The annual Dine Out Vancouver festival is set to return for its 24th year, offering a culinary lifeline for both diners and restaurants during the traditionally slow post-holiday months. The event, which is Canada's largest food festival, will run from January 21 to February 8, 2026, featuring hundreds of participating establishments.
A Culinary Boost for the City
With approximately 450 restaurants taking part this year, the festival acts as an economic stimulant for Vancouver's dining scene. Last year's event attracted around 617,000 diners, demonstrating its massive popularity and impact. The program offers a wide range of experiences, from casual eateries to high-end establishments, all providing specially priced, three-course menus.
The price categories are designed for accessibility, with tiers set at $25-$40, $40-$55, and $55-$70. Notably, Michelin-starred and other top-tier restaurants have a special category with a ceiling of $110, making fine dining more accessible. This includes acclaimed venues like the one-star Burdock and Published.
International Chef Exchanges and Unique Events
A major highlight of the 2026 festival is the World Chef Exchange, now in its 10th year. This program brings renowned international culinary talent to Vancouver for exclusive collaborations. Featured chefs include:
- Chef Taejun Eom from Michelin-starred Solbam in Seoul, appearing at Five Sails.
- Chef James Knappett from London's two-Michelin-starred Kitchen Table, collaborating with Botanist.
- Chef Lucas Trahan from the two-Michelin-starred Ever in Chicago, featured at Elem.
- Chef Wilfrid Hocquet from Bangkok's Margo, set to appear at Boulevard Kitchen and Oyster Bar.
Beyond the prix-fixe menus, the festival schedule is packed with unique add-on experiences. These include sea foraging excursions with lunch, a Chinese dumpling-making class, a mescal tasting and food pairing, an after-hours dinner at the Vancouver Aquarium, and an eight-bar cocktail competition in Chinatown.
Restaurant Perspectives and Menu Highlights
For chefs like Andrea Carlson, owner of the Michelin-starred Burdock and Bar Gobo, Dine Out is a crucial opportunity to attract new guests. "Joining the program brings in people who might not otherwise come here," she says, noting it helps counter the perception that her restaurant is only for special occasions.
Carlson also pointed to a dip in business last January, making participation this year even more sensible. Burdock's Dine Out menu will offer a condensed version of its current $165 Australian-themed tasting menu. Dishes will feature innovative creations like sea bream crudo with macadamia-nut ice and Geraldton wax leaves, and a pho-inspired dish with native Australian botanicals.
With its combination of value, prestige, and unique culinary adventures, Dine Out Vancouver 2026 promises to be a landmark event for food lovers. Full details and event listings can be found at dineoutvancouver.com.
