The PNE Summer Night Concerts are one of the most popular attractions at Vancouver’s annual Pacific National Exhibition in late August and early September.
In 2023, the PNE Fair and Summer Night Concerts run from August 19th until September 4th. Tickets for each concert are sold separately from general admission to the PNE.
For tickets and full details about the concerts, see the official pne.ca website.
This article includes the following information about PNE Summer Night Concerts:
2023 Night Concerts | Concerts in Recent Years | Tips and Advice | Admission | When and Where | Other Concerts and Entertainment | Other Information
2023 PNE Summer Night Concerts
The PNE Fair hosts a couple of series of concerts. Big name artists perform nightly on a large stage in the PNE Amphitheatre.
In addition to the PNE Summer Night Concerts performances, other musicians play on the Festival Park stage. These artists are also exceptional, but tend to be locally-based. The big PNE Summer Night Concerts are ticketed events in 2023. The concerts at Festival Park, on the other hand, are free. You can just show up and come and go for them.
For tickets and other information, see the PNE Fair‘s website.
2023 Night Concerts
PNE Summer Night Concerts take place at 8:30 pm each evening outdoors in the PNE Amphitheatre.
In previous years, all performances were free to watch with regular admission to the PNE Fair. In 2022, however, paid tickets were required for each concert in addition to regular PNE Fair admission. This is the case again in 2023.
The PNE concert lineup for 2023 is listed below.
- Saturday, August 19th, 2023 – TLC
- Sunday, August 20th, 2023 – Boyz II Men
- Tuesday, August 22nd, 2023 – Tenille Townes
- Wednesday, August 23rd, 2023 – Boney M ft. Maizie Williams
- Thursday, August 24th, 2023 – Yung Gravy & bbno$
- Friday, August 25th, 2023 – Billy Talent
- Saturday, August 26th, 2023 – AQUA
- Sunday, August 27th, 2023 – Billy Idol
- Tuesday, August 29th, 2023 – Pink Martini ft. China Forbes
- Wednesday, August 30th, 2023 – Doug and the Slugs with the VSO
- Thursday, August 31st, 2023 – Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo
- Friday, September 1st, 2023 – Jason Derulo
- Saturday, September 2nd, 2023 – Stars of Drag
- Sunday, September 3rd, 2023 – Walk off the Earth
- Monday, September 4th, 2023 – Blue Rodeo: 30 Years In July
Concerts in Recent Years
Every year there are some great bands (especially in years without pandemics).
In 2018, concerts included performances by favourite oldies like Boyz II Men, Air Supply, Kool & the Gang, Jann Arden, Burton Cummings, Chicago, the Village People and Cyndi Lauper.
The 2019 lineup of music at the PNE included concerts by Blue Rodeo, Cheap Trick, UB40, Colin James, Vanilla Ice, the Beach Boys, Burton Cummings, MC Hammer, Bobby Brown and others. Of these, Blue Rodeo, the Beach Boys and Burton Cummings were back in 2022.
In 2021, there were live music performances with local artists instead. They were free and fun, but didn’t feature as many well-known artists as usual. Performers included the R&B Allstars, Groove & Tonic, Dr. Strangelove, Soulstream, and The Motown Show featuring the Hitsville Band.
For more information about the PNE in general, click Pacific National Exhibition.
Tips and Advice
Below are some suggestions and information to help you make the most of your concert experience at the PNE most years.
TIP #1: Ticket prices for the PNE concerts are separate from PNE Fair admission in 2023. If you want to attend a concert, both tickets are required.
TIP #2: For the really popular groups, consider reserving your seat well in advance. On the other hand, don’t reserve too far in advance as late August in Vancouver has a tendency to be wet and you might not want to pay if it’s going to rain. That being said, PNE concerts in the rain can be a ton of fun too!
TIP #3: Don’t just go to the concerts. There are so many other things to do at the Fair as well! Go early and enjoy all the other activities too.
Night Concerts Admission
In previous years, admission to the PNE Summer Night Concerts was free with general admission to the fair.
Unfortunately, this wasn’t the case last year and it isn’t the case this year either. Paid tickets are required for all Summer Night Concerts in 2023, in addition to general admission. Tickets are on sale as of 10:00 am on May 26th and cost as low as $20 each.
When and Where
In 2023, the PNE takes place from August 19th until September 4th.
The fair is usually open every day from 11:00 am until late evening, except for the first and second Mondays of the season when the place is closed. The one Monday when the PNE is open each year is Labour Day which is the first Monday in September.
The Pacific National Exhibition is located at 2901 East Hastings Street in Vancouver. It’s just a few blocks from the Trans-Canada Highway.
Night concerts at the PNE take place every evening at 8:30 pm in the PNE Amphitheatre which is in the northwest corner of the area with all the fair’s rides and midway attractions, so just slightly north of the Ferris wheel.
Other Concerts & Entertainment
In addition to the PNE Summer Night Concerts there is a lot of other free entertainment offered at the fair including the SuperDogs shows.
Each year some great bands perform at various times as part of the Festival Park and Revel District series of concerts which are free with general admission.
To learn more about what’s happening at the fair this year, see our article about the Pacific National Exhibition.
Revel District Performances
Below is the schedule of shows in the Revel District in 2023. All dates and times are subject to change.
- For the Love of Drag – every day of the fair at 4:30 and 6:00 pm
- John Welsh & Los Valientes – August 19th, 20th and 22nd at 1:30 and 2:30 pm
- Trilojay – August 19th, 20th and 22nd at 7:30 and 10:00 pm
- Coco Jafro – August 23rd to 25th at 1:30 and 2:30 pm
- Rain City 6 – August 23rd to 25th at 7:30 and 10:00 pm
- Warren Dean Flandez – August 26th, 27th and 29th at 1:30 and 2:30 pm
- Tanner Olsen Band – August 26th, 27th and 29th at 7:30 pm and 10:00 pm
- The Whiskeydicks – August 30th to September 1st at 1:30 and 2:30 pm
- Side One – August 30th to September 1st at 7:30 and 10:00 pm
- The Paperboys 30th Anniversary – September 2nd to 4th at 1:30 and 2:30 pm
- Phonix Dance Band – September 2nd to 4th at 7:30 and 10:00 pm
Other Information
For more information about the concerts, see the PNE’s Official Website.
To learn more about the fair, see our article about the Pacific National Exhibition.
Other articles that might be of interest include the following:
- Vancouver’s August and September Calendars
- Vancouver’s Shows & Entertainment Calendar
- Free Summer Concerts
- Vancouver Summer Activities
- Labour Day Weekend in Vancouver
- Vancouver Top 100 Places
