Half-way through the summer, and as FIFA World Cup wraps up, there is still plenty to entertain us in these picks of the week
Fan: The FIFA FAN FEST comes to a close this weekend, but not before some last big matches. Today, Argentina vs England with entertainment from Wolf Parade and Fiest. Friday is a Signature Concert Experience featuring Kx5 (deadmau5 + Kaskade), Saturday is the third place match with Jesse Roper and The Dead South performing, the FIFA World Cup final takes place Sunday at noon, followed by Kaytranda and Lou Phelps
Celebrate: Richmond Celebrates Soccer presented by the City of Richmond presents the FIFA World Cup final watch party at Aberdeen Neighbourhood Park
Pedestrian: The newly extended Granville Street Pedestrian Zone continues to shut down Granville Street (between Davie & W Georgia St), now until Labour Day – for a car-free zone of entertainment, activations and 28 establishments with expanded street-side patios to gather your gang and watch a match and take in the action.
3 Lions: For today’s semi-final against Argentina, English football fans can head to England House @ Harold’s Kitchen & Bar at Sheraton Vancouver Airport, with an English inspired menu to perfectly match your lunch and the noon start time.
House: Canada Soccer House at The Shipyards in North Vancouver – Watch live match broadcasts on a giant screen in the Shipyard Commons, along with multiple other screens throughout the area. Different activities are programmed each day, from a variety of entertainment, food and beverage, games and prizes, and other surprises.
Folk: An annual highlight of summer, The 49th Vancouver Folk Music Festival returns to Jericho Beach Park from July 17–19, across four stages, the three-day festival brings together another stellar line-up of world-class artists from Canada and around the world
Bloodlines: Ensemble Theatre Festival returns with Bloodlines, running until July 18 at the Jericho Arts Centre – in its first festival since 2022, Ensemble features two new productions, the hilarious and unhinged dark comedy Peerless by Jiehae Park, and the iconic A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams.
Magic: Ready for some magic?! High-energy choreography, jaw-dropping acrobatics, and cheeky crowd interaction have made Magic Men Australia featuring social media star Will Parfitt performing to record crowds around the world. They bring their Feel The Magic Tour to Canada, to the Vogue Theatre on Saturday, July 18
Arts: Eastside Arts Society’s 6th annual Eastside Arts Festival returns with an expansive line-up of event for its summer celebration of Eastside artists. Taking place July 17–26, the festival spans neighbourhood, parks, studios, and breweries across the Eastside Arts District, including an all-day outdoor music event at MacLean Park.
Stars: Theatre Under the Stars opens this week – features a pair of musical masterpieces at Malkin Bowl for its 2026 season, Sister Act and Disney’s The Little Mermaid, will be alternating on stage until August 22, 2026.
Bard: Bard On The Beach 2026 is underway with the BMO Mainstage featuring the classic tragic Scottish Play; Macbeth, on until September 18 and the musically merry and soccer-centric The Merry Wives of Windsor, kicking until September 19. While the Douglas Campbell Theatre plays host to Kate Besworth’s adaptation of Antigone until September 18, and the Goblins—WUG, KRAGVA, and MOOG return with Goblin:Oedipus on until September 19
Summer: The 16th Annual Indian Summer Festival continues until July 9 at various venues in celebration of South Asian arts, bringing together more than 90 Canadian and international artists presenting a varied program that includes comedy, live music, theatre, literature, and interdisciplinary exchange
Fitness: Part of Indian Summer Festival, Why We Work Out, the newest theatre piece from Anita Majumdar, who invites her audience to examine the exercise videos (think INSANITY and P90X) that have marked the major events of her life – at The Fishbowl on Granville Island from July 15 to 18 – co-presented by Boca del Lupo’s Micro Performance Series.
