Vancouver Chinatown Festival

The Vancouver Chinatown Festival is a multicultural event in Chinatown that features live entertainment, food vendors and other activities in the summer.

The festival usually happens in mid-July. In 2026 it’s on July 25th and 26th. That’s the same weekend as the Chilliwack Ribfest which is another great (and very different) event with barbecue and food trucks in Chilliwack. Other events happening at the same time include the Fort Langley Jazz & Arts Festival, Chiquitzin Kids Fiesta and Mission Folk Music Festival.

Another great event you might like to attend that’s close to Chinatown on the same weekend as the Vancouver Chinatown Festival is the Stathcona Blocks Party. It happens on July 25th and admission to it is free.

See our July Calendar of Events to learn about the above and other events happening this time of year. Continue reading for information about the Vancouver Chinatown Festival.

This article contains the following information about the festival:

When and Where | What’s on at the Festival | Tips & Advice | Other Information

Vancouver’s Chinatown Festival

The Vancouver Chinatown Festival features dance and music performances, plenty of family-friendly activities and shows, a walking tour of the neighbourhood, and more.

2026 marks the 24th edition of the festival!

Chinatown Chinese Festival — Keefer Street at Vancouver Chinatown Festival

When and Where

This event typically happens on a weekend in mid-July. It runs from noon until 6:00 pm on both the Saturday and Sunday.

In 2026 the festival takes place on the Saturday and Sunday of July 25th and 26th (which is two weeks later than last year). Like usual, this year’s festival takes place in Vancouver’s Chinatown at the intersection of Keefer Street and Columbia Street. That’s very close to the Chinese Cultural Centre which is located at 555 Columbia Street.

At the intersection of the two streets there’s a large outdoor stage where the entertainment takes place. There are also usually seats for audience members to sit at. For a block along Keefer Street you’ll find a row of community information booths and a small number of vendors. In the area there are also a few food trucks.

The nearest SkyTrain Station is Stadium-Chinatown on the Expo Line which is less than a 10-minute walk away.

JAZZ FESTIVAL IN FORT LANGLEY

Another highly-recommended event that happens in July is the Fort Langley Jazz & Arts Festival. It features ticketed events, but also lots of free concerts. The festival runs from July 23rd to 26th in 2026.

What’s on at the Festival

Highlights of the festival in Chinatown include kids’ and cultural diversity corners, live on-stage performances, an artisan’s market displaying unique gifts and crafts from a variety of vendors, and games of mahjong which is a traditional and very popular Chinese game.

Part of the festival’s opening ceremony is a traditional Lion Dance. There are other dance and musical performances on an outdoor stage throughout the weekend too, and not just Chinese ones. There are also performances from Japanese, Filipino and other cultural groups.

Other Festival Activities

In the Children’s Theatre, kids can enjoy a special Science World show, magic shows, and storytelling. This year there’s also magic shows, lion dance demonstrations, and the chance to meet the festival’s mascot, a panda named Van Van.

The Kids’ Corner includes mini games, face painting, balloon twisting, T-shirt and henna painting, temporary tattoos and fencing try-outs.

In the Cultural Diversity Corner, you can join a Wok Around Chinatown tour with Bob Sung, take part in lantern and fan-making, try calligraphy and Chinese painting and take pictures at the giant mahjong and wedding sedan photo booths.

Attendees can find an artisan market with handmade goods and international food trucks. Additionally, visitors can typically enter giveaways for free tickets to places like the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden, Chinese Canadian Museum and Chinatown Storytelling Centre.

2026 Festival Schedule

Below is the full schedule for the 2026 Chinatown Festival.

Saturday, July 25th

Main Stage

12:00 pm – Opening Ceremony with Lion Dance
1:30 pm – BC Chinese Chamber Ensemble
2:35 pm – Vancouver Okinawa Taiko
3:05 pm – Crystal Arts Academy
3:45 pm – George Nie Jazz Duo
4:15 pm – UBC Thunderbirds Marching Band
5:00 pm – Boogaloo Dance Academy

Children’s Theatre

1:00 pm – Lion Dance Demonstration
1:25 pm – Story on Wheels
2:20 pm – Lion Dance Demonstration
3:00 pm – The Penny Pom Pom Show
4:00 pm – Lion Dance Demonstration
4:20 pm – Meet Mascot Van Van

Sunday, July 26th

Main Stage

12:00 pm – Colours of Dance Academy
1:00 pm – Hidden Gem Dance Studio
2:05 pm – Fangfei Guzheng
2:45 pm – Anahaw Filipino Canadian Performing Arts Society of BC
3:20 pm – The Canto Lounge Trio
4:10 pm – Vancouver Chinese Choir Association
5:00 pm – The RainCity 6 Band

Children’s Theatre

1:00 pm – Lion Dance Demonstration
1:20 pm – Rod Chow’s Magic
2:20 pm – Lion Dance Demonstration
2:45 pm – Science World on Wheels: Science Surprises
3:30 pm – Meet Mascot Van Van
4:00 pm – Lion Dance Demonstration
4:15 pm – Making Music with the Can Do’s
5:00 pm – Meet Mascot Van Van

Want a personalized tour of Chinatown for you and your friends? Then see our article about Historical Chinatown Tours.

Tips & Advice

Below are some tips and suggestions to help you make the most of your experience at the Chinatown Festival.

TIP #1: While in the area, be sure to also check out the Chinese Canadian Museum and Historical Chinatown Tours. Both are fabulous ways to learn about the area and Chinese Canadian history.

TIP #2: Another interesting place to check out is Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Garden. Also good to know, right next door is Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Park which is also very pretty, and admission to it is free.

Other Information

Click Vancouver Chinatown Festival for more details about the event.

Click Vancouver Chinatown for information about things to do while in the neighbourhood. In that article you’ll learn about places of interest in the area, including the Chinese Canadian Museum.

Check out the Festivals & Events Calendar for other events going on in Metro Vancouver.

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