Light-show season starts early this year. Lumière lights up downtown Vancouver from Nov 12, and most of the big ticketed shows open between Nov 19 and Nov 27. Several of them sell timed entry only, so the best evenings in December go first.
We checked every official page and put the 2026 facts side by side: dates, what tickets cost, whether you need to book, and which show suits which family. Prices are before GST and service fees unless we say otherwise. Shows that haven’t announced 2026 dates are listed at the bottom.
At a glance
| Show | 2026 dates | Cost (before tax/fees) | Booking | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lumière (downtown Vancouver) | Nov 12–14, 5–9:30pm | Free | No | A free first look, older kids who like art |
| Bear Creek Lights (Surrey) | Now on, to Nov 20 (closed Nov 11), 5–9pm | Free | Free timed tickets recommended | Free stroller-friendly walk |
| Glow Langley | Nov 19 – Jan 2 (closed Sundays & Dec 25) | Varies by date; under 3 free | Advance tickets | Rainy nights (mostly indoor) |
| Canyon Lights (North Van) | Nov 20 – Jan 10 (closed Dec 25) | Park admission (dated online price); kids 0–5 free | Timed entry; passholders must reserve | The “wow” bridge-and-forest show |
| Grouse Peak of Christmas | Nov 20 – Dec 24 | Mountain Admission; family of 4 $229 ($179 resident) | Buy admission ahead | Snow, skating and Santa in one trip |
| Merry & Bright (Langley) | Nov 20 – Dec 31 | Adult $24, child 6–12 $12, under 6 free (+GST) | Advance only, no gate sales | Movie-set village, Santa visits |
| Burnaby Village Museum Festive Village | Nov 25 – Jan 3 (closed Mon, Tue, Dec 24–25) | Free entry; carousel $2.86 + tax per ride | No (entry may be capped) | Heritage lights for little kids |
| Noël Surrey with Bright Nights | Nov 27 – Dec 29 (closed Nov 30, Dec 7, Dec 24–25), 3–9:30pm | Adult from $24; 7–18 from $18; 6 & under free | Timed admission | Biggest all-in-one night, indoor + outdoor |
| VanDusen Festival of Lights | Nov 27 – Jan 3 (closed Dec 25), 4–10pm | Adult $29, youth $19, child 5–12 $12, 4 & under free | Timed tickets online, on sale now | Classic garden walk, sensory-friendly night |
| Lights at Lafarge (Coquitlam) | Opens Nov 27 (kick-off 5–8pm) | Free | No | Free lake loop with strollers |
The paid shows
VanDusen Festival of Lights (Vancouver)
- When: Nov 27, 2026 – Jan 3, 2027, 4–10pm (last entry 9pm). Closed Dec 25.
- Cost: Adult (19–64) $29, senior/youth $19, child (5–12) $12, 4 and under free but they still need a reserved ticket. GST and service fees are extra.
- Booking: Timed tickets online only; you must scan in within your half-hour window. Tickets are non-refundable but can be exchanged up to 12 hours before.
- Where: 5251 Oak St at W 37th Ave. Free but limited parking; #17 Oak bus, 15-min walk from Oakridge station.
- Strollers/access: Strollers, wagons and wheelchairs welcome. Most paved paths are accessible; some paths are uneven. Accessible washrooms in the Visitor Centre. Attendants get in free. Sensory-friendly night Tue Dec 1 (50% capacity, quieter audio, no flashing lights).
- Note: BC is on permanent Pacific Time this year, so sunset is about an hour later than you’re used to. Pick a later entry time if you want full darkness.
- Official page: vancouver.ca Festival of Lights
Canyon Lights at Capilano Suspension Bridge Park (North Vancouver)
- When: Nov 20, 2026 – Jan 10, 2027, 11am–10pm (last entry 9pm). Closed Dec 25.
- Cost: Included with park admission. The park sells dated tickets online and doesn’t post one fixed price on its event page, so check the date you want. Kids 0–5 free. BC residents can buy an Annual Pass for the price of one day’s admission.
- Booking: One-hour arrival windows. Passholders must reserve. Peak nights sell out.
