Granville Street Pedestrian Zone During FIFA World Cup Vancouver

by Rebecca Bollwitt Wednesday, March 4th, 2026 — 5:05pm PST

One of the best parts about the Vancouver 2010 Olympics was how many public events and pedestrian spaces we had all across downtown and now the City, along with the Downtown Vancouver BIA will be transforming Granville Street into a vibrant pedestrian zone during the FIFA World Cup this summer.

Granville Street Downtown Vancouver - Temporary Pedestrian Zone Coming This Summer - Miss604 Photo

Granville Street Pedestrian Zone During FIFA World Cup Vancouver

Between June 11 and July 20, when Vancouver is hosting the FIFA World Cup 2026 Vancouver, the Granville Street Pedestrian Zone will welcome residents and visitors to a people-first street that supports local businesses and creates a dynamic, family-friendly destination space that showcases Vancouver and enhances the tournament experience. During this time, Granville Street between Georgia Street and Davie Street will be closed to vehicle traffic.

“Being a Host City is a unique opportunity to create lasting memories together as a community,” said Jane Talbot, President and CEO of Downtown Van. “Through this initiative, we’re inviting Vancouverites to come downtown and experience the energy of the World Cup firsthand. Join us in the Granville Entertainment District to be part of the excitement and celebrate the pride and spirit of our city.”

The five-block Granville Street Pedestrian Zone pilot will feature:

Additional public seating and expanded patios
Vendors and food options
Live music and cultural activations
Placemaking and selfie spots

Downtown Van will oversee programming, activations and incorporating placemaking elements that will bring the pedestrian zone to life. The City will provide additional public seating, support community and business activations and enhance sanitation services throughout the period to ensure a comfortable and welcoming environment.

Transit and Transportation

Of course with Granville being a major transit thoroughfare downtown, there will be some updates to service during this time:

Cross streets including Robson, Smithe, Nelson, and Helmcken will remain open to vehicle traffic throughout the pedestrian zone.
Emergency vehicle access will be maintained at all times.
TransLink buses that operate on Granville Street will be rerouted to Seymour Street and Howe Street, supported by new bus lanes for the duration of the pedestrian zone.
The City and TransLink will share detailed timing, route information, and wayfinding between relocated bus stops and SkyTrain stations in advance of the changes.

Setup will begin the first week of June, and the street will fully reopen to vehicle traffic following the pedestrian zone.

This City says that this pilot will provide valuable learnings for the long-term vision of the Council-approved Granville Street Plan, which aims to transform downtown Granville Street into a safer, more vibrant destination, with a bustling pedestrianized street linked with restaurants, entertainment, hotels, and more.