10 amazing Vancouver theatre and arts events happening in November
November is bringing a bunch of terrific theatre and arts events to Vancouver, and we can’t wait to check them out!
From Chutzpah! Festival to Michael Jackson, and more, here are 10 fantastic arts events to check out around town.
And for more fun things happening around town, be sure to visit our Listed section.
Lumière Festival 2025
Lumière Festival
What: Vancouver is about to get lit up by the returning Lumière Festival, and this year promises to shine bright in celebration!
Lumière’s 12th anniversary will feature spectacular art installations in the city’s West End and downtown core from Thursday, Nov. 13, to Sunday, Nov. 16
Guests will discover illuminated artworks, light-based projections, dynamic performances, and more from an acclaimed lineup of global artists. Best of all, the festivities are free to check out.
When: Thursday, Nov. 13, to Sunday, Nov. 16, 2025
Where: Various locations in and around downtown Vancouver
Cost: Free
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Burnout Paradise
What: Theatre collective Pony Cam from Melbourne, AU, brings the hilariously unpredictable Burnout Paradise to Vancouver in November. Witness four performers attempt to complete an escalating series of everyday tasks, such as cooking pasta or brushing their teeth, all while running on treadmills.
The chaotic and comedic show explores the daily grind in a sweaty, entertaining ride.
When: Thursday, Nov. 20 to Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025
Time: Various times
Where: The Cultch Historic Theatre – 1895 Venables St., Vancouver
Tickets: Various prices, purchase online
Eastside Culture Crawl 2025
What: The 29th annual Eastside Culture Crawl returns this November to dozens of buildings across Vancouver’s eastside.
Hundreds of artists ranging from painters to glass-blowers and mixed-media creators are expected to welcome tens of thousands of visitors to their studios.
When: Thursday, Nov. 20 to Sunday, Nov. 23, 2025
Time: 5 to 10 p.m. (Thursday and Friday) and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Saturday and Sunday)
Where: Various locations throughout East Vancouver
Admission: Free
‘Tis the Sitcom at The Improv Centre
What: The holiday season can be a stressful time for a variety of reasons. That’s why the funny folks at The Improv Centre (TIC) on Granville Island are helping chase away the winter blues with its new seasonal show, ‘Tis the Sitcom.
Audiences will help the improvisers create a brand-new sitcom about a group of friends living in the big city each night. The cast will navigate festive dilemmas, create comedic commercial breaks, and have you laughing all the way through the holiday special.
When: Fridays and Saturdays from Nov. 21 to Dec. 30, with an opening night performance on Thursday, Nov. 20 and additional shows on Dec. 14, 20, 23, 24, 28 and 30, 2025
Time: 7:30 p.m. (plus 2 p.m. on Dec. 14, 20 and 24)
Where: The Improv Centre — 1502 Duranleau St., Vancouver
Tickets: Various prices, purchase online
Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience in Vancouver
Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience. (Warner Bros. Discovery Global Experiences)
What: A stretch of Stanley Park’s towering trees will be infused with a touch of magic. After dusk, the forest will glow with an otherworldly trail where wands are welcome, creatures stir in the shadows, and Harry Potter’s Forbidden Forest is brought to life beneath Vancouver’s canopy.
When: Friday, Nov. 7, 2025, to early 2026; nightly on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays
Time: Starting at 4:45 p.m. each event night until late evening. All entry is timed.
Where: Site of the Stanley Park Train — Pipeline Road in Stanley Park, via the West Georgia Street park entrance
Admission: Tickets online. Starting at $49.50 for adults; free for children under the age of three
Disney On Ice Presents: Let’s Dance
What: Disney On Ice is returning to Vancouver this fall with an all-new live show, and the cast is sure to delight fans of all ages.
When: Wednesday, Nov. 26 to Sunday, Nov. 30, 2025
Time: Various times
Where: Pacific Coliseum at the PNE – 2901 E. Hastings St., Vancouver
Tickets: Various prices; purchase online
Jokers Comedy
What: Jokers Canada is a travelling comedy club that showcases professional stand-ups all over Metro Vancouver. Featuring acclaimed comics that have performed at Just For Laughs and Winnipeg Comedy Festival, on CW and the CBC, and more.
This week, Jokers is bringing the laughs to The Roxy in Vancouver on Tuesday, Nov. 18. Invite your friends and get ready to laugh all night long.
You can also save 35 per cent off your Roxy show tickets by using the promo code DailyHive35.
When: Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2025
Time: 8 p.m.
Where: The Roxy – 932 Granville St., Vancouver
Cost: Various prices, purchase online
Teen Angst Night at Fox Cabaret
What: Teen Angst, a comedic reading series where brave performers share the most embarrassing parts of their teenage notebooks for the audience’s entertainment, celebrates its 25th anniversary at the Fox Cabaret in November.
The lineup of performers includes comedians, actors, filmmakers, and people who may have never been on stage before. Laugh along with live readings of high school poetry, LiveJournal posts, songs, letters, journals, and more.
When: Nov 29, 2025
Time: 8 to 10 p.m.
Where: Fox Cabaret – 2321 Main St., Vancouver
Cost: $20 online plus fees, $25 at the door; purchase online
Broadway Across Canada – MJ
Courtesy of Broadway Across Canada
What: MJ is a multiple Tony Award-winning musical about Michael Jackson’s groundbreaking Dangerous World Tour. Created by Tony winner Christopher Wheeldon and Pulitzer Prize winner Lynn Nottage, the show takes the audience behind the scenes for a look at the creative and collaborative spirit that propelled Jackson into the history books.
When: Tuesday, Nov. 25 to Sunday, Nov. 30, 2025
Time: Various times
Where: Queen Elizabeth Theatre — 630 Hamilton St., Vancouver
Tickets: Various prices, purchase online
Birdy by Hung Dance (Taiwan)
What: DanceHouse presents Hung Dance’s Birdy, where creatures of a feather dance together in a magical call to the wild.
Employing a headpiece called “Ling Zi” that incorporates pheasant tail feathers worn in traditional Chinese opera to represent a warrior’s power and skill, Birdy offers up bright bursts of freedom balanced against the weighted cage of history. Witness the dancers flock together in rippling patterns of conformity and divergence in a tightrope struggle for freedom.
When: Friday, Nov. 28 and Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025
Time: 8 p.m.
Where: Vancouver Playhouse – 600 Hamilton St., Vancouver
Cost: Starting at $40.75, purchase online
Chutzpah! Festival
What: The annual Chutzpah! Festival celebrates all aspects of Jewish culture, with Canadian and international artists performing theatre, comedy, dance, music, and more at venues around Vancouver. Highlights include the musical 8 Gays of Channukah, The Flame storytelling, and more.
When: Wednesday, Nov. 12 to Sunday, Nov. 23, 2025
Time: Various times
Where: Various locations
Tickets: Various prices, purchase online
A Wonderheads Christmas Carol
What: Described as one of the most unique theatrical interpretations of the famous Charles Dickens’ story, A Wonderheads Christmas Carol, is bound to put you in the holiday mood.
Get ready to enjoy 10-foot-tall puppets, stunning masks, an enchanting original score, and moving stagecraft at The Arts Club this holiday season.
When: Wednesday, Nov. 26 to Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025
Time: Various times
Where: Olympic Village Stage at the BMO Theatre Centre
Tickets: Various prices, purchase online