JOB, a psychological thriller, will be on stage at The Cultch Sept. 29–Oct. 1. | Photo by Emily Cooper for the Cultch.
Sept. 22 marks the start of the autumn equinox which means summer is over for 2026, but the fall season is just getting started. Fall in Vancouver brings a wide variety of events and festivals to enjoy as the city settles into the season. Against a backdrop of colourful orange leaves, you can discover everything from captivating dance performances to thought-provoking film festivals. There’s plenty happening across the city, so why not explore some of the recommended events below?
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RESIST!
Now until Nov. 15
RESIST! brings together works by Rawan Hassan راون حسن, Gord Hill, Laurence Hyde and Elizabeth MacKenzie, artists who have used their work to educate and to inspire significant social change. Since its inception, the medium of print has been employed to create and disseminate information, from early newspapers to posters, flyers, books and zines. This exhibition considers the role of artists in recording and responding to the world around them. For more information about the artists and the exhibit, check out the City of Burnaby’s website.
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Cradled Origins
Now until Jan. 17, 2027
www.billreidgallery.ca/blogs/exhibitions-page/cradled-origins
Cradled Origins is a selection of artworks that features eight emerging and mid-career First Nations artists working in a variety of mediums. Through carvings, weavings, paintings and beadwork, each artist honours the cultural knowledge that they carry and hold while expanding the boundaries of their individual practices. Demonstrated in this exhibition are examples of those connections and the understanding of the weight and importance of teachings that have been passed down from generation to generation. Co-curated by the Bill Reid Gallery curators Aliya Boubard and Carmen Redunante, this exhibition features the work of Chase Gray, Chico Seitcher, Delphine Campbell, Grace Edwards, James Kwaksistala, Kashka Clellamin, Randi Ball and Serena Steel.
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International South Asian Film Festival
Sept. 23–27
Experience the best of South Asian cinema right here in Surrey. iSAFF 2026 brings you award-winning films, world premieres and powerful stories from across the globe. Tickets are available for individual screenings, galas and special events, visit the festival’s website, explore their film showtimes and secure your seat.
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Artists for Conservation Festival 2026
Sept. 24–27
www.artistsforconservation.org
The Artists for Conservation Festival returns to VanDusen Botanical Garden from Sept. 24 – 27. This multi-day nature-themed arts and culture event welcomes visitors of all ages to experience a blend of visual art, cultural performances, workshops, wildlife and art demonstrations and more. For a complete schedule of events, please check out the festival’s website.
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RiverFest 2026
Sept. 26–27
www.fraserriverdiscovery.org/riverfest
Celebrate B.C. Rivers Day and World Rivers Day at the Fraser River Discovery Centre, who are celebrating the return of RiverFest once again! This beloved community event is a free, family-friendly celebration of the living, working Fraser River. This year, RiverFest will take place on Sept. 26 and 27, offering a dynamic mix of exhibits, live performances, exhibitor expo and artisan market, the Lucille Johnstone Workboat Parade and many fun activities for all ages. Enjoy free admission to the Discovery Centre all weekend on Sept. 26 and 27 and join the festivities! Check out the festival program on their website; different activities are planned for each day.
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40th Annual Mid-Autumn Festival: Moon Palace
Sept. 26–27, 2–9 p.m.
www.vancouverchinesegarden.com/events
Step into the Moon Palace and celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival at the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden. Enjoy an afternoon and evening of lanterns, traditional performances, hands-on activities, cultural stories and festive moments for the whole family. This year’s celebration is extra special: 2026 marks the Garden’s 40th anniversary, and this is their 40th annual Mid-Autumn Moon Festival. Their 40th anniversary celebrations began on April 24, their official anniversary, and have continued throughout the year. Join them for the 40th annual Mid-Autumn Moon Festival and celebrate this beloved tradition during a very special year for the Garden.
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Job
Sept. 29–Oct. 11
From Vancouver’s award-winning company, The Search Party, comes a psychological thriller that examines what it means to be a citizen of the internet. Jane, an employee at the big tech company (you know the one), has been placed on leave after becoming the subject of a viral video. She arrives in the office of a crisis therapist – Loyd – determined to be reinstated to the job that gives her life meaning. A psychological thriller, JOB zooms in on two careerists of different generations, genders and political paradigms to examine what it means to be a citizen of the internet and our obligation to help the people who need it most. For tickets and showtimes, check out The Cultch’s website.
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Blind Man’s Bluff –Concerto di Margherita
Oct. 2, 7:30 p.m.
www.earlymusic.bc.ca/events/blind-mans-bluff-concerto-di-margherita
Inspired by the vocal and instrumental works of late 16th and early 17th century Italy, the ensemble Concerto di Margherita presents a programme in the form of a fable: an archetypal Lover is caught in a cruel game of Blind Man’s Bluff. Playing with concepts of visibility and sight throughout the concert, the musicians take the audience with them on the Lover’s path: born in bright innocence, blinded and deluded by love, lost and disoriented in darkness and finally finding solace in obscurity. The musicians of Concerto di Margherita all sing and accompany themselves on their instruments. This practice of self-accompanied singing was described by sixteenth-century court-culture influencer Baldassarre Castiglione as the most refined music, “because all its sweetness is focused in one person, and we can notice the beauty of song and style more attentively.”
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Mom’s the Word: Talkin’ Turkey
Oct. 2–Nov. 8
www.artsclub.com/shows/on-tour/2026-2027/moms-the-word-talkin-turkey
The moms are back in the creative kitchen and ready to turn the “season of giving” into the “season of forgiving.” Enjoy a theatrical feast flavoured with big belly laughs, stuffed with dysfunction, and topped with a soupçon of sarcasm – all served on a platter of naked truth. Using their special recipe of raw humour and humanity, the moms prove that the holidays really are about family, however you define it. Check out the Arts Club website for tickets and showtimes.
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New West Cultural Crawl
Oct. 3–4, 11 a.m.–5 p.m.
Presented by Arts New West, The New West Cultural Crawl is an annual arts & culture festival that celebrates and exhibits the vast creative talents across New Westminster. Artist studios and venues open their doors for two days to welcome thousands of visitors from across Metro Vancouver. The 23rd Annual New West Cultural Crawl will take place on Oct. 3 and 4, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at venues across New Westminster. This family-friendly event invites audiences of young and old to explore the city at their own pace, and check out artworks by professional and emerging artists who reside in the city.
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