- Where: 3735 Capilano Rd. Parking is limited; free shuttle from downtown on peak nights.
- Strollers/access: The bridge, Treetops Adventure and Cliffwalk are not wheelchair accessible (wheelchair users get in free). Under 15s need someone 18+.
- New in 2026: LIGHT STORM in Cliffwalk Gardens and the WILDLIGHT 3D wildlife projection.
- Official page: capbridge.com Canyon Lights
Noël Surrey with the Magic of Bright Nights (Cloverdale)
Bright Nights isn’t in Stanley Park any more. The Burn Fund’s light walk is now part of Noël Surrey.
- When: Nov 27 – Dec 29, 2026, 3–9:30pm nightly. Closed Nov 30, Dec 7, Dec 24 and 25.
- Cost: Adult from $24, ages 7–18 and seniors from $18, 6 and under free. Rides on the 50-ft Ferris wheel, Santa photos and parking are included.
- Booking: Timed admission (“Book Your Time”) on noelfestival.com.
- Where: Cloverdale Fairgrounds, 17905 62 Ave, Surrey. Free parking.
- Strollers/access: Designed for wheelchairs, walkers and strollers; paved outdoor loop and a flat indoor venue. Access2 cards accepted.
- Official page: noelfestival.com
Glow Langley
- When: Nov 19, 2026 – Jan 2, 2027. Closed Sundays and Dec 25. NYE event.
- Cost: Ticket prices change by date; under 3 free; family passes sold. Parking and all attractions are included.
- Booking: Advance tickets; book early for December.
- Where: 6690 216 St, Langley. Mostly indoor and heated, which helps on wet nights.
- Official page: langley.glowgardens.com
Grouse Mountain: The Peak of Christmas (North Vancouver)
- When: Nov 20 – Dec 24, 2026.
- Cost: The Light Walk, Santa’s Workshop and skating pond are included with Mountain Admission. A family of 2 adults + 2 kids (5–12) costs $229, or $179 at the Lower Mainland resident rate. Santa photos $5 each.
- Booking: Dated admission tickets, non-refundable.
- Read our Peak of Christmas guide for prices by age and tips.
Merry & Bright at Martini Town (Langley)
- When: Nov 20 – Dec 31, 2026.
- Cost: Adult $24, youth $18, child 6–12 $12, senior $20, under 6 free, plus GST.
- Booking: Advance only, no gate sales. Timed entry; stay as long as you like once in.
- Note: 100% outdoors on a film backlot. Santa in the gazebo 3:30–8:30pm until Dec 23. No pets.
- Official page: merrybright.ca
The free ones
Lumière (downtown Vancouver)
- When: Nov 12–14, 2026, 5–9:30pm.
- Cost: Free. (One hands-on station, hat painting at the Glow Bar, has a fee.)
- Where: Light art across the West End, Gastown and the Vancouver Art Gallery North Plaza.
- Official page: lumiereyvr.com
Bear Creek Lights (Surrey)
Running now until Nov 20 (closed Nov 11), 5–9pm, free with a timed ticket. Walk-up spots are limited. Read our Bear Creek Lights guide.
Festive Village at Burnaby Village Museum
- When: Nov 25, 2026 – Jan 3, 2027. Closed Mondays, Tuesdays, Dec 24 and 25.
- Cost: Free gate admission. Carousel rides $2.86 + tax each.
- Booking: None, but entry may be limited at busy times.
- Where: 6501 Deer Lake Ave, Burnaby. A 10-acre heritage site with lights, carollers and Father Christmas.
- Official page: burnabyvillagemuseum.ca Festive Village
Lights at Lafarge (Coquitlam)
- When: Season kick-off Fri Nov 27, 5–8pm, with food trucks and live entertainment. The City hasn’t posted a closing date.
- Cost: Free. The City calls it Metro Vancouver’s largest free outdoor winter lights display.
- Where: Lafarge Lake, Town Centre Park, Coquitlam.
