The 49th Annual Vancouver International Children’s Festival returns from May 25 – May 31, bringing Granville Island an exciting week of world-class theatre, music, dance, circus, puppetry and storytelling.
The 2026 lineup features 14 professional performing artists from as far-reaching as Italy, Denmark and South Korea. With 80 scheduled performances, The Festival offers families looking to ignite joy and create lasting memories the chance to experience the magic of live, screen-free entertainment together.
This year, The Festival proudly features a special focus on South Korean arts and culture, including a dedicated Korean Cultural Activity Tent and a rotation of traditional Korean musicians and dancers performing on our outdoor stage. Audiences can also experience the world-class imagination of Doodle POP co-presented by Brush Theatre (S. Korea) with Vancouver’s Carousel Theatre for Young People – a mischievous duo’s drawings come to life, taking the audience on a magical journey beneath the waves. The immersive puppetry of Me & The Forest a world premiere from Boca del Lupo and ArtstageSAN (S. Korea). The BC/South Korean production takes audiences into a world where you can hear the thoughts of an ancient tree and connect with nature like never before. Using massive puppets and immersive audio, this interactive experience lets you converse with the wonders of the natural world.
“For 49 years, we have offered Metro Vancouver families a rare opportunity to experience international, professional theatre, music, and circus created specifically for young audiences,” says Katharine Carol, the Festival’s Artistic and Executive Director. “At a time when so much of childhood is spent on screens, this is a space to connect through live performance, creativity, and play. Through the stories we share and the artists we invite, we strive to ensure every child can see themselves reflected in the magic of the Festival.”
The 2026 Festival boasts a high-energy mix of local favorites and international stars:
- INTERNATIONAL – NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE:
Archipelago (Teatro Telaio,Italy) – co-presented with Boca del Lupo’s Micro Performance Series – the BC/South Korea co-production is an immersive experience where children step into a darkened space to find a glowing cluster of tiny islands, each offering a playful question or hands-on interaction - INTERNATIONAL:
BENCHED: (Uppercut Dance Theater, Denmark) A high-energy dance show that transforms the everyday bench into a stage for humor and breathtaking physicality. Five fearless dancers explore space, connection, and falling off the edge. - CIRCUS:
The Merry Marching Band: (Productions Strada, Québec) A zany brass band is ready to whisk you away on a hilarious musical adventure! Under the guidance of a bossy yet bird-brained bandleader, this merry crew sets off to explore the world (and beyond!).
- INDIGENOUS STORYTELLING:
Nimihitowin!: (Wild Mint Arts, Alberta) Performed by an all-Indigenous crew in collaboration with Stoney and Blackfoot Elders – Powwow and hoop dance are beautiful expressions of Indigenous Peoples’ rich history and culture. Nimihitowin! will mesmerize audiences with dramatic dancing, spectacular regalia and the subtle beauty of flute songs. - ENGLISH CANADA PREMIERE:
Comedy Patrol: (Poliquin-Simms2, Québec)| English Canada Premiere
The lights are on, the stage is set, and the little officers are on patrol…well, sort of. When singer Rizotto refuses to appear for the concert, chaos erupts! Acrobatics, musical mishaps, and comic misfires turn order into hilarious mayhem
Located in the heart of Granville Island, every show ticket includes access to the Festival’s popular Activity Village, offering over a dozen hands-on arts experiences for all ages, ranging from circus skills and face painting to interactive scavenger hunts, ensuring a full day of creative engagement.
The 49th Annual Vancouver International Children’s Festival runs May 25 – May 31, 2026 throughout Granville Island. For more information and tickets are available online at ChildrensFestival.ca or in-person from the Festival box office (located between Festival House and the Waterfront Theatre on Granville Island).