Where can I find Christmas markets in and around Vancouver in 2026?

Online Christmas shopping isn’t nearly as much fun as browsing independent vendor stands––and enjoying the festive vibe––at a well-curated local holiday market. And they’re always a great way to find brilliantly original pressies for absolutely everyone on your gift list.

 

Researching the Vancouver Christmas Guide this year––our 10th anniversary season––we discovered that Metro Vancouver is crammed like a bulging Yuletide stocking with a massive array of enticing festive fairs and markets.

 

Some are large and well known. Others are much smaller but just as rewarding. The trick is to know when and where they are, and to plan your shopping excursions accordingly. Luckily, we’ve made it easier for you with a handy round-up of some of our 2026 favourites. Check out our Events page for additional markets as well as late-breaking happenings––and keep an eye on this story, which we will update as more markets connect with us and announce their details for the 2026 season.

 

The Famous Ones

 

The wildly popular Vancouver Christmas Market at downtown’s Jack Poole Plaza isn't just about shopping. Running from November 16 to December 24, this twinkling annual attraction includes a carousel, selfie-ready illuminations and lots of tasty food stands. But we particularly love exploring the dozens of little wooden vendor huts––especially if we can find some traditional German Christmas ornaments.

 

Speaking of European-style holiday markets, North Vancouver's admission-free Shipyards Christmas Market is also back this season. This time around, there'll be more than 100 vendor huts, live entertainment,  tasty cuisine and plenty of mulled wine––just steps from Lonsdale Quay's SeaBus terminal. Their approach has been such a success story that they're event launching a brand new sister event this year: Langley Christmas Village.

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Back for its 42nd edition in 2026, don't miss the much-loved Dunbar Holiday Craft Fair, a one-day-only event with more than 140 vendors on November 21. And be sure to add another returning favourite to your calendar as well: Yaletown’s Portobello West Holiday Market. It’s on November 28 and 29 this year, and you can expect a cleverly-curated array of dozens of regional artisans––with everything from jewellery to skincare to gourmet treats on the tables.

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More Local Artisans

 

Metro Vancouverites are a highly crafty bunch, with countless artisan markets staged around the city throughout the year. But the holidays sees the highest concentration of market happenings––and they’re typically jam-packed  with a great array of unique pressie possibilities (including jam).

 

Consider Chilliwack's ginormous Christmas Gifts Expo––complete with 300+vendors––or the hugely popular Cloverdale Christmas Craft Fair, with its warm and friendly atmosphere. And we can't wait for the 2026 edition of the New Westminster Holiday Farmers Market, which always has a highly welcoming family-friendly vibe. The family-friendly atmosphere is also a major attraction at the Port Moody Christmas Craft Fair, back for its 11th year in 2026. 

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And we certainly won't be missing this year's edition of the First Pick Handmade Holiday Pop Up Market at Heritage Hall on Main Street in Vancouver, complete with its super-cool array of design-forward items created by local and across-Canada artisans. The following week, the same venue hosts First Pick's sister event, Good Stuff Market, where smaller gifts and goodies priced at $50 or less is the focus. And don't miss the return of the ever-quirky Weirdos Holiday Market, back for its 10th year in 2026.

 

Also returning in 2026, Western Front's Toque Craft Fair (pictured above) is a great way to support local artists and visit a unique, century-old Vancouver heritage building at the same time. Supporting local creatives is also the focus at the Blackberry Winter Arts Market, and Handcrafted Gifts at the Pitt Meadows Art Gallery, both of which feature the work of dozens of local artists and artisans. 

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Hidden Gems

 

As ever, there are some intriguing under-the-radar events this year that are well-worth searching out. For unique handmade creations, check out the delightfully old-school Marpole Christmas Fair––a fundraiser for the area's Historical Society and a reminder of how yesteryear community festive fairs and events used to feel. And if you want to attend a market far from the madding crowds of some huge holiday events, consider South Vancouver’s charming Tugboat Landing Artisan Market on December 5 and 6.

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But that's not all. Make sure you add a Cloverdale visit or two to your markets calendar this year. At the Cloverdale Fairgrounds, you'll find more than 100 vendors to peruse at the annual Cloverdale Christmas Craft Fair on November 7. Then, a month later, the same folks will be hosting their sixth annual Ladies Night Sip & Shop event where pressie-shopping comes with a very civilized glass of wine!​​​

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For more information on festive events, attractions and shows in the city and beyond, visit the Vancouver Christmas Guide. Written by Lonely Planet travel writer John Lee–-also the co-author of the new book Freecouver: 101 Free Things to do in & Around Vancouver––it’s the best online guide to the area’s 2026 holiday happenings. The site was co-created with Christmas Cat Max, who pens its gift reviews and often appears on its Instagram and Bluesky feeds.

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