--- title: "Vancouver Christmas Market adds five new features for 2026" description: "The market returns to Jack Poole Plaza from November 16 to December 24 with new German Village facades at the entrance, a Wishing Forest, a Secret Cocktail Wall, a Fire Pit Lounge, and a Krampus Night on November 21." canonical_url: "https://voche.me/news/vancouver-christmas-market-expansion-november-2026" last_updated: "2026-11-07T18:14:03.622Z" --- The Vancouver Christmas Market returns to Jack Poole Plaza on November 16 and runs through December 24, 2026. This year the organizers have added five new features, the most visible of which changes the entrance entirely. New German Village facades are going up at the market entrance, the first architectural change to the arrival experience since the market opened in 2010. The other four additions are inside the market: the Wishing Forest, the Secret Cocktail Wall, the Fire Pit Lounge, and a 2026 collectible mug. ## What is new this year The Wishing Forest is an interactive woodland in the alley in front of the Alpen Haus. Visitors write a wish on a wooden ornament and leave it among the trees for the season. The Secret Cocktail Wall is a hidden window in the Pyramid area. Ring a bell and Santa or the Grinch hands a drink through the opening. The Fire Pit Lounge adds standing fire pits for warmth and conversation. The collectible mug is a limited-edition keepsake marking what the organizers describe as a new era for the market. Beyond the five new additions, the 2026 market carries over what it has always offered: over 90 vendor huts across the Marktplatz, the Gourmetstrasse, and the Kaufmanngasse alleys; a sparkling carousel; daily live performances; a 35-foot walk-through Christmas tree; and snow falling across the market every 30 minutes. ## Special events this season The market adds themed nights and breakfast experiences on specific dates: - **Krampus Night**: Saturday, November 21, included with general admission - **Breakfast with Santa**: Saturday, December 5, ticketed separately - **Breakfast with the Grinch**: Saturday, December 12, ticketed separately - **Après-Ski Night**: every Saturday at Market Square, included with admission - **Date Nights**: every Tuesday, a package for two covering admission, drinks, a Love Lock experience, and a photo keepsake The market runs extended hours from December 19 to 23, 10 am to 10 pm daily. It closes on December 24 at 6 pm. ## Hours and tickets Hours vary by week. From November 16 to December 3, weekdays run 4 pm to 9:30 pm and weekends run 11:30 am to 9:30 pm. From December 4 to 18, the market runs until 9:30 pm Sunday through Thursday and 10 pm Friday and Saturday. According to Vancouver Is Awesome, single-ticket general admission starts at $7.99 for advance purchases. The market's own ticket page confirms the $7.99 starting price and states that children 6 and under are always free and do not need a ticket. Tickets are available at the market's ticket site. Jack Poole Plaza is at 1055 Canada Place. The nearest SkyTrain station is Waterfront on the Expo, Millennium, and Canada lines. The market's full schedule and ticket link are at [vancouverchristmasmarket.com](https://www.vancouverchristmasmarket.com/). ## Sitemap See the full [sitemap](/sitemap.md) for all pages.