Where: Various theatre & arts venues
When: Late January to early February
Hours: Showtimes vary by performance
Years Running: 21
Vancouver’s culturally fearless arts festival
Celebrating its 21st season in 2026, the PuSh International Festival of Performing Arts stands out among Vancouver's major events as one that invites you to discover performances and immersive live experiences that challenge conventions and push creative boundaries.
Throughout the 17-day festival, you’ll explore international productions from visionary world-class artists that resonate long after the final bow. It’s a Vancouver mid-winter escape like no other.
Tips to keep calm and PuSh on
- Get your tickets early: Some shows sell out quickly or have limited seating so it’s a good idea to check the full program online and get your tickets early.
- Research your shows: Review performance descriptions in advance to know what to expect. This helps you identify which shows may not be suitable for younger audiences or find specific accessibility features you require.
- Make a schedule: Once you’ve picked your performances, allow for travel time between locations. While many venues are within walking distance, some require extra transit time to reach.
- Getting there: With venues spread across downtown and central Vancouver, the festival is easily accessible by SkyTrain, bus, and SeaBus. It’s helpful to check TransLink schedules in advance to plan your route. If driving, allow extra time for winter traffic and parking.
- Arrive early: Shows start promptly and latecomers will not be permitted. Aim to arrive at least 20 minutes early to find your seat and settle in.
- Dress in layers: Vancouver winters are often cold and wet, so a waterproof coat and comfortable walking shoes are essentials. Remember your umbrella, gloves, and hat. Indoor venues are heated, so you can shed layers once inside.
Where is the PuSh Festival?
The PuSh Festival takes place at multiple venues. Theatre and arts spaces come to life across downtown and central Vancouver during the PuSh Festival, including the event’s frequently used venues. Check the full full program online for details on this year’s venues.
- The Nest (1398 Cartwright St, Vancouver): An intimate, flexible performance space on Granville Island, frequently used for boundary-pushing theatre and experimental works.
- SFU Goldcorp Centre for the Arts (149 W Hastings St, Vancouver): A central PuSh hub featuring contemporary performance spaces in the heart of Gastown.
- Roundhouse Community Arts & Recreation Centre (181 Roundhouse Mews, Vancouver): A historic Yaletown venue hosting multidisciplinary performances and community-facing programming.
- Scotiabank Dance Centre (677 Davie St, Vancouver): A dedicated dance venue supporting innovative choreography and contemporary movement-based works.
- Waterfront Theatre (1412 Cartwright St, Vancouver): A Granville Island mainstay known for bold, intimate theatrical productions.
- ANNEX (823 Seymour St, Vancouver): A black-box performance space often used for late-night, experimental, and emerging-artist programming.
What to expect
The unexpected
The PuSh International Performing Arts Festival Vancouver invites you to be adventurous and step into the unknown. Explore boundary-pushing, genre-bending stage works and immersive experiences that challenge everything you thought you knew about performance.
Risk-taking global artists
An image from Eternal Tides, one performance only at the 2018 PuSh Festival.
Acclaimed artists from Canada and around the world share unique perspectives through daring contemporary performances. Immerse in the exciting and unforgettable theatre, dance, music, multimedia and innovative hybrids PuSh is renowned for.
Exclusive premieres
Ramanenjana, Photo: Adi Bulboaca/PuSh Festival
Be among the first to witness a curated mix of world, Canadian, and Western Canadian premieres from a total of 17 countries, including Zimbabwe, Palestine, Argentina, and Greenland. These visionary works come to Vancouver for a limited time specifically for the PuSh 2026 season.
Transformative experience
Ramanenjana, Photo: Adi Bulboaca/PuSh Festival
Step into performances that expand perspectives and spark deep reflection, fearlessly tackling complex topics including civilian resilience, post-colonial identity, digital grief, radical tenderness, and hypersexualization, with captivating creativity.
Entertainment with impact
Ramanenjana, Photo: Adi Bulboaca/PuSh Festival
Engage with themes that amplify PuSh International Performing Arts Festival in Vancouver’s mission: to challenge assumptions, facilitate deeper understanding, inspire the imagination, and foster meaningful connections through art.
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