The 24-hour economy is not simply about nightlife or economic expansion. It is about unlocking time as a shared public resource, redistributing access to space and opportunity, and building more adaptive cities. As cities look to the future, embracing the 24-hour model can be a powerful lever for inclusive recovery and long-term transformation.

The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate why the 24-hour economy matters, highlight key opportunities and challenges, and outline a shared agenda for businesses, governments and community leaders to unlock its full economic and social potential. Building on previous efforts,1 it also serves as a launchpad for a global platform to surface best practices, pilot innovative models, and support cities and businesses in building more vibrant, inclusive economies round the clock.