Symphony at Sunset

A big free outdoor concert, Symphony at Sunset is put on by the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra (VSO) and is a great opportunity to check out their music.

In 2026 the event happens on Saturday, July 11th.

TIP: Other free events are Symphony in the Park (also with the VSO) and Opera in the Park (with Vancouver Opera). They take place at Deer Lake Park in Burnaby on July 18th and 19th respectively in 2026. Symphony in the Park in Abbotsford, meanwhile, is also a free event, but unrelated to the others. This year the event in Abbotsford happens on August 14th.

Vancouver Symphony Orchestra’s Symphony at Sunset

The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra hosts multiple free events over the course of the year and one of them is the Symphony at Sunset concert. The concert usually takes place in July each year.

As many as 15,000 or more people attend the event. Expect a big crowd at the concert. And arrive early if you want a good spot (and any chance of finding parking).

Symphony at Sunset

Where and When?

In previous years, Symphony at Sunset used to take place at Sunset Beach Park. In 2026, however, the event happens at David Lam Park. The new venue is located at 1300 Pacific Boulevard in downtown Vancouver. This year’s event begins at 8:00 pm on Saturday, July 18th.

Symphony at Sunset is a free event open to all. You should bring either a low chair or a blanket to sit on so that you can enjoy the show in comfort. Try to arrive early if you want the best view.

It’s a good idea to take public transit, or to walk or bike to the concert. Not only can you find it difficult to get parking downtown, but the city also closes multiple blocks on the evening of the show due to the large crowds.

What to Expect

The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra performs a series of pieces over the course of the 90-minute show. Some of the pieces are classical music and some are from modern movies.

The concert opens with a rendition of O Canada and the Coast Salish Anthem. The music this year comes from a variety of composers such as John Williams, Tchaikovsky, Beethoven and others. The VSO is led by Maestro Otto Tausk.

There are several food trucks on site to provide tasty snacks for those watching the concert.

The 2026 program is as follows:

O Canada – by Lavellée
Coast Salish Anthem – by William Rowson
Symphony No. 5 & Op 67, I. Allegro con brio – by Beethoven
Enigma Variations: Nimrod – by Elgar
Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso & Op 28, Violin Soloist: Corina Deng – by Saint-Saëns
Letter from the Afterlife – by Dinuk Wijeratne
Symphony No. 7 in A Major & Op. 92, II. Allegretto – by Beethoven
Symphony No. 4 in F minor & Op. 36, IV. Allegro con fuoco – Adante – Tempo I – by Tchaikovsky
Star Wars: Obi-Wan Kenobi Theme, Harry Potter and the Prisoner Of Azkaban, Hook: The Flight to Neverland, Flying Theme from ET – by John Williams