Festive Guide

Whether you’re into show tunes or funk, improv comedy or acrobatics, you’re sure to find your own way of welcoming 2026 with the help of Vancouver’s arts companies and venues

James & Jamesy’s family-friendly show sails through a series of slapstick and sometimes surreal journeys

Secret Lantern Society’s annual offering includes outdoor processions, workshops, song and dance performances, and more across Yaletown and Granville Island

Set to a soundtrack of Broadway showtunes and Christmas songs, production features a standout performance from Victor Hunter as grand dame

Celebrations of 7IDANsuu James Hart and Tamio Wakayama mix with coffee-table odes to gritty Vancouver streets and a viral marquee

When a Prime Minister’s assistant’s romantic hotel rendez-vous is interrupted, a host of hilariously chaotic misunderstandings ensue

Annual holiday variety show hosted by founder Ron Reed wraps up the company’s programming for the foreseeable future

Energized title-role performance by Azaleah Korn leads an ensemble with a gift for the physical comedy and classic song-and-dance numbers of this beloved musical

Christmas With the Marches welcomes viewers into the famous sisters’ home for the holidays, while A Christmas Carol animates the Victorian setting with coloured lights and projections

At bars from Botanist to Meo, mixologists riff on Christmas pudding, mulled wine, grandma’s baking, and much more

Composer-musician draws on years of memories in new piece for santour and choir that celebrates Yalda Night

Quartet roasts some chestnuts—and some more adventurous tunes, too—at the Shadbolt Centre for the Arts

The Leading Ladies bring to life Duke Ellington’s swingy twist on Tchaikovsky score at December 14 screening

Amid tulle tutus and fleecey lambs, director Chan Hon Goh reflects on the history of the “feel-good production”

And did we mention the live dogs playing Sandy?

Up-and-coming composer Sophia Colpitts contributed to the program—with a little help from her grandpa

Artist and her band are amping up the storytelling in “’Twas the Night Before Christmas” with hits from the legendary Detroit label

Music on Main’s annual holiday offering features performances from Grammy Award–winning Caroline Shaw, returning favourite Rachel Kiyo Iwaasa, and more

Portrayals of the classic novel’s famously lively siblings shine brightest when all four are together onstage, capturing love for one another in quiet gestures

Pond hockey, RCMP battles, and polar bears bring this unique rendition home—with classic Russian touches, of course

Company’s annual holiday twist on The Nutcracker features a flavoursome assortment of styles, from classical ballet to hip hop to ’60s swing

Orchestra’s associate concertmaster Timothy Steeves takes a starring role in the festive violin concertos

With audiences supplying the laugh track, the days of “Must-See TV” return in a different form every night, with heartfelt moments arising among hilarious period-correct details

Malcolm Armstrong, Mark Beaty, Meaghan Williams, and Jeff White are gearing up to play four new commissions at the Jericho Arts Centre

Featured soloists include soprano Chloe Hurst, mezzo-soprano Emma Parkinson, tenor Colin Ainsworth, and baritone Aaron Durand

Annual tradition presented by Nebula Performances features emerging and established artists singing seasonal favourites

Theatre Replacement’s nearly sold-out holiday tradition continues at The Cultch’s York Theatre to January 11

Director Barbara Tomasic talks about the Arts Club Theatre Company’s new production of the Louisa May Alcott classic, which still inspires heartfelt reflection on sibling bonds and the challenges of finding a place in the world

Evening features full access to dessert and candy buffets, with improv scenes based on the best moments of 2025