Vancouver Art Gallery
49°17′ N 123°07′ WGallery$35
The Vancouver Art Gallery suits a rainy downtown afternoon, with Emily Carr on show until 8 November 2026 and Modern Iran and the Avant-Gardes arriving on 11 December, and the trade-off is a $35 ticket for visitors from outside BC, with the doors shut every Tuesday.
Photo by Vincent Y @USA on Unsplash and others, credited in the gallery
Field card · Sight · No. 031 · checked 17 Oct 2026
Plan around Tuesdays, when the gallery stays shut.
Access
The Hornby and Robson Street entrances give street-level access during all public hours. Wheelchairs are lent first come, first served, or you can reserve one on 604-662-4700.
The gallery says it is situated within the unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. That Green Ideal: Emily Carr and the Idea of Nature runs until 8 November 2026. Future Geographies: Art in the Century of Climate Change stays up until 10 January 2027, and so does its companion show SANCTUARY: The Ancient Forest Experience.
Winter's big show is Modern Iran and the Avant-Gardes, 1948–78, from 11 December 2026 to 2 May 2027, and Vancouver Now! Annie Briard opens the same day and runs to 29 March. Highlights from the Collection carries on into 2030. On 12 February 2027 two more open: Made in Hong Kong: From the Collection and Stephanie Comilang: Search for Life.
Bring a card, because the gallery is cashless and turns away phone wallets and Discover. Coats and backpacks go in free self-serve lockers that come with your ticket. The 1931 Gallery Bistro sits inside if you want lunch between floors.
Worth knowing
- BMO presents Free First Friday Nights, when the gallery opens free from 4 to 8 pm on the first Friday of every month. Reserve ahead to be sure of a spot, or try for walk-in tickets.
- A BC resident pays $29 a visit, so the $58 annual Access Pass covers itself on the second visit.
- Canada Place is a 14-minute walk by OpenStreetMap routing, or 4 minutes on foot to Vancouver City Centre station and 2 minutes on the Canada Line to Waterfront.
Quick answers about Vancouver Art Gallery
How much is the Vancouver Art Gallery?
General admission to the Vancouver Art Gallery is $35 for visitors from outside BC and $29 for BC residents in 2026. Youth 13 to 18 and children 12 and under get in free.
Is the Vancouver Art Gallery open on Tuesdays?
No. The Vancouver Art Gallery closes every Tuesday and opens 10 am to 5 pm on the other days, with Fridays to 8 pm.
When is the Vancouver Art Gallery free?
The Vancouver Art Gallery is free on the first Friday of every month from 4 to 8 pm, during Free First Friday Nights presented by BMO.
What's on at the Vancouver Art Gallery this winter?
Modern Iran and the Avant-Gardes, 1948–78 runs at the Vancouver Art Gallery from 11 December 2026 to 2 May 2027. Future Geographies: Art in the Century of Climate Change stays until 10 January 2027.
What are the opening hours of Vancouver Art Gallery?
Vancouver Art Gallery keeps these hours: Mon 10:00–17:00; Tue closed; Wed–Thu 10:00–17:00; Fri 10:00–20:00; Sat–Sun 10:00–17:00.
When is the best time to visit Vancouver Art Gallery?
Vancouver Art Gallery: The first Friday of the month from 4 to 8 pm, when Free First Friday Nights let everyone in free.
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In the journal and guides
Read more about Vancouver Art Gallery
Guide · 9 min read
What can you do from Canada Place before all-aboard?
With two hours, stay on foot along the waterfront and in Gastown. Lonsdale Quay across the SeaBus fits in three, and the free park shuttle to the Capilano Suspension Bridge needs four.
Practical guide · 13 min read
What can you do on a rainy day in North Vancouver and Vancouver?
Ride the SeaBus to Lonsdale Quay and a wet morning at the Polygon Gallery and MONOVA costs an adult $15 and a donation, with the Food Hall open until 9 pm.