'Wicked' star coming to PNE Fair for epic summer night concert series
The lineup for this summer’s PNE concerts continues to grow, and the next group of music stars coming to perform is truly “wicked.”
The Pacific National Exhibition (PNE) has released another five acts coming for this year’s Summer Night Concerts at the Freedom Mobile Arch as part of the 2026 PNE Fair.
One of the most anticipated concerts in the lineup features Elphaba herself, Cynthia Erivo.
There are also fan-favourite rock bands, Punjabi greats, and more to add to your summer schedule.
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Here is the next group of artists announced for Summer Night Concerts 2026:
Friday, Aug. 28: Mt. Joy
Mt. Joy is a platinum-selling indie rock band with hits including “Silver Lining,” “Lemon Tree,” and “Lucy.”
The group has garnered hundreds of millions of streams, received praise from Rolling Stone and The New York Times, and sold out venues like Red Rocks, Madison Square Garden, and the Hollywood Bowl.
Mt. Joy
Saturday, Aug. 29: Cynthia Erivo with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra
Cynthia Erivo is one of the biggest names on stage and screen, with her resume ranging from a Tony-winning performance in The Colour Purple to an Academy Award nomination for her work in Harriet and Wicked.
The latter is a blockbuster film adaptation that earned Erivo several awards and solidified her status as a superstar. She will be joined by the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra under the direction of guest conductor Anthony Parnther for an evening of music and storytelling.
Cynthia Erivo
Sunday, Aug. 30: Punjabi Virsa
The Punjabi Virsa Concert Series has been entertaining audiences around the world since 2004. Manmohan Waris, Kamal Heer, and Sangtar invite guests to celebrate the rich cultural heritage of Punjab with an evening of traditional and contemporary Punjabi music.
Tuesday, Sept. 1: Train
Three-time Grammy winners Train are bringing their brand of feel-good rock and pop to the PNE Fair.
Whether you know them from their early hits like “Meet Virginia” to the anthemic “Drops of Jupiter” or the chart-topper “Hey, Soul Sister”, the multi-platinum-selling group will be sure to give you a good time during their show at Freedom Mobile Arch.
Wednesday, Sept. 2: Barenaked Ladies
Barenaked Ladies has won eight Juno Awards, garnered two Grammy nominations and was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 2018. The group has had its own Ben & Jerry’s ice cream flavour, hosted a cruise, and even participated in the first-ever “space-to-earth musical collaboration” with astronaut Chris Hadfield.
The legendary Canadian quartet has sold 15 million records worldwide during its 33-year career, with smash hits including “If I Had $1,000,000,” “One Week,” “Pinch Me,” and “The Big Bang Theory Theme.”
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The Summer Night Concerts will run every evening that the PNE Fair is open. Stay tuned for the rest of the lineup to be revealed tomorrow.
Tickets include fair admission and start as low as $49 plus fees. Pre-sale begins on Monday, April 20, at 10 a.m. online.
And if you need your Playland fix before the Fair opens this summer, make plans to ride starting in May when the amusement park officially opens for the season.
PNE Fair Summer Night Concerts
When: Aug. 22 to Sept. 7, 2026 (no concerts on Aug. 24 or 31)
Where: Freedom Mobile Arch at The PNE — 2901 E. Hastings St., Vancouver
Tickets: Start as low as $49 plus fees and include fair admission. Pre-sale begins on Monday, April 20, at 10 a.m. online.