Now that the FIFA World Cup has come to an end, we continue with summer entertainment picks
Granville: The World Cup may be gone but the Granville Street Pedestrian Zone continues until Labour Day – Granville Street (between Davie & W Georgia St) is a car-free zone with entertainment, activations, music, workshops and expanded street-side patios to keep the summer fun going.
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. Until July 26, the festival spans neighbourhood, parks, studios, and breweries across the Eastside Arts District, including an all-day outdoor music event at MacLean Park.
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
Gander: 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: Extended until August 30, the 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
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.
Folk: The 39th annual Mission Folk Music Festival once again brings a superb lineup of local, Canadian and international music artists and groups to beautiful Fraser River Heritage Park from July 24 to 26.
Stars: Thursday July 23, Under One Sky: An Evening of Astronomy and Culture at MOA – the Museum of Anthropology at UBC looks to the stars on an evening of sky stories, astronomy, and cultural perspectives on the cosmos. Step inside a portable planetarium, discover how different cultures understand and connect with the night sky, create your own constellation artwork, view the Sun through a solar-safe telescope and much more.
Bingo: Kick off Vancouver Pride Week at Playland Saturday July 25 with an unforgettable afternoon from 1pm to 4pm with Playland Pride: Drag Bingo – an all-ages celebration featuring interactive bingo, live entertainment, prizes, and plenty of Pride-filled moments hosted by Vancouver drag favourites Miss Gloria Hole and Mina Mercury.
Comedy: American stand-up comedian and actor, Nate Bargatze brings his Big Dumb Eyes show to Rogers Arena for laughter on July 23
Ring: Fast, energetic, and built to be enjoyed live, BOOM! Wrestling: The Biggest One hits the ring at The Commodore Ballroom on Saturday July 25
Reel: View an iconic selection of films from the Criterion “OUT” collection as Vogue Theatre presents Silver & Gold: Reel Icons – A Pride Criterion Film Residency from July 20 to August 2
Roar: The CFL returns to BC Place with a Vegas Style Pool Party in the Plaza before BC Lions host Toronto Argonauts on Saturday July 25
Banda: Del Sol Music and Empresa MB present the Mexican Music Festival 2026 featuring Banda El Recodo and Banda Los Recoditos on their first-ever Canadian tour at PNE Coliseum Sunday July 26
Pacific: Richmond Art Gallery reaches across the Pacific for a cultural exchange with Japan for its summer exhibition – Ongoing / Pacific Crossings on show from July 25–October 4, 2026, the exhibition covers multiple disciplines; drawing, painting, sculpture, installation, performance, and video the exhibition will include works by Japanese artists
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 until October 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