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FanVancouver · Local guide

What's Open on Boxing Day 2026 in Vancouver: Malls, Stores

Open or closed on Boxing Day, 26 December 2026, in Vancouver: malls, Costco, BC Liquor, grocery, banks, Canada Post, transit and attractions, with sources.

Home · December in Vancouver · Open on Boxing Day

Saturday, 26 December 2026 is a shopping day, not a day off: malls, big-box stores and supermarkets open, government liquor stores run shorter hours, and the light festivals are back on in the evening. Banks are shut and there is no mail.

Saturday, 26 December 2026. Boxing Day is not a statutory holiday in British Columbia, so shops open and it is the biggest sale day of the year. Banks and Canada Post still treat it as a holiday. Checked on 12 November 2026. Most operators post holiday hours in December, so each line below says whether it is confirmed for this season, a standing rule, or what happened in past seasons. Where hours are not posted we link the source instead of guessing.

Boxing Day at a glance

Place26 DecemberHow sure
TransLink buses, SkyTrain and SeaBusOpenNot postedNot posted
BC FerriesOpenPast seasonsPast seasons
Street parking metersPay as usualStanding ruleStanding rule
Malls: CF Pacific Centre, Metrotown, Park RoyalOpenNot postedNot posted
Supermarkets: Save-On-Foods, Superstore, Walmart, Whole Foods, T&TOpenPast seasonsPast seasons
CostcoOpenPast seasonsPast seasons
BC Liquor StoresShorter hoursPast seasonsPast seasons
PharmaciesVariesNot postedNot posted
BanksClosedStanding ruleStanding rule
Canada PostClosedConfirmedConfirmed
Government offices: Service Canada, ServiceBC, ICBC, City HallClosedStanding ruleStanding rule
SchoolsClosedStanding ruleStanding rule
Community centres, pools and librariesVariesNot postedNot posted
RestaurantsOpenStanding ruleStanding rule
Movie theatresOpenPast seasonsPast seasons
Vancouver AquariumOpenPast seasonsPast seasons
Science WorldCheck firstNot postedNot posted
Capilano Suspension Bridge and Canyon LightsOpenConfirmedConfirmed
VanDusen Festival of LightsOpenConfirmedConfirmed
Vancouver Christmas MarketClosedConfirmedConfirmed
Grouse, Cypress and SeymourOpenPast seasonsPast seasons
Robson Square ice rinkCheck firstNot postedNot posted
Stanley Park, the seawall and beachesOpenStanding ruleStanding rule
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Getting around on Boxing Day

Is transit running on Boxing Day?

Open Yes. 26 December 2026 is a Saturday, so every trip is a one-zone fare all day. TransLink had not posted its Boxing Day 2026 timetable when we checked.

Not posted yet. Source: TransLink holiday service

Are BC Ferries running on Boxing Day?

Open Yes. BC Ferries has described 26 and 27 December as the busiest days after Christmas, so reserve a sailing rather than driving up.

Based on past seasons. Source: BC Ferries schedules

Is street parking free on Boxing Day?

Pay as usual No, you still pay. City of Vancouver meters are in effect 9am to 10pm, seven days a week.

Standing rule. Source: City of Vancouver metered parking

Shopping on Boxing Day

Are malls open on Boxing Day?

Open Yes. Boxing Day is the biggest sale day of the year and the malls open for it, some earlier than usual. Each mall posts its own Boxing Day hours in December; none had posted 2026 hours when we checked. Also asked: Is Metrotown open on Boxing Day?; Is Park Royal open on Boxing Day?; Is Pacific Centre open on Boxing Day?

Not posted yet. Source: CF Pacific Centre, Metropolis at Metrotown, Park Royal

Are grocery stores open on Boxing Day?

Open Yes at the main chains, some on shorter hours. Check the store page for your branch. Also asked: Is Save-On-Foods open on Boxing Day?; Is Walmart open on Boxing Day?; Is Superstore open on Boxing Day?

Based on past seasons

Is Costco open on Boxing Day?

Open Yes. Last season Costco's BC warehouse pages listed Boxing Day as 9am to 8:30pm. Confirm on the page for your warehouse.

Based on past seasons. Source: Costco warehouse pages

Are BC Liquor Stores open on Boxing Day?

Shorter hours Yes, on shorter hours. In past years government stores opened 11am to 6pm on Boxing Day. Private stores set their own hours. Also asked: Are liquor stores open on Boxing Day?

Based on past seasons. Source: BC Liquor Stores

Are pharmacies open on Boxing Day?

Varies Most are, with hours set store by store. Use the chain's store locator for your branch. Also asked: Is London Drugs open on Boxing Day?; Is Shoppers Drug Mart open on Boxing Day?

Not posted yet

Services on Boxing Day

Are banks open on Boxing Day?

