Vancouver's new $183M PNE amphitheatre opens

6/6/2026

Vancouver's Freedom Mobile Arch amphitheatre opens at PNE for FIFA fan fest 10,000 seats, concerts and cultural events make this new B.C. venue worth a look

Vancouver's Pacific National Exhibition has officially opened its new Freedom Mobile Arch amphitheatre, a 10,000seat venue that will host the city's FIFA World Cup 2026 fan festival starting June 11. The first event at the site took place Friday night with performances by Jann Arden and Colin James. PNE leaders said the venue marks a new chapter for the fairgrounds and is intended to become a major home for music, arts and cultural events in British Columbia. The project cost about $183 million, up from an earlier estimate of $64.8 million. PNE officials said the increase was driven by site assessments and construction issues, including far more underground water than expected. The organization expects the amphitheatre to attract hundreds of thousands of visitors each year and eventually pay for itself through ticket sales over 15 to 18 years.