Richmond Night Market to close after 26 years; mayoral candidates split on city rescue

Richmond's Night Market will close at the end of summer after 26 years of operation, and two sitting councillors now competing for mayor are at odds over whether the city should intervene to save it.

The night market announced Wednesday that its final season at the Bridgeport Station waterfront site ends September 20, 2026. The sprawling Friday-to-Monday summer event has become a draw for visitors across the region, but the property lease is ending and the site faces redevelopment.

Councillor Kash Heed said the city must act. "We cannot let something like this leave Richmond," he told reporters. "This is a staple of Richmond." Heed committed to working with night market founder Raymond Cheung to find either a long-term home at the existing location or another suitable Richmond property. He proposed the city could offer its own land, help negotiate arrangements with private property owners, or offer incentives around engineering, safety requirements, and traffic management to keep the event alive.

Councillor Alexa Loo, also running for mayor, cautioned that the city cannot necessarily rescue a private business facing substantial relocation costs—roughly $1 million total for teardown and moving expenses combined, according to organizers. She did not rule out city support but suggested the municipality's role has limits.

Heed framed the night market's international reputation and tourism value as reason enough for aggressive municipal investment. Richmond's proximity to Vancouver International Airport and other visitor destinations, he argued, justifies treating the event as a strategic asset worth saving.