Top of a Boat Show Yacht

The Vancouver International Boat Show takes place in January at BC Place and at the marina at Granville Island. Hundreds of boats are for sale.

The event is where you’ll find the biggest sale of vessels and marine accessories west of Ontario. There are boats of all kinds to check out as well as boat equipment, service providers, educational seminars and more! It’s a fabulous event for everyone who likes boating and being out on the water.

In 2027 the show takes place from January 27th to 31st. For the event’s official website, visit vancouverboatshow.ca.

FALL MARINA SHOW & SALE

In 2026 there’s a fall edition of the boat show. The Marina Show and Sale takes place from September 18th to 20th. Held at the Marina at Hampton Cove in Delta, the ticketed event features more than 200 boats, along with lots of marine gear and accessories to shop through. Tickets for each day are expected to cost $15 for adults and $12 for seniors. Kids ages 16 and under enter for free.

For the latest details about the fall 2026 event, visit vancouverboatshow.ca.

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The Vancouver Boat Show

An annual event for more than 60 years, the Vancouver International Boat Show is the premier boating event in Western Canada. It’s also the largest showcasing of the recreational boating industry in British Columbia.

At the event there are fishing boats, pleasure yachts, jet skis, kayaks and other sorts of vessels on display. There are also all kinds of motors and marine equipment.

Where Does the Boat Show Take Place?

In 2027 much of the event is indoors at BC Place Stadium, located at 777 Pacific Boulevard. The event also takes place outdoors by the Granville Island Maritime Market & Marina at 1676 Duranleau Street. Free shuttle buses run continuously between the two venues.

See the Vancouver Int’l Boat Show‘s website for full details about the event.

Boats at Vancouver Convention Centre — Boat Show at Vancouver Convention Centre

Boat Show Hours and Admission

This year’s Vancouver International Boat Show runs from Wednesday, January 27th, until Sunday, January 31st. At BC Place, the hours of operation are from 12:00 pm to 8:00 pm on Wednesday, from 10:00 am to 8:00 pm on Thursday to Saturday, and from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm on Sunday.

Note: The Granville Island Floating Show is only open until 5:00 pm daily.

Admission to the event includes all show activities including educational seminars and live entertainment. Admission also includes access to both the outdoor floating show at the marina at Granville Island and the indoor show at BC Place.

Regular Admission Prices

Tickets for the 2027 boat show are valid for either one, two or all five days.

Online ticket prices as of mid-2026 are as follows:

Adults (ages 17 to 64): $20 for a one-day ticket or $27 for two days
Seniors (ages 65+): $17 for one day or $22 for two days
Children (ages 16 and under): Free
5-Day Pass (ages 17+): $30

TIP: If you go in the evening after 5:00 pm, it’ll cost just $5. Regardless of when you go, children ages 16 and under get in for free.

See the Vancouver Int’l Boat Show‘s website for tickets.

Boat Show Activities

Over 100 exhibitors participate this year, and 30,000 or more people will likely attend the event. There is a lot more to do at the Boat Show other than just looking at boats, motors and marine equipment.

At the Vancouver International Boat Show there are seminar speakers including do-it-yourself workshops, boating seminars and even cooking demonstrations some years. Don’t only look at the boats – get your money’s worth and attend the learning events too. Seminar presenters typically include boating experts, world explorers, environmentalists and more.

Seminar Schedule

For an idea of what to expect in 2027, below are some examples of the seminars from the January 2026 event. It’s not a complete list. For that click Seminars & Workshops.

Wednesday, January 14th, 2026

1:00 pm – The Science of Salmon Fishing with Bill Haymond
1:15 pm – Sail Maintenance, Service and Cleaning with Jason Fanjoy
2:00 pm – Coastal Navigation 101 with Dorothy Cunningham
3:45 pm – Fresh vs Saltwater Boating, What’s the Difference Really? with Andy den Otter
5:30 pm – Secrets to Successful Crabbing and Prawning with James Patrick
(There are other seminars too!)

