France Takes Center Stage at the 2026 Vancouver International Wine Festival
If you enjoy a good glass of wine, you might want to clear your calendar for the second week of March. The Vancouver International Wine Festival is returning from March 7 to 14, 2026. It is one of the biggest events in the city, taking over the Vancouver Convention Centre and several other spots around town.
This year, the festival is putting a big focus on France. They are bringing in 27 French wineries representing nine different famous regions. If you go to the main tasting room, there will be a specific area just for French wines, including special stations for Bordeaux and Beaujolais. It is a great chance to taste your way through France.
In total, 113 wineries from 14 countries are attending, with 33 different events scheduled throughout the week. While the big tasting room is the main draw, there are also smaller seminars where you can learn about things like Australian wine or how certain vineyards use natural farming methods.
One of the best things about the tasting room is that you get to try bottles you usually can’t find. About three-quarters of the wines poured there aren’t available in your average liquor store. To make it easier to remember what you liked, they are using EZfocus to help you find and buy those specific wines after the festival is over.
It is not just about the drinks, though. The festival also highlights the great food scene here in Vancouver. They partner with local restaurants for special dinners, and culinary students from local colleges help out with the lunches. It is a nice way to see how well different foods and wines work together.
The whole event helps out a good cause, too. Since it started back in 1979, the festival has raised more than $10 million for the Bard on the Beach Theatre Society. So, while you are enjoying a glass of wine, you are also supporting the Shakespeare plays we see at Vanier Park every summer.
If you are thinking of coming from out of town or just want to stay downtown for the night, there is a helpful deal through StayVancouverHotels. If you book a room at one of their 43 partner hotels, you get a free ticket to a tasting session. This is part of their effort to make sure nobody drinks and drives.
Tickets are already available for the big gala dinner and the main international tastings. If you are interested in the winery dinners, those go on sale on Wednesday, January 14. Everything else opens up for booking on January 21. It usually gets busy, so it is a good idea to check the website early if there is a specific dinner or seminar you really want to attend.
