Last night, drag superstar and TV icon Bimini Bon-Boulash transformed the National Gallery into a pulsating nightclub for PARTY After Dark, part of Art of London’s annual free arts programme, Art After Dark.
The Sainsbury Wing came alive with a high-energy DJ lineup, featuring Bimini, French-Canadian DJ Karaba, and rising talent Mia Lily. Together, they delivered a vibrant mix of electronic, pop, and club sounds, giving visitors a rare chance to experience one of London’s most iconic cultural institutions in a completely new light.
Under the grandeur of the Sainsbury Wing ceilings, crowds danced late into the night as Bimini headlined a multi-genre set pulsing with sweat-soaked beats. Mia Lily opened with a bass-driven set, setting the tone for the night, while Karaba kept the energy soaring with deep, hypnotic Afro house rhythms.
PARTY After Dark is part of the wider Art After Dark festival, running from 3–10 February. The programme brings free public art, late-night gallery openings, live performances, digital installations, and cultural moments to the West End. The festival kicked off earlier this week with artist Lakwena Maciver’s 7-metre installation Rise & Shine in Piccadilly Circus—a tower of 30 glowing disco lightboxes celebrating London’s music, community, and nightlife culture.
Bimini, who heads to Manchester for her headline show tonight, described the experience as “surreal”:
“Performing in the National Gallery after hours was surreal—seeing people dancing under those massive ceilings felt wild and so naughty. It’s not a space you expect to hear bass rumbling through, and that’s what made it so fun. Tonight showed how easily art and club culture can blend when you let them, and how much energy that brings out in people.”
Kirsty Tullett-Jones, Art of London’s Director of Marketing and Communications, added:
“PARTY After Dark is a brilliant moment for us—opening up one of London’s greatest institutions for a DJ set after hours and showing just how alive the West End is at night. We’re thrilled to see Londoners embrace everything Art After Dark brings to the city.”
This fusion of art and nightlife marks a bold reimagining of cultural spaces, proving that London’s galleries can double as dance floors and host moments that are as visually stunning as they are sonically exhilarating.
For more information on upcoming Art After Dark events, visit the Art of London website.