- Official page: coquitlam.ca Lights at Lafarge
Vancouver Christmas Market lights
The light canopy is inside the ticketed market (Nov 16 – Dec 24, Jack Poole Plaza; single tickets from $7.99 pre-sale, kids 6 and under free). It is not a free display. See our Vancouver Christmas Market guide.
Also on now: Astra Lumina, Stanley Park
A ticketed night walk at the old Stanley Park Railway site, which has taken over the Bright Nights spot. See our Astra Lumina guide.
Decision box
| Best fit | Families who want one big night out (Noël, VanDusen, Canyon Lights) or a free walk with toddlers (Lafarge, Bear Creek, Burnaby Village Museum). |
| Not a fit | Canyon Lights if you need a wheelchair-accessible route (the bridge and Cliffwalk aren’t). Merry & Bright if you’re hoping to buy at the gate. Grouse if you want a cheap evening. |
| Time | 1.5–2 hours for most walks. Grouse and Noël are easily 3 hours. |
| Cost, 2 adults + 2 kids (5–12), before tax/fees | VanDusen $82. Noël from $84 (kids 7–18) or $48 if both kids are 6 and under. Merry & Bright $72 (+GST). Grouse $229, or $179 resident. Canyon Lights and Glow: price depends on the date you book. Lafarge, Bear Creek, Lumière and Burnaby Village Museum: $0 entry (carousel $2.86 + tax per ride). |
| Arrival | Book the first entry slot after dark. Sunset is about an hour later this year (permanent Pacific Time). Weeknights in late November are the quietest. |
| Facilities | VanDusen: Visitor Centre washrooms and accessible portable toilets. Noël: indoor heated barn and extra washrooms. Glow: mostly indoor. Merry & Bright: fully outdoor, some tents. |
| Plan B | Heavy rain: Glow Langley or the indoor half of Noël. Sold out: switch to a free walk (Lafarge or Burnaby Village Museum, no tickets). Snow closures: call VanDusen’s line, 604-257-8463. |
Tips
- Book the timed shows now. VanDusen tickets are already on sale. Merry & Bright has no gate sales. Canyon Lights passholder slots are limited.
- Check the closed days. Noël closes Nov 30 and Dec 7, Glow is closed Sundays, and Burnaby Village Museum is closed Mondays and Tuesdays.
- Bring the stroller to the flat ones. Noël, VanDusen, Lafarge and Bear Creek work well. Canyon Lights is better with a carrier.
- Pair lights with Santa. Grouse, Noël, Merry & Bright and Canyon Lights all have Santa. Compare them in our Santa Photos 2026 guide.
- Dress for rain. VanDusen, Canyon Lights, Merry & Bright and Lafarge run rain or shine outdoors.
Not announced yet (we’ll update)
- Holiday Lights in Williams Park (Langley Township): 2026 dates TBA on tol.ca. In past years it was free, drive-through only, with registration, and it sold out.
- Christmas at Hycroft: no 2026 page on an official site yet.
- Granville Island festive lights: no organiser page.
- Fort Langley Christmas lights: nothing official posted.
- Robson Square: the rink reopens “December 2026”, with no dates.
- Port Coquitlam and other Surrey light displays: nothing for 2026 on city pages yet.
- Neighbourhood displays: none officially listed.
- Lights at Lafarge closing date.
Sources (fetched Nov 4, 2026)
- https://vancouver.ca/parks-recreation-culture/festival-of-lights.aspx
- https://www.capbridge.com/events/canyon-lights/ and https://www.capbridge.com/tickets/
- https://www.noelfestival.com/ and https://www.noelfestival.com/faq
- https://langley.glowgardens.com/
- https://www.grousemountain.com/peak-of-christmas (prices from the Nov 3 Grouse draft check)
- https://merrybright.ca/
- https://www.lumiereyvr.com/
- https://www.burnabyvillagemuseum.ca/EN/main/what-s-on/festive-village.html
- https://www.coquitlam.ca/784/Lights-at-Lafarge
- https://www.surrey.ca/news-events/events/bear-creek-lights
- https://www.vancouverchristmasmarket.com/
- https://www.tol.ca/en/arts-culture/holiday-lights-in-williams-park.aspx
