France Takes the Spotlight at the 2026 Vancouver International Wine Festival

If you enjoy a good glass of wine, you might want to mark your calendar for March. The Vancouver International Wine Festival is returning for its 47th year from March 7 to 14, 2026. This is a massive event that takes over the Vancouver Convention Centre East and several other spots around the city, bringing together people who simply love wine and those who work in the industry.

This year, there are 113 wineries visiting from 14 different countries. While the event covers the whole world, the focus for 2026 is on France. You will find 27 French wineries representing nine different famous regions. If you have ever wanted to learn more about French wine culture without buying a plane ticket, this is a great chance to do it.

The Grand Tasting Room is the main attraction. It features a special section just for France, including a themed wine bar and stations focused on wines from Beaujolais and Bordeaux. One of the coolest parts about the Tasting Room is that many of the wines poured there are hard to find. In fact, about three-quarters of the bottles are only available at specific restaurants or private shops. This year, the festival is even using a tool called EZfocus to help you find and buy those wines after the event is over.

If you want to do more than just taste, there are 33 different events to choose from. You can go to winery dinners at local restaurants, join a lively lunch, or attend a seminar. For example, there is a session called Tour de France in Your Glass where you can learn about seven different French regions. There are also specialized sessions for people in the wine business that cover topics like biodynamic farming and soil types.

The festival is not just about having a good time; it also does a lot of good for the community. Since it started in 1979, the event has raised more than $10.3 million for the Bard on the Beach Theatre Society. So, while you are sipping on a new favourite red or white, you are also supporting local performing arts.

Planning your visit is fairly simple, but you have to watch the dates. Tickets for the big tasting sessions and the Gala Dinner are already available. If you want to go to the winery dinners, those go on sale on Wednesday, January 14. All other public events start selling on January 21, and trade events go on sale January 28.

If you are coming from out of town, or if you just want to make a weekend of it, there is a helpful hotel deal. If you book a stay at one of the participating downtown hotels through StayVancouverHotels.com, you can get a free ticket to a tasting session. Booking two nights gets you two free tickets. This is part of the festival’s effort to make sure nobody drinks and drives.

Whether you are a total beginner or someone who knows their way around a cellar, the festival is designed to be approachable. It is a week of exploring new flavours, meeting the people who make the wine, and enjoying the great food scene in Vancouver. You can find all the details and grab your tickets at VanWineFest.ca.