Vancouver 
Events Description
Pop Up Dances Festival – a festival of new dance works popping up in surprising spaces
New Works is thrilled to bring back Pop Up Dances to the Central Library for two spectacular days of live dance and movement in unexpected spaces. Co-presented with the Vancouver Public Library, this site-specific festival invites audiences to experience the library’s iconic, colosseum-inspired architecture transformed through dance and movement.
Running September 18 – 19, 2026, this year’s Pop Up Dances Festival takes audiences on a unique, vertical walking tour of VPL’s Central Library. Guided performances start on the North Plaza at the Georgia Street Promenade entrance, and continue through the library floors, all the way up to the beautiful rooftop garden. Coinciding with the opening weekend of BC Culture Days, Pop Up Dances invites audiences of all ages to experience five brilliant, site-specific dance works completely free of charge.
With three tour times per day, audiences are invited to drop in for a single performance or stay for the full, guided experience. The tour runs rain or shine.
Guided performances start on the North Plaza at the Georgia Street Promenade entrance
📍 Vancouver Public Library, Central Library (350 W Georgia St. Vancouver)
🎟 FREE for audiences of all ages
This year, the Festival features five captivating site-specific performances by celebrated artists and collectives:
Elizabeth Louie & Denae Harpham (former Ballet BC Annex dancers) at the North Plaza
Juolin Lee at Level 5 Escalator Landing
Sarah Hutton & Aiden Cass (Generous Mess) at Level 8 Grand Staircase
Rita Spirit (Rita Barieieva) at Level 8 South Terrace
Action At A Distance & All Bodies Dance Project at Level 9 Rooftop Garden
Who is it for?
All ages
HOW MUCH
Tickets : Free
Free to attend, but we encourage you to register so that we can anticipate audience sizes
How to get tickets?
WHEN & WHERE
Date: Friday September 18, 2026 to Saturday September 19, 2026
Friday, September 18, 2026 – tours start at 12pm | 2pm | 4pm
Saturday, September 19, 2026 – tours start at 1pm | 2:30pm | 4pm
Guided performances start on the North Plaza at the Georgia Street Promenade entrance
Tours run about 1 hour.
Venue & Address
Vancouver Public Library, Central Library, 350 W Georgia Street, Vancouver
Wheelchair accessible
Street Parking
Paid Parking
Accessible by Public Transport
