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Description
Holiday Splash is back at the Vancouver Aquarium in Stanley Park for 2026. Each winter the galleries are dressed in more than a million lights, and Scuba Claus makes his daily dives with the fish. It is an easy, all-weather family outing, and the holiday programming comes with regular admission.
When and where
- Dates: daily, November 12, 2026 to January 3, 2027
- Hours: regular Aquarium hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; check the Aquarium calendar for holiday-day changes
- Location: Vancouver Aquarium, 845 Avison Way, Stanley Park, Vancouver
- Cost: included with regular Aquarium admission
What to expect
- Scuba Claus: daily dives from November 12 to December 24; showtimes are posted on the Aquarium calendar
- Over a million lights throughout the galleries, plus a Jellyfish Snow Globe photo spot in the Tropics gallery
- New for 2026: the Mighty Snow Monkeys 4D film (included with admission) and Polar Odyssey VR (tickets bought on site)
- Animals: more than 70,000 animals, including baby axolotls, with daily programs such as sea lion training and seal feeds
- Breakfast With Santa: select dates from November 29 to December 23, by reservation, with Aquarium admission included
- Festive food at the Courtyard Café and holiday gifts in the Gift Shop
Members also get a perk early in the season: from November 12 to 29, Gold and Platinum members can bring a friend for free.
Getting there
The Aquarium is in the heart of Stanley Park. Pay parking is available in the park, and you can also reach it by bus, bike or on foot along the seawall from downtown or the West End. Check TransLink for current bus routes into the park.
Tips
- Check the daily calendar before you go so you can plan around Scuba Claus and the animal programs.
- Weekday mornings are usually calmer than weekends in December.
- Book Breakfast With Santa early; some sessions have already sold out.
- Scuba Claus finishes on December 24, but the lights and holiday décor continue to January 3.
- Allow at least two to three hours to see the galleries and catch a show or two.
Browse more seasonal outings in our holiday events guide, or see everything on this month in the November events calendar.