New temporary VANCOUVER sign lights up a new location this winter | Daily Hive

Temporary VANCOUVER sign on the West Georgia Street plaza of the Vancouver Art Gallery, as seen on Dec. 5, 2025. (Kenneth Chan)

Just in time for the holidays, a new temporary VANCOUVER sign has been installed for the winter season.

This illuminated, three-dimensional giant-letter installation is not only significantly larger than the wintertime signs displayed over the past two years, but it also debuts in a new location in downtown Vancouver. The sign now stands on the north plaza of the Vancouver Art Gallery on West Georgia Street, positioned right beside Vancouver’s official Christmas tree and a Ferris wheel.

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This VANCOUVER sign will remain in place until sometime in early 2026, while the Ferris wheel will operate until the first week of the new year.

Both the temporary sign and the Ferris wheel are part of the expanded winter activations under Destination Downtown Vancouver — the seasonal festive initiative formerly known as Liven Up during the last two winters. The program first introduced the temporary, months-long winter VANCOUVER sign on Canada Place Way in December 2023, with the same sign returning in Fall 2024 on the Coal Harbour seawall near the seaplane terminal.

vancouver sign art gallery west georgia plaza december 2025

Temporary VANCOUVER sign on the West Georgia Street plaza of the Vancouver Art Gallery, as seen on Dec. 5, 2025. (Kenneth Chan)

This year, Destination Downtown Vancouver has broadened its programming, including the return of its “Lit Words” installations at various sites across the city centre — of which the VANCOUVER sign is a key feature. These installations gained particular prominence last year when they were expanded ahead of Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour finale in Vancouver. This winter’s programming also includes the return of other special lighting features throughout the downtown Vancouver peninsula, along with scheduled nighttime fire dance performances outside Canada Place.

Just to the north of the Vancouver Art Gallery, the overhead “Canopy” installation of 3,000 programmable LED lights has also returned to Robson Square’s street-level plaza for the third winter season.

Temporary VANCOUVER sign on the West Georgia Street plaza of the Vancouver Art Gallery, as seen on Dec. 5, 2025. (Kenneth Chan)

The very strong positive public response — evident in the countless people who stop to take photos with the temporary winter and summer signs — has helped fuel enthusiasm for creating a permanent, year-round VANCOUVER sign. Unlike the temporary signs based on using light-weight, portable letters, this new permanent public art sign installation will be specially designed to withstand physical contact, vandalism, and harsh weather, while better reflecting local culture and civic pride.

Earlier this fall, the City of Vancouver began seeking First Nations artists to contribute to the design of the permanent sign, as well as contractors to fabricate and construct it at the public plaza outside the Canada Place entrance.

The permanent VANCOUVER sign is scheduled to be installed by May 2026, just in time for the kickoff of the June 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Temporary winter season VANCOUVER sign on Dec. 17, 2023. (Kenneth Chan)

Temporary winter season VANCOUVER sign on Jan. 6, 2024. (Kenneth Chan)

Vancouver sign as part of Junction Public Market

The temporary VANCOUVER sign part of summertime Junction Public Market, Summer 2024. (Kenneth Chan)

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