The City of Vancouver packs a lot of Christmas into a small space. Downtown has the big market and the tree, Gastown has carriages and cobblestones, Stanley Park has light walks and a toy run, and the neighbourhoods each throw their own small celebration. Most of it is walkable or a short bus ride apart.
Here’s what’s on in each part of Vancouver for Christmas 2026. For the suburbs, see our other area guides at the bottom of this page.
Downtown and Coal Harbour
- Vancouver Christmas Market at Jack Poole Plaza, November 16 to December 24.
- Vancouver Christmas Tree Lighting at the Art Gallery, Friday, November 27, from 6:00 PM.
- Lumière light art, November 12 to 14, free.
- Robson Square ice rink, free skating from December.
- Circle Craft at the Convention Centre, November 11 to 15.
- Gingerbread Lane at the Hyatt Regency, December 3 to 28.
- Jingle + Mingle at Bentall Centre, December 3.
- Soar With Santa at FlyOver, November 20 to January 2.
- Lights of Hope on Burrard Street, final celebration night November 12.
- Not this year: Christmas at Canada Place.
Gastown
The Magic of Gastown turns the neighbourhood into a month-long Christmas program, with lights, decorated trees and carriage rides. It ran December 1 to 31 last year; the 2026 lineup is still to come. Latincouver’s Feliz Natal market has been held in Gastown too, though it hasn’t confirmed 2026.
Yaletown and False Creek
- Portobello West at the Roundhouse, November 28 and 29.
- The Winter Solstice Lantern Festival at the Roundhouse and Granville Island, December 21.
Granville Island
The island lights up for the holidays and stays free to wander. 2026 lighting dates haven’t been announced yet. See Granville Island at Christmas. The Arts Club’s holiday cabaret plays here too: see holiday theatre.
Stanley Park and the West End
- Astra Lumina night walk, tickets through December 31.
- Big Elf Run at Lumberman’s Arch, December 12.
- Holiday Splash at the Aquarium, if it returns.
- The Polar Bear Swim at English Bay on New Year’s Day.
- The old Bright Nights Train isn’t running.
Commercial Drive and East Vancouver
- Christmas Wonderland on The Drive in Grandview Park, November 29.
- Got Craft at the Croatian Cultural Centre, two weekends in late November.
- The East Van Panto at the York Theatre, November 18 to January 10. See holiday theatre.
- The Singing Christmas Tree at Broadway Church, December 4 to 13.
Mount Pleasant and Cambie
- Toque Craft Fair at Western Front, December 4 to 6.
- Cambie Village tree lighting (2026 date to come).
- Ukrainian Christmas Fair on Ash Street, November 28.
Shaughnessy, Kerrisdale and the West Side
- VanDusen Festival of Lights, November 27 to January 3.
- Hycroft for the Holidays in a Shaughnessy mansion, November 26 to 29.
- Dunbar Holiday Craft Fair, November 21.
- Christmas with Chor Leoni at St. Andrew’s-Wesley and other Christmas concerts.
Kitsilano and Vanier Park
The H.R. MacMillan Space Centre’s Starlight with Santa ran in December 2025; 2026 hasn’t been confirmed.
Getting Around
Most downtown events are within walking distance of Waterfront, Burrard and Vancouver City Centre stations. VanDusen is on the #17 bus. Take the SeaBus from Waterfront to reach the Shipyards Christmas Market in North Vancouver in 12 minutes.
Christmas in Other Areas
- North Shore
- Burnaby and New Westminster
- Richmond and Delta
- Surrey and White Rock
- Tri-Cities
- Langley and the Fraser Valley
- Squamish and Whistler
Part of: Vancouver Christmas Guide 2026
