Free ice skating will soon return to downtown Vancouver for the holidays
The Robson Square Ice Rink will soon reopen for the new skating season, and all ages are invited to hit the ice during the holidays and into the new year.
Located under the covered outdoor plaza at Robson Square, the rink operates seasonally when temperatures begin to dip.
The downtown Vancouver wintry tradition will kick off on Monday, Dec. 1 and will operate until the end of February. Over 100,000 skaters are expected to visit each year.
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Vancouver’s only outdoor public skating rink has operated nearly every winter season since it reopened in late November 2009 following a $2-million repair and upgrade before the 2010 Olympic Winter Games. Before the renovation, the rink was closed for nearly a decade.
Skating is free for all ages. Those without skates can rent them on-site for a fee, and helmets are mandatory for anyone under the age of 12.
Through the Robson Square School Skate Program, students in grades 4 to 7 throughout the Lower Mainland can take advantage of free skating, skate rentals, and skating lessons.
Robson Square Ice Rink (Daniel Chai/Daily Hive)
The rink is open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily, though hours will shift on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year’s Eve, and New Year’s Day.
And for more holiday fun, you can check out the Vancouver Christmas Market at Jack Poole Plaza, VanDusen Festival of Lights with over one million lights, and one of Canada’s largest Christmas stores, which is now open in Surrey.
Robson Square Ice Rink
When: Open daily from Monday, Dec. 1, until Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026
Time: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. (holiday hours apply on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day)
Where: Robson Square — 800 Robson St., Vancouver; beneath Robson Street and Howe Street
Cost: Free for all ages if you bring your skates. Skate rentals are also available for a fee.