International Women's Day in Vancouver

International Women’s Day is a celebration of women’s rights and achievements. Special events happen in Metro Vancouver on and around March 8th each year.

The international theme for the day in 2026 is “Give to Gain.”

International Women’s Day Events and Celebrations in Vancouver

International Women’s Day is a time to recognize women’s accomplishments, both in recent decades and throughout history. It’s also a day to increase awareness of remaining gender inequalities.

Celebrations take place around the globe, including in the Metro Vancouver region. International Women’s Day always happens on March 8th, which, in 2026, is a Sunday. There are usually special shows and events that weekend in Metro Vancouver. Continue reading below to learn about these.

(Also, don’t forget, arguably the best way to celebrate International Women’s Day is to honour the women in your life, and thank them for being who they are, and work harder yourself to counter still-existing gender injustices, not just on March 8th, but every day of the year.)

International Women’s Day March

One Vancouver event celebrating women is the International Women’s Day March. It takes place at šxʷƛ̓ənəq Xwtl’e7énḵ Square outside the Vancouver Art Gallery.

The fourth annual event happens on March 8th. It’s more than just a march. The event runs from 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm and features various speakers. There are also live performances and activities for children to enjoy.

Visit the Vancouver Women’s Day website for more information about the event.

The Improv Centre Shows

The Improv Centre is a popular theatre located at 1502 Duranleau Street at Vancouver’s Granville Island. The venue hosts several regular comedy shows each week, as well as shows with special themes from time to time.

In 2026, the theatre celebrates International Women’s Day on Friday, March 6th. The show Theatresports: International Women’s Day Edition starts at 9:30 pm. It features two teams of female improvisers battling for laughs and points. Tickets start at $31.50 each.

See our Shows at The Improv Centre article for more information about the shows and the venue.

Pitch Fest and She Latina Market

In recognition of International Women’s Day, Latincouver and the Latin-Canadian Business Council present Pitch Fest. The 2026 event runs from 3:00 to 8:00 pm on March 11th at Vancouver’s Heritage Hall.

There’s the She Latina Market in the afternoon and evening, as well as the Pitch Fest Competition at night. It’s an opportunity for women entrepreneurs to sell their products and also present their businesses to investors. There are prizes to be won too. Admission for the day costs about $10.

To learn more about the event, see our article about Pitch Fest.

Friday Night Contra Dance

Festival du Bois is the largest Francophone festival in the province. Although it isn’t related to International Women’s Day, there is a free event that happens on March 6th this year.

The Opening Night Contra Dance runs from 8:00 pm to 9:15 pm. It’s a fun, family-friendly event usually attended by around 200 people. There’s a dance caller who leads all guests. First is an opening performance by Bagatelle. Next, everyone learns how to folk dance (with instructions in English and French). Then, everyone dances in pairs to live music performed by the Sybaritic String Band.

The 2026 festival takes place at Mackin Park in Coquitlam. It happens on the weekend of March 6th to 8th. See our Festival du Bois article to learn more about the festival and the free event.