Things to do in Vancouver this week: June 21–27
The FIFA World Cup arrives at BC Place with three matches this week; live music from KOKOROKO and HONNE anchor Sunday; a clear early stretch gives way to rain by Thursday.
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This is the week Vancouver becomes a World Cup city. Three international matches land at BC Place, starting with New Zealand vs. Egypt on Sunday at 6:00 PM, followed by Switzerland vs. Canada on Wednesday at noon, and New Zealand vs. Belgium on Friday at 8:00 PM. If you want the full experience, the tournament schedule and ticketing info is at /vancouver/fifa-world-cup. The atmosphere at the stadium and across the city will be electric—this is not a week to ignore the football happening around you.
On the live music side, Sunday opens strong with three competing draws. KOKOROKO, the London-based funk and highlife septet led by Sheila Maurice-Grey and Onome Edgeworth, plays the Commodore Ballroom at 7:00 PM. Their track "Abusey Junction" went viral with 57 million views, and their live show delivers the same infectious energy. Across town, HONNE brings their 10-year anniversary tour to the Vogue Theatre the same evening at 8:00 PM—if UK electronic and synth-pop is your lane, this is a solid choice. Drake Milligan, known for portraying Elvis Presley on CMT's Sun Records and in the film Nobody, performs at the Hollywood Theatre at 7:00 PM, with a second show later in the week.
The weather breaks your favour early. Sunday through Wednesday stay dry and mild—highs in the low-to-mid 20s with just overcast skies. This is perfect timing for the seawall or a patio meal. Take advantage before Thursday brings rain showers, with Friday turning into a proper drizzly day (highs barely reaching 14°C) and Saturday staying damp. Plan your outdoor moves for the front of the week.
Meanwhile, Mount Pleasant gets a major addition: Chupito's iconic yellow shipping container returns to its backyard patio at 2450 Yukon Street Saturday afternoon, bringing back the Michelin-recognized cocktail bar with a seafood-forward menu rooted in Mexican coastal cooking. It's a neighbourhood win and worth timing a weekend dinner around. For something more intimate, Pony Room opens in Chinatown as a new queer-focused restaurant and cocktail bar designed around comfort and connection—the team behind The Birdhouse knows how to build a room people actually want to linger in.
Chinatown itself is in flux. The city is hunting for a restaurateur to take over the vacant Floata space in Chinatown Plaza, an 18-seat dining hall that could anchor the mall's economic revival. It's a meaningful opportunity if you're watching the neighbourhood's evolution.
Monday night at Fortune Sound Club, Twofourseven FYP runs from 10:00 PM (tickets from $26). Tuesday brings Sonic Garden, a local showcase with Verttigo, Devours, Revolution Above Disorder, and Sundress—the lineup plays both The WISE Hall and The Pearl at 7:00 PM, with cover charges starting at $7. These are grassroots shows worth your time if you want to stay plugged into the local circuit.
If you've got one night to commit, catch the Egypt vs. New Zealand match on Sunday evening at BC Place. It's a World Cup opener, the stadium will be packed, and Vancouver rarely gets to host global football at this scale. Grab dinner after at The Templeton before heading down—it's casual, affordable, and you'll still be buzzing from the match.