--- title: "Vancouver's free Christmas tree lighting returns to šxʷƛ̓ənəq Xwtl'e7énḵ Square on November 27" description: "The 20th annual Christmas tree lighting at šxʷƛ̓ənəq Xwtl'e7énḵ Square is free, starts at 6 pm on November 27, and benefits three Vancouver-area charities." canonical_url: "https://voche.me/news/vancouver-christmas-tree-lighting-november-2026" last_updated: "2026-11-12T23:01:27.971Z" --- A 76-foot Christmas tree covered in more than 100,000 light bulbs goes on at šxʷƛ̓ənəq Xwtl'e7énḵ Square on the evening of November 27, 2026. The event is free, it starts at 6 pm, and all money raised goes to three Vancouver-area charities. ## What happens on November 27 The Vancouver Christmas Tree Lighting Celebration is in its 20th year. The ceremony takes place at šxʷƛ̓ənəq Xwtl'e7énḵ Square, the North Plaza of the Vancouver Art Gallery at 850 W Georgia Street in downtown Vancouver. The square sits on the north side of the gallery between Howe and Hornby streets. Doors open at the plaza from the early evening. The lighting itself begins at 6 pm. The organizers say the evening includes live entertainment, photo opportunities and a visit from Santa Claus. A livestream will run at the same time on treelightingvancouver.com for anyone watching from home. The specific performers for 2026 had not been named on the event site as of November 12. The tree stays lit through the holiday season after the ceremony. ## The tree The organizers say the tree is 76 feet tall and carries over 100,000 light bulbs. Amacon notes that the Rockefeller Center tree in New York has 50,000 lights, so this tree has more than double that count. Daily Hive Vancouver describes it as one of Western Canada's tallest outdoor Christmas trees. ## Who presents it Amacon, a Vancouver-based real estate developer with offices at 856 Homer Street, presents the event. The company has organized and funded the celebration for 20 consecutive years. This is not a City of Vancouver event. Amacon covers the cost of the production, and sponsorship dollars flow to the charities rather than to operating costs. ## The three charities One hundred per cent of proceeds from the event go to three organizations, according to the official event website. **BC Children's Hospital Foundation** raises money for BC Children's Hospital in Vancouver. The foundation says its funds support research and medical technology for childhood illness care. **Honour House** operates an 11-bedroom facility in Metro Vancouver providing free accommodation to Canadian Armed Forces members, veterans, and emergency services personnel who travel to the region for medical treatment, along with their families. The organization has provided more than 17,000 nights of accommodation and runs entirely on donations. Its annual operating cost averages $10,000 per bedroom. **Vancouver International Children's Festival** presents music, theatre, dance, and arts programming for young people in Vancouver. The organizers say the event has raised more than $2 million for the three organizations over five years. ## BC Children's Hospital Foundation BC Children's Hospital is a provincial children's hospital in Vancouver. The BC Children's Hospital Foundation says it raises money to fund research and medical technology the hospital uses in caring for children across British Columbia. Many families travel long distances for care at the hospital and need accommodation nearby while their child is being treated. ## Honour House Honour House runs an 11-bedroom facility in Metro Vancouver. It gives free accommodation to Canadian Armed Forces members, veterans, and emergency services personnel who come to the region for medical care, and to their families. The organization says it has provided more than 17,000 nights of accommodation since it opened, and relies entirely on donations to operate. It says the average annual cost of running each bedroom is $10,000. ## Vancouver International Children's Festival The Vancouver International Children's Festival celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2027. It has taken place in Vancouver each year since the late 1970s, presenting theatre, music, dance, circus, and storytelling for children and families. The festival takes place each spring and is a long-running fixture in Vancouver's cultural calendar. ## Getting there šxʷƛ̓ənəq Xwtl'e7énḵ Square is in the centre of downtown Vancouver at 850 W Georgia Street, on the north side of the Vancouver Art Gallery. The Vancouver City Centre SkyTrain station on the Canada Line is on Granville Street, one block west. The Burrard station on the same line is two blocks east on Burrard Street. Several bus routes stop along Georgia Street and on Granville Street nearby. The area has no dedicated parking lot, so transit is the practical choice for an evening event of this size. ## Attending or watching from home The event is free and no ticket is needed to attend in person. The organizers say to arrive a few minutes before 6 pm if you want a clear view of the tree as it lights up for the first time. The plaza is an open public space; there is no barrier or wristband for entry. For those who cannot attend, the livestream at treelightingvancouver.com begins at 6 pm on November 27. The organizers say no registration is needed. The livestream link will be posted on the site before the event. The organizers describe the event as family-friendly and suitable for all ages. ## Sitemap See the full [sitemap](/sitemap.md) for all pages.