International Village Mall is a Vancouver shopping centre in Chinatown on Pender Street. It becomes especially alive during Chinese New Year.
International Village Mall in Chinatown
Located at 88 West Pender Street in the heart of Vancouver’s Chinatown, International Village Mall is a medium-sized shopping centre with about 60 retail stores and other tenants.
Upstairs at the mall there is a Cineplex Theatre as well as a food court with close to 12 different ethnic food outlets.
TIP: There is free parking underground while you’re shopping. This is also good to know when seeing a movie at the theatre.
VANCOUVER’S CHINESE CANADIAN MUSEUM
The Chinese Canadian Museum is a fairly new museum, and a great one. It’s located just a few blocks from the International Village Mall. It’s definitely worth checking out.
Lunar New Year at International Village
Chinese New Year is a fabulous time to check out International Village Mall in Vancouver’s Chinatown. In 2025, the celebrations kicked off on Saturday, February 1st. The festivities continued into Sunday, February 2nd, which was the same day as the Chinatown Spring Festival Parade.
Activities at the mall ran from 11:00 am until 5:00 pm both days. Events and activities in 2026 are likely to be similar. The Year of the Horse begins on February 17th, 2026. Full details and scheduling for 2026 events are yet to be confirmed.
Around the Lunar New Year, thousands of people descend on the International Village Mall. There are special Chinese gift stalls throughout the mall selling everything from Chinese food to souvenirs, electronic gadgets and fashion accessories. In 2025 (The Year of the Snake), there were snake-themed crafts, a God of Fortune to take photos with, and free games to enjoy.
The event blasts off with a climax on the Sunday of New Year’s weekend, featuring the renowned annual cultural extravaganza, the Chinese New Year Parade. That event features over 5,000 participating performers and tens of thousands of spectators.
Lunar New Year at International Village Mall is a sight to see and highly recommended, especially on the day of the Chinese New Year Parade.
TIP: As always, parking is free in the mall’s underground parkade for up to 2 hours while shopping. During the weekend of Lunar New Year, however, take public transit if you can. International Village is close to Rogers Arena, which is right by the Stadium-Chinatown SkyTrain Station.
The Year of the Horse 2026
In 2026, the Lunar New Year begins on February 17th, marking the start of the Year of the Horse. In Chinese culture, the horse represents energy, freedom, and forward momentum. It is associated with confidence, hard work, and a love of independence. People born in Horse years (such as 2014, 2002, 1990, 1978, and earlier cycles) are often said to be lively, optimistic, and strong-willed, with a natural drive to keep moving toward new goals.
International Village Mall Video
Check out the following video to get an idea of what the mall looks like during Lunar New Year. The video features scenes from Lunar New Year festivities in February 2018 and 2019.
As you’ll see, the mall is several storeys high and has a large atrium in the middle. The building has a glass roof, and there are stores on multiple levels. At the New Year, the place is packed with people. Live entertainment takes place on the ground floor in the middle of the atrium area some years. Vendor stalls line all the hallways in other parts of the mall.
Other Information
See the International Village Mall website for more information about the shopping centre itself.
See our article about Lunar New Year in Metro Vancouver to learn about other similar events happening in other parts of the Lower Mainland around the same time. There you will find information about other events, including LunarFest.
Click Vancouver’s Best Shopping Districts, Malls and Markets for a list of shopping centres.
Check out Vancouver’s Festivals & Events Calendar for a list of other festivals and events taking place throughout the year.
