Punchbowl Festival in Vancouver

A big drinks-tasting festival held at the PNE, Punchbowl is a day of beverages, food and music with a huge variety of different vendors to sample.

Punchbowl Festival of Cocktails and Tacos

The Punchbowl Festival was first held in 2019 and featured music and dozens of vendors selling drinks and food. Organizers cancelled the event in 2020 and 2021 due to COVID-19. It has roared back to life in the years since.

In 2026, Punchbowl is part of Playland Nights. The event is now called Playland Nights: Punchbowl Edition. It takes place on Saturday, June 20th.

Drinks, live music and tacos define Punchbowl. The event’s tagline is “festival of cocktails & tacos,” but there are also beers, wine, ciders and spirits to sample. This year the event also includes access to Playland rides.

Where is Punchbowl?

In 2026, Punchbowl takes place at Playland at the PNE. The venue’s address is 2901 East Hastings Street in Vancouver. The event happens on Saturday, June 20th, 2026 and runs from 6:00 pm until 11:00 pm.

In past years, Punchbowl happened at the PNE Forum and had two tasting sessions. This year the format is different. There is just one evening event at Playland.

General admission tickets start at $55, and Fast Pass tickets start at $100, plus taxes and fees. Prices increase as the event gets closer and as tickets sell. Tickets for the event go on sale around May 21st, 2026.

The ticket includes the rides, but food and drinks are not included in the price.

What to Expect

Punchbowl is an adult event for those aged 19+. You can expect a large selection of drinks to sample. Over 250 drinks are available to try, with most priced between $2 and $4 each. Drinks include spirits, beer, cider, wine and canned cocktails.

Food at the event focuses heavily on tacos. Food vendors this year include Dos Amigos, DL Chicken, Loula’s, Lucha Libre, Lucifer’s, Taco Saurus, Taqueria Jalisco, Poppy’s, Di Chai, Taco Tigre, Lee’s and Golden Smell Mee.

Punchbowl uses a cashless system for the most part to pay for food and drinks. Cash is accepted at some parts of the festival, but most places only accept credit cards. So, be ready to pay for everything online when you go to the festival.

Live music is also a big part of the event. This year, HUSH Music Party brings 2000s summer throwbacks to the festival.

The big change in 2026 is the Playland setting. Guests can sample drinks and food while also enjoying rides. The ticket includes access to all rides, which makes the event more than just a tasting festival.