation, who openly show their preference for the protected space of a home or the company of friends and acquaintances.

Diligence: Stefanos Georgakopoulos