Lotus After Dark: Night Market 2026 lights up Low Plaza
This year’s Night Market brought out pink lanterns, incredible performances, and a night of campus community.
Columbia 如烟 RUYAN Chinese Dance Team performing "Spirits of the Clouds" at Night Market.
Photo by Serena Binowksi/The Barnard Bulletin
By Zainab Anwar
October 27, 2026
Low Plaza took on a new look on October 18, as the Chinese Student Club’s 2026 Night Market transformed the heart of campus into lantern-lit escape. The event’s theme this year, “Lotus After Dark,” celebrated the meeting point of cultural heritage and contemporary nightlife, bringing students together on a chilly October evening for a beloved club event turned campus tradition.
As evening settled over campus, glowing lanterns brought the romantic spirit of the lotus to life, brightening the plaza. Students drifted between the steps and stage to club displays and food, creating a steady hum of conversation and energy that carried well into the night. Hosted by the Chinese Students Club (CSC), the evening encouraged attendees to explore everything the performance groups, clubs, and artists had prepared, and the turnout of at least 500 students suggested that they were eager to do just that.
Performances by a diverse blend of student groups were at the center of the celebration. The night opened with Columbia University Lion Dance, filling the performance space with bright colored dragons and drums, a nod to the CSC who organized the night. Taal brought South Asian classical dance to the stage, combining traditional forms with a contemporary performance style. Columbia Raas followed with an energetic performance that filled the plaza with cheers. Nonsequitur added a completely different dimension to the evening through a cappella, showcasing the musical talent of Columbia students, while Columbia Wushu captivated the audience with a display of martial arts that emphasized both precision and athleticism. These performances, and many others, demonstrated the variety of ways students at Barnard and Columbia engage with their cultures. The different forms of expression existed alongside each other, creating opportunities for students to learn from and celebrate one another.
Columbia Raas co-captain Isiri Kadambi (BC ’27) sees Night Market as an important tradition for the dance group. “It’s the first time where our ‘noobs’ — or the new people on the team — have a chance to perform in front of their peers,” Kadambi said. “It’s just a great way for me to cheer on my friends in other performing arts groups.” As a senior who has performed at the Night Market every year, she reflected on her last Night Market as a student: “This year has been kind of full circle. The tradition on my team is usually that the seniors do a dance, and the ‘noobs’ do a dance, and then we all do a dance together. I’ll always be appreciative of Night Market and how it brings our Columbia community together.”
Surrounding the stage, the plaza was lined with stalls run by student organizations, each offering its own combination of food, crafts, and activities. Attendees moved from table to table sampling snacks, browsing art, and learning about the respective clubs in attendance. For many students, the market doubled as an easy way to discover the various mini-communities around campus, many of which co-sponsored the event. Their contributions showed in the scale and variety of what was on offer, reinforcing the community-built spirit so characteristic of the market.
The event’s theme, “Lotus After Dark,” was particularly fitting in this setting. Often associated with growth and resilience, the image of the lotus flower blooming at night reflected the way that Night Market brought different communities together in one shared space. The event showed that cultural celebration does not have to be separated into individual groups: Traditions across nations and cultures can be shared, appreciated, and enjoyed collectively.
“Night Market is really fun! I saw the a cappella groups, and they’re all really talented,” said attendee Olivia Hotes (BC ’29). “I think the ambiance is so nice, and it’s fun seeing so many people gather together.”
Despite midterms season weighing heavily on everyone, many students took time out of their evenings to visit the Night Market. The Night Market annually provides a space to share cultures and club opportunities — with performances and club vendors representing a range of cultural communities on campus, this year was no exception.
