Robson Square

Robson Square is the public space at the corner of Robson and Howe in the heart of downtown Vancouver. It’s across the street from the Vancouver Art Gallery.

The plaza is close to the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver and right on Robson Street, Vancouver’s most famous street for shopping.

Free skating at Robson Square usually begins in early December and runs until the end of February (weather permitting).

This article contains the following information about Robson Square:

Ice Skating | Other Events | UBC Robson Square | Other Information

Robson Square in Downtown Vancouver

Designed by the renowned Vancouver architect Arthur Erickson, Robson Square is a plaza and public space. It’s bordered by Howe Street, Hornby Street and Robson Street in the core of downtown Vancouver. It’s also connected with the south plaza of the Vancouver Art Gallery which is often also considered part of “Robson Square.”

Completed in 1983, Robson Square itself consists primarily of a covered underground area that’s used as a skating rink in the winter and event venue at other times. At Robson Square there are also lots of steps to sit on, open concrete spaces and a tiny area with a few trees and other vegetation.

Including the Provincial Law Courts and University of British Columbia‘s downtown campus building, Robson Square is 1.2 million square feet in size and covers over three city blocks.

At Robson Street, especially in the summer, expect to see the odd street entertainer, the occasional person protesting something or other, artists selling their wares and people just wandering around. In Robson Square itself, especially in some of the covered areas, there are also often small groups of people practicing their dance moves.

Ice Skating at Robson Square

From the beginning of December until the end of February most years, there is free ice skating at Robson Square.

Hours of operation in the winter of 2023/24 are from 9:00 am to 9:00 pm seven days a week.

See our article about Robson Square Skating for more details.

Vancouver's Robson Square Ice Rink — Robson Square Skating Rink

Other Events at Robson Square

Robson Square is a fabulous place to people watch almost any day of the year. In addition to ice skating in winter, it’s also a host venue for a number of other Vancouver events including Salsa dancing in the summer and cultural events like St. Patrick’s Day parties and Mexican fiestas.

Below are just a few of the many events and activities that take place at Robson Square over the course of the year.

Robson Square Salsa

Often in summer time Robson Square is the venue for free salsa dance lessons on Sunday afternoons. In 2023 the lessons run on July 16th, 23rd and 30th. They also happen on August 13th and 20th. Click Robson Square Salsa for information.

Cinco de Mayo

One of two major Mexican-themed holidays celebrated annually in Vancouver is Cinco de Mayo. It happens on May 5th (as the name of the event translated from Spanish would suggest). Various events take place on the fifth and during the week and weekend(s) around that date.

One of the largest Cinco de Mayo events in Vancouver used to be the annual Casa de Amigos on Robson fiesta that featured Mexican market vendors, luchador wrestling shows, Mariachi music and other cultural activities at Robson Square. The event, however, hasn’t happened for a few years.

Market Mexico

September 16th is Independence Day in Mexico and on a Saturday around that time Vancouver’s Mexican community celebrates with a major full-day event. Similar to the Cinco de Mayo celebrations, the September event included vendors selling Mexican foods and souvenirs, Mariachi bands playing Mexican music and thousands of Lower Mainland Mexicans and other Vancouverites having a wonderful time.

In recent years the September 16th celebrations have taken place at the Roundhouse in Yaletown. In 2017 and 2018, however, the festivities were at Robson Square in the form of Market Mexico. To our knowledge, the event hasn’t happened again since.

UBC Downtown Vancouver — UBC at Robson Square

UBC Robson Square

When people think of the University of British Columbia they usually think of the massive campus at Point Grey. However, there is also UBC Robson Square, a sizeable facility in its own right located between Hornby and Howe Streets.

This much smaller campus holds classes for thousands of students, mostly in business and law school. There are many held on weekends and in the evening as well. The fact that UBC Robson Square is next to the Vancouver Law Courts and in the middle of the business districts makes it a very convenient location.

On top of classes, UBC Robson Square also hosts many events. Boardrooms and entire halls are available to rent and some public events like the Vancouver Halloween Expo are held at the facility.