Vancouver events & things to do in December 2026
Start with Museum of Anthropology at UBC, Canada Place, plus Vancouver Art Gallery. December in Vancouver averages 7°C / 44°F highs, 1°C / 34°F nights, and about 17 rainy days.
Expect 7°C/44°F days and about 17 rainy ones in December. Start with these:
- Museum of Anthropology at UBC★ 4.7 · 5.7k reviewsArthur Erickson designed the museum building, opened in 1976 on the University of British Columbia campus above the Strait of Georgia.
- Canada Place★ 4.6 · 26.9k reviewsCanada Place opened for Expo 86 with a sail-like roof, cruise terminal, convention space, promenade, and harbor views.
- Olivia Rodrigo: The Unraveled TourDec 1Rogers Arena · Source: Ticketmaster
30% off a Going membership when you plan your trip.
By TripSapien Research · Updated June 3, 2026
Vancouver in December 2026
Weather
TempTemperature
44°F / 34°F
6.6°C / 1.2°C
RainPrecipitation
17d
6.8in · 172mm
LightDaylight
8h
Sea
47.5°F
8.6°C
December is dark and wet in the city but snowy on the North Shore, making flexible mountain plans useful.
Events & festivals
Event calendar- Dec 1 – Dec 31
Festival of Lights at VanDusen Botanical Garden 2026
An annual holiday light display featuring themed light installations and seasonal activities at VanDusen Botanical Garden.
Planning lead · dates set closer in · Source: festival research
- Dec 1 – Dec 31
Bright Nights in Stanley Park 2026
A festive light display throughout Stanley Park featuring themed light exhibits and holiday activities.
Planning lead · dates set closer in · Source: festival research
- Dec 1
Show all 15 events for December
- Dec 2
- Dec 2
- Dec 3 – Dec 20
Vancouver Christmas Market 2026
A traditional German-style Christmas market featuring festive food, crafts, and entertainment in downtown Vancouver.
Planning lead · dates set closer in · Source: festival research
- Dec 3
- Dec 6
- Dec 10 – Dec 15
Vancouver International Film Festival: Holiday Edition 2026
A special winter edition of the Vancouver International Film Festival showcasing holiday-themed films and premieres.
Planning lead · dates set closer in · Source: festival research
- Dec 12
- Dec 13
- Dec 15
- Dec 17
- Dec 18 – Dec 23
Vancouver Symphony Orchestra Holiday Concerts 2026
Seasonal classical music performances celebrating the holidays at the Orpheum Theatre.
Planning lead · dates set closer in · Source: festival research
- Dec 26 – Dec 27
Contact Winter Music Festival 2026
The largest indoor music festival in Canada brings 35,000+ to Vancouver for two days of winter-time beats, Festies will find state-of-the-art technical production, pyro and incredible lighting.
Source: festival calendar
Holidays, observances & long weekends
Holiday and observance schedules can affect services and venue hours; confirm each place directly.
- Dec 25Christmas DayPublic holiday
- Dec 26Boxing DayPublic holiday
- Dec 25-Dec 27Long weekend
About Vancouver
City overview
Vancouver is a Pacific harbor city squeezed between Burrard Inlet, English Bay, the Fraser River, and the North Shore mountains, with glass towers, beaches, rainforest, and ferries all close together. Downtown, Gastown, Yaletown, Kitsilano, Granville Island, and the West End each give a different version of the same city: water views, mountain weather, and food shaped by the Pacific Rim.
Food & drink
Vancouver food is Pacific Rim and coastal: sushi, salmon, spot prawns, dim sum, ramen, Japadog hot dogs, butter chicken, poutine, and Nanaimo bars all fit the city. Granville Island Public Market, Richmond night-market trips, Robson Street ramen, Commercial Drive cafes, and Chinatown bakeries are the first route.
Top sights
Ranked for December suitability using weather, setting, ratings, and review volume.
- 1Vancouver Art Gallery
- 2Grouse Mountain
- 3Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden
- 4Stanley Park and Seawall
- 5Queen Elizabeth Park
- 6Granville Island Public Market
- 7Capilano Suspension Bridge Park
- 8Gastown and Steam Clock
1Vancouver Art Gallery
4.3★ · 9,113indoorOpen dailyThe gallery occupies the 1906 former provincial courthouse designed by Francis Rattenbury and has been in the building since 1983. Its collection is strong on Emily Carr, British Columbia art, photography, and contemporary exhibitions downtown.
Wikipedia
2Grouse Mountain
4.6★ · 16,315mixedOpen dailyThe Skyride climbs from North Vancouver to mountain viewpoints, trails, a wildlife refuge, winter skiing, and summer lumberjack shows. Clear days give a direct view over Stanley Park, Downtown, and Burrard Inlet.
Wikipedia
3Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden
4.2★ · 5,651mixedClosed MonThe Ming-style scholar's garden opened in Chinatown in 1986 with courtyards, limestone rocks, pavilions, water, and carefully framed views. It is walkable from Gastown and Stadium-Chinatown Station.
Wikipedia
Show 3 more sights
- 4Stanley Park and Seawall
- 5Queen Elizabeth Park
- 6Granville Island Public Market
Neighborhoods
1Downtown, Coal Harbour, and Waterfront
The core is compact and glassy, with Canada Place, Waterfront Station, cruise ships, office towers, harbor paths, seaplanes, and North Shore views.
2Gastown and Chinatown
This side is historic and brick-lined, with Water Street, the steam clock, Chinatown gates, Dr. Sun Yat-Sen garden, cocktail bars, and social-service complexity.
3Yaletown and False Creek
Yaletown is polished and waterfront-adjacent, with converted warehouses, marina paths, restaurants, David Lam Park, and little ferries to Granville Island.
Day trips
120km / 2h by car or shuttle from Downtown Vancouver on the Sea-to-Sky Highway
Whistler
The mountain resort adds gondolas, skiing, bike parks, lakes, and alpine views after a dramatic Howe Sound drive.
115km / 3.5-4h by SkyTrain, bus, ferry, and bus via Tsawwassen and Swartz Bay
Victoria
British Columbia's capital has the Inner Harbour, Parliament Buildings, Royal BC Museum, gardens, and a full ferry-day rhythm.
10-20km / 25-45min by SeaBus, bus, shuttle, or car from Downtown Vancouver
North Shore mountains
Capilano, Lynn Canyon, Grouse Mountain, and forest trails give the fastest rainforest-and-mountain day without leaving the metro area.
Getting around
TransLink runs SkyTrain, buses, SeaBus, and West Coast Express with Compass Card or contactless payment. Downtown, the Seawall, and False Creek work well on foot, bike, or small ferry, while UBC, North Shore, Richmond, and Whistler need more time buffers.
Planning a Vancouver trip?
Add your dates and we'll check every place for closures, limited hours, and booking needs in December.
Common questions about Vancouver in December
- What to pack for Vancouver in December
Pack for December's weather, not a generic Vancouver checklist.
- A warm coat and insulating layers for average highs around 7°C / 44°F.
- A heavier evening layer because nights average 1°C / 34°F.
- Compact rain gear and shoes that handle wet pavement across about 17 rainy days.
- How many days do you need in Vancouver
- 4 days covers the main Vancouver highlights at a realistic pace. Add 3 extra days if you want the listed day trips.
- Is Vancouver worth visiting in December
- Yes. December in Vancouver averages 7°C / 44°F highs, 1°C / 34°F nights, and about 17 rainy days.
Ready to plan Vancouver?
You've seen what's on — now get a day-by-day Vancouver plan for December 2026, every place checked for your exact dates.