Closed No. Boxing Day is a bank holiday, and in 2026 it is also a Saturday. Some branches observe it on Monday 28 December as well, as Canada Post does, so check yours. ATMs and online banking work as usual.

Standing rule

Is the post office open on Boxing Day?

Closed No delivery. Canada Post observes its 2026 Boxing Day holiday on Monday 28 December, so there is no collection or delivery that Monday either. Postal counters inside a pharmacy or shop follow that business's hours. Also asked: Is there mail delivery on Boxing Day?

Confirmed for this season. Source: Canada Post holiday schedule

Are government offices open on Boxing Day?

Closed No. It is a Saturday. Because the holiday lands on a weekend, some offices also observe it on Monday 28 December, so check the office page before a Monday visit. Also asked: Is Service Canada open on Boxing Day?; Is ICBC open on Boxing Day?

Standing rule. Source: BC statutory holidays

Are schools open on Boxing Day?

Closed No. It is a Saturday inside the winter break. Your district calendar gives the first day back in January.

Standing rule. Source: Vancouver School Board calendars

Are community centres and libraries open on Boxing Day?

Varies Some, on holiday hours. The City posts a facility-by-facility holiday list in December.

Not posted yet. Source: City of Vancouver

Food and going out on Boxing Day

Are restaurants open on Boxing Day?

Open Most are, as on a normal Saturday. Downtown is busy with sale shoppers, so book lunch near the malls.

Standing rule

Are movie theatres open on Boxing Day?

Open Yes. Check showtimes for your cinema.

Based on past seasons

Attractions on Boxing Day

Is the Vancouver Aquarium open on Boxing Day?

Open Yes in past years. Confirm 2026 hours on the aquarium's site.

Based on past seasons. Source: Vancouver Aquarium

Is Science World open on Boxing Day?

Check first Holiday-week hours for 2026 were not posted when we checked. Confirm on Science World's site.

Not posted yet. Source: Science World

Is Capilano Suspension Bridge open on Boxing Day?

Open Yes. Canyon Lights runs daily from 20 November 2026 to 10 January 2027, 11am to 10pm, with last entry at 9pm.

Confirmed for this season. Source: our full guide

Is VanDusen Festival of Lights open on Boxing Day?

Open Yes, 4pm to 10pm with last entry at 9pm. The festival runs from 27 November 2026 to 3 January 2027.

Confirmed for this season. Source: our full guide

Is the Vancouver Christmas Market open on Boxing Day?

Closed No. The market ended on 24 December.

Confirmed for this season. Source: our full guide

Are the ski hills open on Boxing Day?

Open Yes, conditions permitting. The holiday week is peak season, so go for first chair or an evening session. Also asked: Is Grouse Mountain open on Boxing Day?

Based on past seasons. Source: Grouse Mountain hours, our full guide

Is Robson Square ice rink open on Boxing Day?

Check first Holiday hours for 2026 were not posted when we checked.

Not posted yet. Source: Robson Square rink, our full guide

Is Stanley Park open on Boxing Day?

Open Yes, as usual and free.

Standing rule

What to do in Vancouver on Boxing Day

Staying in Vancouver over the holidays

Pick a hotel you can walk from. Transit runs a holiday timetable, taxis are scarce late on the 24th and the 31st, and street parking is never free. Downtown and Coal Harbour put you beside the seawall, the Canada Line and the hotel restaurants that stay open; see our where to stay in Vancouver guide and the hotels near Canada Place.

Where to stay in Vancouver → Transit fares Parking

How we checked

We read each operator's own page on 12 November 2026 and did not phone anyone. Lines marked “Confirmed for this season” come from a 2026-27 notice. “Standing rule” is law or published policy. “Based on past seasons” is what the operator did before and has not yet updated. Hours can change at short notice in snow, so check the source link on the day.

FAQ

Questions travellers ask most

Is Boxing Day a statutory holiday in BC? +

Boxing Day is not a statutory holiday in British Columbia, so shops open and it is the biggest sale day of the year. Banks and Canada Post still treat it as a holiday.

Are restaurants open on Boxing Day in Vancouver? +

Most are, as on a normal Saturday. Downtown is busy with sale shoppers, so book lunch near the malls.

Are malls open on Boxing Day in Vancouver? +

Yes. Boxing Day is the biggest sale day of the year and the malls open for it, some earlier than usual. Each mall posts its own Boxing Day hours in December; none had posted 2026 hours when we checked.

Are grocery stores open on Boxing Day in Vancouver? +

Yes at the main chains, some on shorter hours. Check the store page for your branch.

Are BC Liquor Stores open on Boxing Day in Vancouver? +

Yes, on shorter hours. In past years government stores opened 11am to 6pm on Boxing Day. Private stores set their own hours.

Is transit running on Boxing Day in Vancouver? +

Yes. 26 December 2026 is a Saturday, so every trip is a one-zone fare all day. TransLink had not posted its Boxing Day 2026 timetable when we checked.

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