Park: July 19th at Deer Lake Park – Opera in the Park finds Vancouver Opera Music Director Jacques Lacombe leading the Orchestra in an evening of duets, arias, and timeless music, featuring highlights from the upcoming 2026–2027 season, including Puccini’s Tosca, Rossini’s The Barber of Seville, Verdi’s La Traviata, and more
Dream: There’s just days left to visit the Chinese Canadian Museum’s award-winning feature exhibition; Dream Factory: Cantopop Mandopop 1980s–2000’s before the acclaimed installation, must close on July 19, 2026.
Beach: The 47th Annual Harrison Festival of the Arts fills the village with entertainment for everyone. Until July 19 visitors can enjoy music on the beach, concerts in the village hall, theatre, a Children’s Day, an art exhibit, an artisan Market, workshops and Yoga on the Beach.
Gander: Now extended until August 16, The Arts Club, Stanley BFL CANADA Stage, welcomes the brilliant production of the Tony award-winning homegrown musical, Come From Away – based on the true story of a different time when Canada welcomed the world as 38 grounded flights, 7,000 stranded passengers and the small town of Gander NL that takes them in with open hearts and homes
Cornley: Side splitting and set busting comedy The Play That Goes Wrong finds the Cornley Drama Society presenting its opening night of The Murder at Haversham Manor! the play within the play that leaves audiences rolling in the aisles at the The Arts Club’s Lindsay Family Stage at Granville Island until August 16
Rockies: Experience the Call of the Canadian Rockies at Flyover, from the waters of Maligne Lake to snow-covered mountain peaks guests will be thrilled by Canada’s majestic mountainscapes for a limited time. Call of the Canadian Rockies on now showing with Awaken Canada as part of a Canadian Double- Feature
Mad: Continuing until July 25 at the Gathering Place Community Centre – The Connection Salon Artists Collective presents Mad Pride Festival celebrating art-making by people who identify as living with mental illness, psychiatric disabilities, or “madness,”
Decade: Experience The 90s – Olivier Salvas’ latest exhibition celebrates the spirit of the decade, on display at Bean Hastings Gallery, the contemporary art gallery located within Bean Around the World Café
Trio: Place des Arts’ summer season finds three exhibitions on view, Place des Arts’ Community Exhibition, in the Atrium and Images and Ideas: Student Exhibition, by Students of Don Portelance in the Leonore Peyton Salon online until August 31. Spirit of Spring, Ink and watercolours by Min Joyce Abraham on show until August 12 and online until August 31.
Market: Until September 7, Vancouver’s unique downtown shopping and entertainment destination including World Cup viewing at the Container Bar – Junction Public Market, is back at Granville Square – 200 Granville Street
Night: Until September 20th, the Richmond Night Market 2026 “Little World Wonder” invites the world to the party at the Night Market, packed with entertainment, food, deals, and the world’s only night market Zip Line
Robes: The Museum of Anthropology at UBC’s I Use My Haida Eyes: The History Robes of Jut-ke-Nay–Hazel Wilson, continues on display in the Audain Gallery until October 12.
Sculpture: At The Polygon Gallery, until October 18, 2026, James Harry: Eye Of The Ancestor is a
new sculpture by James Harry marking The Polygon Gallery’s seventh collaboration and co-commission with Burrard Arts Foundation. Eye of the Ancestor is a striking yellow cedar wooden sphere, carved with Coast Salish designs on the surface and holding a mirror-polished steel sphere inside.
Photo: Also at The Polygon Gallery, one of Canada’s most influential photographers, Greg Girard, is featured in the first-ever survey of his work, on view from July 10–Oct. 25.
River: Bill Reid Gallery of Northwest Coast Art prepares to present the world premiere of Every River Has a Mouth: the visual languages that connect us, guest curated by Snuneymuxw artist Eliot White-Hill, Kwulasultun, on display until February 14, 2027
Landscape: Now on display, until March 20, 2027 at The Reach Gallery Museum in Abbotsford –Interglacial, is a stunning new exhibition from Vancouver-based environmental artist and activist Desirée Patterson. The exhibition examines the present moment as a critical point in history, as global climate change puts the future well-being of our planet at risk