The Vancouver International Wine Festival features dozens of special restaurant dinners, wine tastings, seminars and other wine-themed events.
In 2026 the Vancouver International Wine Festival runs from March 7th to March 14th, with France as the festival’s theme country. Celebrating its 47th year, the event features 114 wineries from 14 countries, including many wines from British Columbia.
This article highlights the major events taking place during the 2026 festival. Keep reading to learn about the biggest events, and for the full list of what happens during the festival, visit vanwinefest.ca.
For tickets and the event’s official website with all 2026 events, click Vancouver International Wine Festival.
Wine Festival Dinners, Seminars & Other Events
The Vancouver Wine Festival features a wide range of events throughout its eight-day run from March 7th to March 14th, 2026. Some events are open to the public and others are reserved for wine, hospitality, and beverage industry professionals.
Below are just some of the public events happening during the festival. As always, there’s an impressive selection of wine-focused experiences to choose from. Many events sell out quickly, so booking tickets early is strongly recommended.
The International Festival Tastings are the festival’s largest and most popular events. In 2026, they take place from March 12th to 14th at the Vancouver Convention Centre. Evening sessions run from 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm on Thursday and Friday, with both an afternoon session (2:30 pm to 5:00 pm) and an evening session on Saturday. Ticket prices for 2026 start at $109, with higher prices for the Friday and Saturday evening sessions at around $119.
(Note: Festival events are for adults ages nineteen and older. Dates, times, locations, and pricing are subject to change, so check the official Vancouver International Wine Festival website for the most up-to-date details.)
Signature Wine Festival Events
Below are examples of signature events that take place on various days of the festival. Some events listed are confirmed for 2026, while others are based on 2025 programming and included for reference. Events in 2026 are expected to follow a similar format, although exact details may change.
Note: This is only a selection of the many events that make up the Vancouver International Wine Festival. For the most up-to-date information, visit the vanwinefest.ca website.
Saturday, March 7th, 2026
Bacchanalia Gala at the Fairmont Hotel
In 2026, the Bacchanalia Gala takes place on Saturday, March 7th, at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver, located at 900 West Georgia Street. The black-tie fundraising event runs in the evening and is widely regarded as one of Vancouver’s most prestigious annual social occasions.
The Gala features a multi-course dinner paired with premium wines. It also includes live entertainment, dancing, and both live and silent auctions. Proceeds raised at the event support Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Festival and help sustain the performing arts in Vancouver.
Ticket prices in 2026 start at around $545 per person, with premium table options available.
Click Bacchanalia Gala for more information.
Thursday March 12th to Saturday 14th March, 2026
International Festival Tasting at the Convention Centre
The Tasting Room is the centrepiece of the Vancouver International Wine Festival. The event features four large-scale International Festival Tasting sessions taking place at the Vancouver Convention Centre. Each event showcases hundreds of wines poured by participating wineries from around the world.
The International Festival Tastings in 2026 take place on Thursday, March 12th, and Friday, March 13th, from 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm both evenings. On Saturday, March 14th, there is an afternoon tasting from 2:30 pm to 5:00 pm, followed by an evening session from 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm.
Ticket prices are around $109 for the Thursday evening session and the Saturday afternoon tasting. Friday and Saturday evening sessions cost about $119 per person.
Click International Festival Tasting for tickets and further details.
Monday, February 24th, 2025
The Soul of Napa Valley
A multi-course dinner featuring several wines from Napa, Oakville and the Kalon Vineyard. The event takes place at The Roof at Black + Blue, located at 1032 Alberni Street in Vancouver. There are stories about Robert Mondavi and the event runs from 6:30 pm to 10:00 pm. Click The Soul of Napa Valley for more information.
Tuesday, February 25th, 2025
Discover Paso Robles
Discover Paso Robles is an event held at L’Abattoir Restaurant, 217 Carrall Street, Vancouver. It takes place from 6:30 pm until 10:00 pm. The evening features some of Paso Robles’ best wines paired with dishes from L’Abattoir’s own chef. Tickets cost $245 each.
For more details see the Discover Paso Robles page.
For tickets and information about other events, visit vanwinefest.ca.
Wednesday, February 26th, 2025
Cruising California
A wine tasting and walk-around event that features wines from the Golden State. There’s live music and food available as well. This event is held at The Loft at Earls Yaletown, located at 1095 Mainland Street. It starts at 7:30 pm and runs for two hours. Tickets cost $75 per person. To learn more, click Cruising California.
