Another week of choices. That's what it's all about really - Choices. You got club openings, club birthdays, digital hardcore screamo live in a club with a maze under the dancefloor, big name techno bookings, and more to choose from, all around the city on these here summer nights.
This is our shortlist of what's on. As always, hit up smartshanghai.com/events/nightlife for much more.
Community focused underground club Heim, a place that just feels real pure, you know, turns five years young this weekend. They’re celebrating with two days of parties and like 28 DJs at their Sauna space on Changle Lu, which is right where they started before moving around a bit and then comin’ back home, to what is now called Green Station. The lineup is big and good and spans house, techno, bass, trance, and more. Birthday season continues! Party will go from 10pm until around 4 or 5am on Friday and Saturday. Ticket is 128rmb each night. Hats off to Heim.
The new lounge/shisha/party spot, Candyshop, opens on the corner of Huaihai and Fenyang Lu this Friday night. They play hip hop, afro, latin, and house and it's from some of the people behind the much-loved and dearly departed hip hop club Ninja, along with other partners. For the first night of the opening weekend, they've got a strong Shanghai-based DJ lineup with MMQ, Warlock, and D.Fancii holding it down from 10pm-4am. Takin' it back to the Howard Johnson for the twenty twenty six.
Hyperasia is C-Park club Illum’s ongoing and very lit dive into Asian internet culture, grassroots dance music, and forgotten club history, celebrating everything from QQ Space and Eurobeat to Vinahouse and regional rave scenes. This edition features DJ Kosevic, known for his deep dives into ‘90s Guangdong sounds, alongside Ouuuuuu (DJ EQ), whose sets and productions blend Asian doujin music, classic rave, UK bass, and internet gems. They’re joined by eight more DJs and a VJ for what should be a wild night.
Promoter System continues its run of parties at the industrial/dystopian looking e-sports arena in Shanghai Hotel. This Saturday, they've got a strong lineup of Shanghai-based DJs playing the spectrum from techno and hardcore to bass, house, darkwave, and more. And the lineup across three rooms is: Control Room: 4D, XIWI; Main Hall: Cocoonics, Sunk; Laboratory: Velvet Robot, Josie. Address: 505 Wulumuqi Bei Lu, near Yan'an Lu. Remember, this one ends at 2am.
Real OG DJs throwin down house, disco, funk, and soul in the third-floor dance zone in this recently renovated spot in Jing'an, plus resident DJ, Javis. Should be a good time. Guests entering the third floor need to buy a drink.
Dutch techno legend Orlando Voorn is one of the key figures who bridged Amsterdam with Detroit’s early techno scenes. Active since the early ’90s, he’s worked alongside pioneers like Juan Atkins, Derrick May, Kevin Saunderson and Mike Banks while building one of dance music’s most prolific catalogues. With more than 30 aliases spanning techno, house, electro, hip-hop, jazz and broken beat, Voorn has spent three decades constantly reinventing himself. Expect a rare chance to catch a real OG techno don behind the decks. Support from Nat Alexander, Ma Haiping, and Naxin.
Neighborhood pizza bar ZUP hosts another edition of their Sunday party with six DJs playing tunes. Pizza is available by the slice and it's always a good vibe in the restaurant and on the sidewalk out front on Shaanxi Bei Lu in Jing'an. No cover. Music ends at 9pm sharp but venue stays open until around 10pm or 11pm.
This rooftop party takes place at Highline from dusk into the night. Featuring France’s ZEMENTAL collective, the event brings together rooftop views, tropical atmosphere, and electronic music focused on hypnotic rhythms and forward-thinking beats.
Casual, colorful, and quirky Spanish tapas bar Tomatito celebrates 12 years in the game this weekend. From the Taixing Lu days back in 2014 to their Xintiandi roof in 2026, their parties are good times. For this one, they’ve got a menu of 12 tapas that are 12rmb each all day long, plus Live Guitar playing guitar in the daytime and Toni Ventura DJing at night. Free entry. Hats off to a real OG.