Thursday, January 15th, 2026

2:00 pm – Favorite Anchorages in the Pacific Northwest with Mark Bunzel
2:00 pm – Introduction to Radar for Boaters with Luciano Nisi
2:30 pm – DIY Electrical Audits on your Boat with Jeff Cote
3:30 pm – Ask the Experts: Women on the Water
4:30 pm – Marine Weather 101 with Ross MacDonald, David Wray and Gary Lee
(There are other seminars too!)

For full details about the show, visit vancouverboatshow.ca.

Friday, January 16th, 2026

11:30 am – Cruise to Alaska with Lynne Picard and Jim Burgoyne
12:00 pm – Cool Products and Space-Saving Tips for Recreational Boaters with Missy Gervais
4:30 pm – Docking and Line Handling Workshop with Tracy Sarich
5:20 pm – Common Boating Accidents and How to Avoid Them with the Royal Canadian Marine Search & Rescue
6:30 pm – Mould: Prevention, Protection and Cleaning with Peter Bristow
(There are other seminars too!)

Saturday, January 17th, 2026

12:15 pm – West Coast of Vancouver Island with Lynne Picard and Jim Burgoyne
1:00 pm – Loving the Learning Curve with Women on the Water
1:15 pm – Whale, Hello!! with Catriona Day
1:30 pm – Practical Cruising: Cruising for Couples with Liza Copeland
6:30 pm – Women on the Water Social
(There are other seminars too!)

Sunday, January 18th, 2026

12:15 pm – Integrating your Navigation with Lyle Wetsch
1:15 pm – Preparing for a Multi-Year Offshore Cruise with Ethan and Danielle Schlegel
2:15 pm – Whale Safe Boating with Dr. Felicia Vachon
3:10 pm – The Electric Fleet Forecast: Global Trends and What’s on the Horizon
4:10 pm – Electric Sunday Roundtable Q&A
(There are other seminars too!)

Checking out the Boat Show Boats — The Granville Island Marina

Event Shuttle Service

Admission to the Vancouver International Boat Show typically includes access to complimentary shuttle service between Granville Island and BC Place Stadium. Hopefully this is the case again in 2027.

For full details about the show, visit vancouverboatshow.ca.

Boat Show Video

Check out the video below to get an idea of what to expect at the Vancouver International Boat Show.

As you’ll see, there are boats of all kinds on display and mini ferry boats that take passengers back and forth between the two venues.

Tips & Advice

Below is a list of suggestions and other information to help you make the most of your visit to the Vancouver International Boat Show.

TIP #1: Both venues will likely be quietest on weekdays during the day and first thing in the mornings on the weekend. BC Place Stadium will also be busiest on rainy days while the Granville Island venue will be less busy when it’s wet out.

TIP #2: Be sure to take in some of the educational seminars. They are interesting and you can learn a lot.

TIP #3: Especially if you’re at the Boat Show when it’s not super busy, chat with the exhibitors. Ask questions, learn something new and have fun with the experts.

TIP #4: Be sure to also visit the Vancouver Maritime Museum sometime if you like boats and marine history. Outside the museum, at the waterfront, you’ll find a beautiful collection of vintage boats in the Heritage Harbour. Also, if you use the promo code BESTVANCOUVER you can save 25% on admission to the museum.

TIP #5: Need to print the name of your boat on the side of your newly-purchased vessel? They might not be at the Vancouver Boat Show, but if you’re looking for a company to do printing on your boat, a sign company with expertise in that area is North Vancouver-based Jensen Signs.

Metal Boat Show Boats

Hotels, Parking & Transit Tips

TIP #6: Check out the hotel discounts available to you on the Vancouver Boat Show’s website if you’re coming from out of town (or are a local wanting a staycation). Some of the hotels have early cut-off dates, but others are available until they are full. Hotels typically offering discounts include the Pinnacle Harbourfront, Vancouver Marriott Pinnacle Downtown, Executive Hotel Le Soleil and more.

TIP #7: Another place to check out hotel deals is the website StayVancouverHotels.com. If you book through that site you can get a bonus gift, including your choice of a gift card to be used at a variety of different places. You can also sometimes get tickets to events.

TIP #8: Take public transit if you can. BC Place Stadium is just a 3-minute walk from the Stadium-Chinatown SkyTrain Station.

TIP #9: There is pay parking at Granville Island, but it fills up quickly on busy days and is usually limited to a maximum of three hours.