The planning and management of urban areas have traditionally been perceived mainly from a daytime perspective, often overlooking the night-time in cities. However, recent years have witnessed a growing recognition of the urban night as an important consideration in promoting urban sustainability. Despite the emerging field of night-time planning and governance, our understanding of how the night-time is planned and managed across cities remains limited. This study sheds light on the context of Stockholm, through a case study of its central 'City' area. Based on qualitative interviews with key stakeholders and the analysis of strategic documents, it explores prevailing approaches and strategies, as well as challenges and opportunities associated with planning and managing the area’s nocturnal environments - from a social sustainability perspective. Findings indicate that night-time receives relatively limited attention in the local planning and governance. However, an emerging focus on certain night-time aspects is observed, mainly concerning safety, and promoting the entertainment sector of the night-time economy. Key challenges identified are a daytime bias in planning, inadequate tools and data for understanding nocturnal experiences, and the significant role of private property owners in shaping the area’s nocturnal environments. Additionally, the study echoes previous scholars’ calls for adopting a broader perspective on the urban night to ensure inclusivity and quality of life for all urban dwellers. Achieving a balance between economic and social interests at night would require concerted efforts from both public and private stakeholders, alongside the inclusion of multiple voices. Consequently, the study emphasises the need for explicit and permanent nocturnal planning and governance structures to navigate the complexities of urban nocturnal dynamics, particularly considering Stockholm's population growth and changes to broader societal dynamics such as globalisation.