Vancouver has many theatres and performing arts groups. In December there are lots of great Christmas concerts and other performances to choose from!
Vancouver Theatre in December
Plays and other performances showing at Vancouver venues in December this year include Goh Ballet’s The Nutcracker and Elf: The Musical at the Arts Club Theatre. The Vancouver International Black Film Festival takes place in early December and there is also live comedy at The Improv Centre on Granville Island. Other theatre productions are Sleeping Beauty at Metro Theatre and the musical 42nd Street at Gateway Theatre. There’s also Cirque du Soleil shows in Vancouver and the concert An ABBA Christmas with ABRA Cadabra at various Lower Mainland locations.
Details about some of the shows happening in 2026 are below.
For a list of festive choir and other music performances, click Vancouver Christmas Concerts.
Sleeping Beauty (in Vancouver)
December 4, 2026 – January 4, 2027
Metro Theatre hosts its own version of Sleeping Beauty‘s production from December 4th, 2026, to January 4th, 2027. The theatre’s annual holiday pantomime brings the classic tale of Princess Aurora, her curse at the hands of the evil witch Maleficent, and the adventure that follows.
Pantomimes are a very fun style of theatre where the audience gets to interact with the characters on stage, and even have an effect on how the story unfolds! Those watching are encouraged to cheer for the heroes, boo the villains, and shout warnings when something bad is about to happen. Sometimes a lucky audience member or two will even have the chance to go on stage!
42nd Street (in Richmond)
December 10, 2026 – January 2, 2027
Gateway Theatre is a community theatre in Richmond that hosts a mix of in-house productions and visiting shows each year. The venue features both a Main Stage and a smaller Studio space.
This year’s performances of 42nd Street run from December 10th, 2026 to January 2nd, 2027. 42nd Street is a musical about a young actress who gets to star in a high-profile new Broadway show when the leading lady suffers an injury right before opening night. Tickets are priced between $30 and $76 each.
Vancouver International Black Film Festival
December 5-9, 2025 (2026 dates to be confirmed)
The Vancouver International Black Film Festival is a series of events showcasing Black films. There are in-person and online activities, including movie screenings, workshops, panel discussions and more. The fifth edition of the festival ran from December 5th to 9th last year.
Goh Ballet’s The Nutcracker Suite
December 17-20, 2026
The Nutcracker is a classic Christmas ballet about a couple of children, toys, mice and a nutcracker. It includes music by the great Russian composer Tchaikovsky and is one of the most famous and watched ballet productions in modern times.
Shows with Goh Ballet take place on December 17th, 18th, 19th and 20th in 2026, all at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre.
The Improv Centre
November 20 – December 30, 2025 (2026 details TBC)
The Improv Centre typically hosts special shows in November and December.
Last year, ‘Tis the Sitcom ran on select dates between November 20th and December 30th. It was a holiday themed show in a sitcom format, complete with commercial breaks and lots of laughs. Another special show was NYE at TIC. The farewell to 2025 ran at three different times on December 31st.
Dinner Date with Death (in Vancouver)
December 11, 2026
Dinner Date With Death is the holiday edition of Vancouver Mysteries’ Murder is a Drag series. The event is an interactive experience. In 2026 the show happens at the SFU Woodwards Building which is located at 111 West Hastings Street. The show doesn’t include dinner, which helps make the price more affordable, but there is a bar.
At this event, the audience pretends to be at a fancy dinner while a murder mystery case happens around them. There are drag performances and the ability to collect clues and help solve the puzzle. For those who show up early, there’s even a chance to become part of the story!
To learn more about this event, see our article about Murder is a Drag.
Holiday Singalongs at Presentation House
October 24 and November 28, 2026
Located in North Vancouver, Presentation House Theatre hosts the Movie Singalong: The Nightmare Before Christmas on Saturday, October 24th. At this event, the audience gets to see the classic 1993 film starring Chris Sarandon and Catherine O’Hara and sing along to the music. It’s a fun, family-friendly event!
A month later, Presentation House hosts Movie Singalong: Frozen. It takes place on Saturday, November 28th and is also a fun, family-friendly event where everyone gets to sing.
Soar with Santa at Flyover at Canada Place
November 19 – December 31, 2026
Soar with Santa is the Christmas-time offering at Flyover at Canada Place where guests can get the experience of flying over beautiful terrain across the country while staying in Vancouver.
The Soar with Santa film is similar to the standard offering that takes you throughout Canada to places like Niagara Falls and the Rocky Mountains. The differences are appearances by Santa and his sleigh, a couple of Christmas elves, and a final scene where you fly over the North Pole.
In 2026 Soar with Santa shows from mid-November until the end of December.
Cirque du Soleil
November 4, 2026 – January 10, 2027
Cirque du Soleil is a world-famous circus company that sets up for shows in Vancouver at least once a year. Their productions feature all sorts of acrobatics, live music, dancing and other forms of spectacular entertainment.
In 2026 Cirque du Soleil brings the show LUZIA to a huge tent at Concord Pacific Place. It runs on select dates between November 4th, 2026, and January 10th, 2027.
For more information, see our Cirque du Soleil page.
An ABBA Christmas with ABRA Cadabra
December 1 – December 17, 2026
Vancouver offers a number of tribute concerts throughout the year. In December of 2026, An ABBA Christmas with ABRA Cadabra runs on select dates at various locations. It’s a live show featuring lots of music, dancing and energy. The tribute band performs hits by ABBA along holiday favourites.
2026 concerts happen at North Vancouver’s Centennial Theatre on December 1st, New Westminster’s Massey Theatre on December 5th, and Surrey’s Chandos Pattison Auditorium on December 17th.
For more details about these concerts and similar events at other times of the year, see our article about Vancouver Tribute Band Concerts.
Other Information
For a list of shows at other times of the year, see Vancouver’s Shows & Entertainment Calendar.
To learn more about other events this time of year, see the December Events Calendar.
For a list of festive choir performances in the Lower Mainland, click Vancouver Christmas Concerts.
For the Lower Mainland’s best winter holiday attractions, click Top Things to do in Vancouver at Christmas.
Another website you might find of interest is VancouverTheatres.ca.
