Midway Directory · Vancouver, British Columbia
When is the PNE Fair in Vancouver, and what's there?
The PNE Fair is Vancouver's late-summer fair at Hastings Park, run by the non-profit Pacific National Exhibition. The 2026 fair ran 15 days, August 22 to Labour Day, September 7; 2027 dates have not been announced yet. It mixes Playland rides, shows included with admission, nightly fireworks, Farm Country animals and separately ticketed Summer Night Concerts.
Next dates not yet announced Facts checked on against 6 sources.
Quick facts
Every line comes from a source listed at the bottom of the page. The small numbers point to it.
| Official name | PNE Fair4 |
|---|---|
| Also known as | |
| Type | Exhibition |
| Where | Hastings Park (PNE fairgrounds and Playland), Vancouver, BC42 The PNE gives no single street address for the fairgrounds; its administration office is at 2901 East Hastings Street (at Renfrew). |
| Usually runs | Late August to Labour Day (the 2026 run)45 · August, September |
| Most recent dates | August 22 to September 7, 2026 (15 days open)45 |
| Next dates | Dates not yet announced (as of October 13, 2026) |
| Founded | 1910, the first fair at Hastings Park (the organising association formed in 1907)46 |
| Run by | Pacific National Exhibition (PNE), a non-profit owned by the City of Vancouver43 |
| Official website | pne.ca/ |
| Tickets | Gate admission does not include rides; riders buy their own ride ticket or pass. Summer Night Concerts are ticketed separately. In 2026 the PNE added an Any Day Ticket good for one day of your choice.14 Prices change each year, so we don't print them: check the official page. |
| Attendance | 642,149 guests in 2026, up from 612,404 in 20255 |
What's there
Only what a source says was there. Line-ups change every year.
- Midway rides
- Rides at Playland, the amusement park on the fairgrounds. It took that name in 1958, the year its wooden roller coaster opened.16
- Midway games
- A games line in Playland, near the I Scream, U Scream ice cream stand.1
- Shows
- Daily shows included with admission. In 2026 that meant Wizard of Oz On Ice, a SuperDogs show marking the troupe's 50th anniversary, and the Westcoast Lumberjack Show.14
- Fireworks
- Nightly fireworks: in 2026, a pyro-and-music show at 9:45 pm.4
- Farm animals and agriculture
- Farm Country, with farm animals, pig races, horse demonstrations and pony rides, plus a hands-on Kids Discovery Farm and a 4-H auction.45
- Concerts and stages
- Summer Night Concerts, held in 2026 at the new Freedom Mobile Arch, need their own ticket.15
- Fair food
- Fair food stalls across the grounds; the PNE's 2026 wrap-up counted 153,760 perogies sold at one stand.5
History
A dozen Vancouver businessmen formed the Vancouver Exhibition Association in 1907, and Prime Minister Wilfrid Laurier opened its first fair at Hastings Park in 1910.6 The fair was not held from 1942 while the military used the grounds, and part of the site was used to detain Japanese Canadians; a permanent exhibit on that history opened at the 2026 fair.65 The association became the Pacific National Exhibition in 1946, and in 1958 its old midway, Happyland, moved and reopened as Playland.6 The City of Vancouver took over the PNE from the province on January 1, 2004.6
Getting there
- The fair has four gates: Green Gate on Miller Drive, Yellow Gate at Rollerland off Renfrew Street, Red Gate at Hastings and Renfrew, and Purple Gate, Playland's main gate at Hastings and Windermere.1
- On-site parking is limited, so the PNE asks guests to walk, carpool, use ride-sharing or taxis, or take transit. TransLink has routes and fares.12
Accessibility
Good to know
From the organiser's own FAQ.
- Children 12 and under must be with a paying adult or guardian at all times.1
- Shirts and shoes are required everywhere, and some rides won't take riders in flip-flops.1
- Show seating is first come, first served.1
- Ride coupons are only good in the year you buy them, and there are no rain cheques if weather closes rides.1
Worked out from the sources
Not stated outright by the organiser. This is our arithmetic from the sources cited, so treat it as a strong hint, not an announcement.
What we couldn't confirm
- 2027 dates. Not announced on pne.ca as of the check date.
- Who supplies any fair-time rides beyond Playland's own. The PNE's pages we read don't name an outside midway company.
- How long SuperDogs have been at the fair. The PNE's 2010 fact sheet says the show debuted in 1984; its 2026 releases celebrate 50 years.
- A single street address for the fairgrounds. The PNE lists gates and its administration office, not a fairground address.
Also in the directory
- Member of: BC Association of Agricultural Fairs and Exhibitions (Association or trade show)
- Related: C.W. Parker Carousel (Historic carousel or ride)
- Nearby: VanCity Pinball & Arcade (Arcade or game room, Vancouver, BC)
- Nearby: C.W. Parker Carousel (Historic carousel or ride, Burnaby, BC)
Ties come from the other listing's sources; follow the link to see them.
The Midway Mailbag
New fairs, festivals, midways and attractions as we add them to the directory. About twice a month in fair season, less in winter.
Sources
Official sources first. We paraphrase; nothing is copied. We use no logos or photos from the fair.
- PNE: Fair FAQ. Read on · official
- PNE: Plan your visit to the PNE. Read on · official
- PNE: About Us. Read on · official
- PNE (news release): PNE announces 2026 Fair programming (April 2026). Read on · official
- PNE (news release): A new era for the PNE: 2026 Fair draws strong crowds (September 8, 2026). Read on · official
- PNE: PNE Top 100 Facts (centennial fact sheet, 2010). Read on · official