To see what a Vancouver International Wine Festival event looks like at The Loft at Earls in Yaletown, check out the following video. It shows scenes from an event in 2023, when the festival theme was South America. As you’ll see, there was plenty of wine, food, and live music to enjoy.
(Note: The musician in the video performing at the event at The Loft in 2023 is Michael Fabro. Towards the end of the video, you’ll notice he stops playing momentarily, but the music continues. That’s because the music is looped, where Michael is playing multiple parts, almost like a duet with himself. What you hear when he pauses briefly to adjust his guitar is what he was playing moments previously. He’s a talented musician!)
Southern Italian Renaissance
This event with Andrea Fabiano takes place at CinCin Ristorante at 1154 Robson Street. Featured wines are from Campania, while dinner is provided by the team at CinCin. Tickets cost $245 per person. The event starts at 6:30 pm and concludes at 10:00 pm. For more information click Southern Italian Renaissance.
Giusti at La Piazza Dario
A five-course dinner at the La Piazza Dario restaurant located at 3075 Slocan Street in Vancouver. Each course is matched with Giusti wines. The event runs from 6:30 pm to 10:00 pm on February 26th. Tickets cost $175 per person. For more information about the dinner, click Giusti at La Piazza Dario.
For tickets and the event’s official website, click Vancouver International Wine Festival.
The Shape of Wine
This event is a guide through the different shapes of wine glasses and the effects they produce. It’s run by Alysha Harker, and guests sample a variety of fine wines. The event takes place at the Terminal City Club, 837 West Hastings Street, from 5:15 pm to 6:45 pm. Tickets cost $120 and include a set of glasses to take home. To learn more about the event, click The Shape of Wine.
West Coast Wine Allstars
Moderated by Evan Goldstein MS and Neal McLennan, this event features bold wines from America’s west coast region. There are drinks from Oregon, Washington and California. The event is held at the Vancouver Convention Centre (Meeting Room 109 in VCC West). It’s located at 1055 Canada Place. The event starts at 5:15 pm and runs for 90 minutes. Tickets cost $95 each. For more information see the West Coast Wine Allstars page.
For tickets and the full list of 2026 events, click Vancouver International Wine Festival.
Friday, February 28th, 2025
The Global Cru
The Global Cru is a seminar based on the term “Cru” which means “growth” in French and refers to the quality or classification of a vineyard. At this event, participants learn about the world and sample some of the world’s best wines. The event runs from 5:15 pm to 6:45 pm at the Vancouver Convention Centre located at 1055 Canada Place. Tickets are on sale as of January 15th and cost $95 each. For more information about the seminar and to register, click The Global Cru.
To see what the International Festival Tasting event looks like, check out the following video. It’s from the event in 2020.
Sunday, March 2nd, 2025
PICA Kitchen Party
Vancouver’s top chefs take you on a tour of various kitchens in which each chef prepares food to pair with select wines. Participants learn why each pairing is so extravagant. The event takes place from noon to 2:00 pm by Granville Island at the Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts at 101-1505 West 2nd Avenue. Tickets cost $129. Click PICA Kitchen Party for more details.
WINE FESTIVAL CONNECTION TO SHAKESPEARE
Did you know that the Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Festival is a charitable beneficiary of the Vancouver International Wine Festival? It is, and every year Bard on the Beach receives a large cheque from the festival, which helps the theatre organization do what it does: provide first-class theatre to Vancouver folks and tourists each summer.
For details about the theatre company, see our article about Bard on the Beach.
For tickets and the event’s official website, see the Vancouver International Wine Festival website.
LOOKING FOR A DOWNTOWN HOTEL?
StayVancouverHotels.com is a sponsor of the wine festival and a website offering competitive rates on downtown Vancouver hotels. You’ll also receive a bonus gift when you make a reservation on its website. To learn more, see our article about StayVancouverHotels.com or click the above icon.
Other Information
To learn more about the festival and its various events, check out our main article about the Vancouver International Wine Festival or see the official Vancouver International Wine Festival website.
Other articles that might be of interest include the following:
- Vancouver’s February Calendar of Events
- Vancouver’s March Calendar of Events
- Vancouver Festivals & Events
- Vancouver Shows & Entertainment
- Lower Mainland Wineries
- Vancouver Breweries & Beer
- Vancouver’s Best Restaurants
Other Lower Mainland wine and other adult beverage-themed events include the following:
