Firehall Arts Centre
A History of Motown
by Krystle Dos Santos’

When & Where 19 - 29 August | Firehall Arts Centre

Performers Krystle Dos Santos, Sabrielle McCurdy-Foreman, Tiffany Rivera, Jon Holisko, Tilden Webb, Gavin Youngas, Phil Bell, Dominic Conway

A History of Motown takes audiences on a deep dive through the legends, hits, and heartbreak that built an era.
From humble beginnings in Detroit’s “Hitsville U.S.A.” to the global stage, this high-energy production brings a soul-stirring musical journey through the iconic songs, extraordinary voices, and groundbreaking artists who transformed popular music forever.

Tickets: from $40 at firehallartscentre.ca | 604.689.0926

United Players with Western Gold Theatre
Running Wilde
by John Lazarus

When & Where September 4 - 27 at 7:30pm, second and fourth Saturdays and all Sundays at 2 pm | Jericho Arts Centre

Director Roy Surette

Cast Oscar Wilde
Conor Kavanagh Davenport Russell Zishiri Alan Patrick Jaworek Gwen Emma Moon Gussy Sally Clark Ernie Bob Frazer

In the middle of a hugely successful one-man lecture tour of North America, the young Oscar Wilde missed a connection in strait-laced Kingston, Ontario. Lazarus imagines what might have happened next - a tangled farce of seductions, betrayals, blackmail, and happy endings.

Tickets $15 (student) $35 (concession) $40 (Adult) Membership from $145.00 from United Players

 

Jonatan Lujan as Apollo. Photo:David CooperBallet Vancouver
Balanchine's Apollo & Other Works

When & Where September 11 & 12 at 7:30pm. and September 12 at 2 pm. | Vancouver Playhouse.

Artistic Director Joshua Beamish Staged by Peter Boal

Principal Dancers Heather Ogden, Sasha de Sola, Francesco Gabriele Frola

The mixed program includes one of the most performed and revered works in ballet history, Balanchine’s Apollo, a neoclassical staple that has not been performed in Vancouver in nearly four decades, set to music by Igor Stravinsky; the spellbinding Black Swan Pas de Deux, one of the most iconic scenes from the beloved classic Swan Lake with music by Tchaikovsky; and the Canadian premiere of Jorma Elo’s modern masterpiece Slice to Sharp, originally created for New York City Ballet, and featuring an unexpected pairing of pulsing contemporary ballet movement with romantic Baroque melodies. .

Tickets: from $45.12, Student Groups from $29.40 | available here

 

Arts Club Theatre Company
Heist
by Arun Lakra

When & Where September 17 - October 18 Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 7 pm, Thursday-Saturday at 7:30pm. Matinees Wednesdays at 1 pm, Saturdays at 1:30 pm and Sundays at 2 pm. | Stanley BFL CANADA Stage

Cast The Spider Patti Allan Marvin Charlie Gallant Ryan Tanu Kuru Angie Alexandra Lainfiest Kruger Andrew McNee, Fiona Jennifer Tong

Four brilliant thieves and a mastermind orchestrate the perfect crime but when it all goes wrong who can anyone trust? Packed with snappy dialogu, high-tech theatrics, Blending suspense, humour, and shocking twists, the play invites the audience to piece together clues in a whodunit full of unexpected turns.

Tickets: from $39 | available here

 

Chan Centre for the Performing Arts and Musqueam
Come Toward the Fire Festival

When & Where 18 - 20 September | Chan Centre and various venues across the UBC campus

Curator Jarrett Martineau

New this year for the 5th iteration of the Festival is a third day of free programming – a Day of Knowledge Sharing – which kicks off the festival on Friday, Sept 18. Designed to foster a deeper knowledge and understanding of Indigenous cultures and histories, including workshops, cultural tours, film screenings, video art, an Indigenous artisan market, artist roundtables and learning discussions at venues across UBC.

The festival will continue on Saturday, Sept. 19 with a full day of family-friendly programming at outdoor and indoor venues at the Chan Centre, featuring live music, dance, DJs, film screenings, skateboarding, live mural painting, and more.

The festival will conclude on Sunday, Sept, 20 with an exuberant mainstage concert at the Chan Centre, hosted by Dakota/Diné actor, comedian, and activist Dallas Goldtooth, widely known for his role in Reservation Dogs, and headlined by two-time JUNO Award-winning Oji-Cree singer-songwriter Aysanabee. The ticketed concert will also feature Boslen, Logan Staats, Miss Christie Lee, Coastal Wolf Pack, and the Vancouver debut of Cree pop singer Siibii.

Tickets for Sept. 20: $79 Premium / $49 Regular / $30 Indigenous/Student. More information and ticket purchase Come Toward the Fire

Jonatan Lujan as Apollo. Photo:David CooperFlamenco Rosario
Vancouver Flamenco Festival

When & Where September 19 - 27 various times | Performance Works on Granville Island and various venues

 

This year's festival features a vibrant lineup of local, national, and international artists through live performances, workshops, masterclasses, and community events. Offering both ticketed and free events, the festival is a tribute to the artists who continue to pursue their creative path with passion, courage, and commitment. Festival highlights include guest artist Víctor Fernández , choreographer, dancer, and educator from Granada, Spain and renowned cantaora (singer) Mercedes Cortés who will be joining Flamenco Rosario for the premiere of Nuevo IV- Lo nuevo y lo añejo . Additional programming features Jafelin Helten's Raíz Viva , Kasandra Flamenco's United Elements , and Karen Flamenco's Jewels

The festival will also present two evenings of flamenco music. At Alliance Française, Philippe Jean and Iminah Kani will share the stage in a special guitar evening where the Victor Kolstee Award will also be presented. The festival's traditional La Música del Flamenco will feature song and guitar, followed by a flamenco juerga, a festive gathering. The evening will close with a fiesta or party marking the end of this year's Festival.

Tickets: $30-55 with some free events | available here

The Improv Centre
Deadly Dinner Party

When & Where September 24 - October 30, Thurs.Sept. 24th, Fridays and Saturdays 7:00pm. | The Improv Centre, 1502 Duranleau Street

 

Attend an extravagant feast at the mansion of an eccentric millionaire. Five unlikely guests have accepted the invitation, each arriving with secrets, suspicious motives, and plenty to hide. When the host is murdered, suspicion falls on everyone at the table. Accusations fly, alibis unravel, and every new revelation sends the mystery in a completely unexpected direction. With every twist created on the spot, no two performances – and no two killers – are ever the same! A classic whodunit of improvised proportions.

Passes and tickets can be purchased online at The Improv Centre, by phone at 604-738-7013, or in person at the TIC Box Office

 

ONGOING

 

37th Season of Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Festival

When & Where June 9 – September 19, 2026 | Senakw/Vanier Park, Vancouver

The Festival’s 37th Season features a blend of Shakespearean comedy and tragedy with two unique adaptations of Greek classics. “We are thrilled to bring together the work of Shakespeare and Sophocles for an unforgettable season at Bard on the Beach,” said Founding Artistic Director Christopher Gaze.

THE PLAYS:

Merry Wives of Windsor by William Shakespeare, adapted by Bruce Horak with Rebecca Northan

When & Where June 9 – September 19, 2026 | BMO Mainstage, Senakw/Vanier Park, Vancouver

Director Rebecca Northan

Set in and around the community athletic centre of a (fictional) Vancouver suburb seriously obsessed with soccer, this production guarantees laughter, mischief, and merriment as the roguish John Falstaff sets out to woo two married women in hopes of stealing their fortunes. What follows is a riot of suburban antics, clever plotting, and comic revenge brimming with music. "This is Shakespeare at his most playful and accessible...a joyous, high-energy comedy that speaks directly to contemporary audiences'" says Artistic Director, Christopher Gaze. Previews from June 9, opening June 19.

Tickets From $30 https://bardonthebeach.org or call Bard Box Office at 604-739-0559 or (toll free) 1-877-739-0559.

Macbeth by William Shakespeare, adapted by Stephen Drover

When & Where June 11– September 21, 2026 | BMO Mainstage, Senakw/Vanier Park, Vancouver

Director Stephen Drover

Playing in repertory with Merry Wives, the tragic tale of Macbeth is an exploration of fate, desire, and downfall. This production imagines a dystopian world after a global event where systems are fractured and power is unstable. Using stark design and stylized visuals to heighten themes of power and paranoia it will draw audiences deep into a world that is as haunting as it is unforgettable. Previews from June 11, opening June 21.

Tickets From $30 https://bardonthebeach.org or call Bard Box Office at 604-739-0559 or (toll free) 1-877-739-0559.

Antigone by Sophocles, adapted by Kate Besworth and Ming Hudson

When & Where June 30– September 18, 2026 | Douglas Campbell Theatre, Senakw/Vanier Park, Vancouver

Director Ming Hudson

This reimagining of Sophocles’ enduring drama examines political power, family devastation, and the personal cost of standing against authority with a contemporary urgency.

Tickets From $30 https://bardonthebeach.org or call B Box Office at 604-739-0559 or (toll free) 1-877-739-0559.

Goblin: Oedipus Rex by Sophocles, adapted by John Murrell.

When & Where July 5 – September 19, 2026 | Douglas Campbell Theatre, Senakw/Vanier Park, Vancouver

Goblins Wug, Kragva, and Moog bring their chaotic curiosity and hilarious audience interaction to a fresh retelling of Oedipus the King, Sophocles’ timeless tragedy explores destiny, truth, power, and the limits of human control as one man’s quest for answers leads to his own devastating downfall. Determined to delve deeper into the Dionysian degeneracy of the human race, the Goblins offer up a cautionary tale of patricide, incest, and eye-gouging comedy that you won’t forget.

Tickets From $30 https://bardonthebeach.org or call Bard Box Office at 604-739-0559 or (toll free) 1-877-739-0559.

Photo credit: Sarah Race Photography

Bard After Dark

When & Where August 7, 14, 21, 28 @ 10 pm | Douglas Campbell Theatre, Senakw/Vanier Park, Vancouver

Curator Tightrope Theatre

Rotating Cast Rebecca Northan, Ali Froggatt, Bruce Horak, Peter Oldring, Jen Tong, Camille Legg, Jeff Gladstone, Lili Beaudoin, Ellis Lalonde, Sarah Ferguson, Tess Degenstein, Roman Danylo, Veena Sood, and Raf Rogers

Transforming the Douglas Campbell Theatre into an intimate late-night cabaret a rotating cast of some of Canada's best improvisers plan to create an evening filled with unexpected characters, musical moments, and laugh-out-loud surprises drawn from audience suggestions.

Tickets $25 or $20 with a same-day performance ticket. To book, click here or Tel: 604-739-0559 or (toll free) 1-877-739-0559

This event is for audiences that are 16 years of age and older as it may contain mature themes and strong language that some people may find offensive. With Tightrope Theatre, anything mayhappen!

 

Theatre Under The Stars (TUTS) 2026 Summer Line-up

When & Where July 3 - August 22, 2026 | Stanley Park’s Malkin Bowl, Vancouver

Sister Act

Based on the 1992 hit movie starring Whoopi Goldberg, Sister Act follows aspiring disco diva Deloris Van Cartier who is rushed into witness protection at a nearby convent, after she stumbles upon a shooting involving her gangster boyfriend. Under the guise of her new persona as Sister Mary Clarence, Deloris is tasked with taking over the flailing choir. Her tenacious energy and undeniable talent helps turn the choir into a regional sensation–encouraging her sisters to find their inner light, and ultimately rediscovering the strength of her own.

The Little Mermaid

Disney's The Little Mermaid is based on the classic animated film from 1989. The beloved tale follows Ariel, a curious, young mermaid who dreams of a world above the sea. After saving the life of Prince Eric following a disastrous shipwreck, Ariel strikes a dangerous bargain with the conniving sea witch, Ursula, exchanging her voice for a chance to be human. With the support of her loyal sea friends–Flounder, Sebastian, and Scuttle–Ariel sets out to win Eric's heart and break the curse with a true love's kiss before it's too late.

Tickets: TUTS offers its two-show subscription pack – allowing audiences to secure their seats to both productions for one great price – on sale now through May 7, 2026. Subscriptions are $99 for adults and $69 for youth ages 5-12, and include premium tickets to both productions, souvenir programs, and exchange insurance for both nights.

Subscriptions are available by visiting tuts.ca or by calling 1-800-514-3849 until May 7, 2026. Early bird single tickets, from $35, will be on sale from May 19 - June 20, 2026.

Photo credit: Shawn Bukhari

 

Extended for more two weeks

Arts Club Theatre Company
The Play that Goes Wrong by Henry Lewis, Henry Shields & Jonathan Sayer

When and Where June18 - Aug. 30 | Lindsay Family Stage at Granville Island

DirectorJosh Epstein Set designer Ryan Cormack Costume designer Jessica Oostergo Lighting designer Sophie Tang Sound designer Anton Lipovetski Fight director Mike KovacStage manager Caryn Fehr

Cast Praneet Akilla, Pedro M. Almeida-Siqueira, Scott Bellis Zander Eke, Ben Elliott, Genevieve Fleming, Alexandra Lainfiesta, Andrew McNee, Argel Monte de Ramos, Kelli Ogmundson, Marco Walker-Ng

After months of preparation, the Cornley Drama Society is finally ready for opening night of The Murder at Haversham Manor! Surely, everything will go to plan. Right? Wrong. Things go very wrong. Props fail and cues are missed, but the accident-prone thespians push through to deliver a 1920s whodunit story like you’ve never seen before. This chaotic comedy will have you howling with laughter long after the final curtain.

Tickets from $39.00 are available online

 

Museum of Anthropology
Tupananchiskama: Ancient Andean Cosmovision

When & Where 19 March, 2026 - 3 January, 2027 | Museum of Anthropology
UBC, 6393 NW Marine Drive, Vancouver

Guest curator Luis Manuel González

This exhibition offers a glimpse into Andean cosmovision (a holistic and spiritual framework for explaining the structure of the universe) through an exploration of MOA's collection of nearly 100 ancient Andean artifacts, crafted from ceramic, textile, bone, shell, and wood. Some items date back over 2,500 years. Also included are various ancient wind instruments and an animated projection of an oil painting by contemporary Peruvian artist Miguel Araoz Cartagena of the Milky Way, which highlights the Inka's belief in a dual constellation system–recognizing shapes in the sky's light formations and shadows.

For further information, visit moa.ubc.ca.

Museum of Anthropology
I Use My Haida Eyes: The History Robes of Jut-ke-Nay–Hazel Wilson

When & Where 14 May - 12 October, 2026 | Museum of Anthropology
UBC, 6393 NW Marine Drive, Vancouver

Curator Jordan Wilson

Drawing on the distinctive form and techniques of traditional “button blankets” of the Northwest Coast—robes typically adorned with an individual’s family or clan crests—Hazel Wilson’s works are a radical departure in terms of their representational quality, bringing her practice into the realm of history painting and folk art. The history robes index the innovative ways in which Haida and Indigenous artists continuously expand on traditional forms to speak to a changing wold.
While Hazel Wilson’s series of history robes have been displayed in various iterations—and was the focus of a 2022 book Glory and Exile: Haida History Robes of Jut-ke-Nay Hazel Wilson ( Figure 1 Press and the Haida Gwaii Museum) —this is the first time that the entire collection of robes, but one, will be on display at the same time.

For further information, visit moa.ubc.ca

 


 

Looking ahead

Vancouver International Film Festival

When & Where 1 - 11 October, 2026 | various venues

VIFF 2026 will present an expansive and boldly curated program of films, events, and live performances — celebrating the full breadth of cinema in all its richness and possibility, from revelatory Canadian work and visionary international cinema to incisive documentaries, engaging genre fare, and much more. Curated short film programs will shine a light on storytellers who make every moment resonate.

VIFF Live, expanded to 3 days, explores reworlding visions and sounds of a world in which many worlds fit, of worlds that have already been, that are yet to come. Curated by Jarrett Martineau, the lneup spans avant electronica, experimental performance, Indigenous futurism, orchestral film music, and immersive audiovisual art. VIFF's first collaboration with renowned Montreal electronic music and digital arts festival MUTEK shares the spotlight with several Canadian and North American premiers and debuts. including the North American premiere of Jóhann Jóhannsson's Cinematic Suites: The Denis Villeneuve Scores. More highlights include a special 30th anniversary presentation of The Last Angel of History, featuring a live performance by Speaker Music and a conversation with DeForrest Brown Jr. and Otolith Group founders Kodwo Eshun and Anjalika Sagar; the North American premiere of The KLF: 23 Seconds to Eternity, a new compilation of the legendary electronic duo's complete film and video archive; ERASERHEAD XIU XIU, the acclaimed band's hallucinatory live reinterpretation of David Lynch's cult masterpiece and a rare live audiovisual performance by acclaimed pianist Kelly Moranan.

Tickets and more information at viff.org