Sarah McLachlan to Headline 2026 PNE Summer Night Concert Series After 35-Year Absence
The Pacific National Exhibition (PNE) has unveiled its complete artist roster for the 2026 Summer Night Concert series, marking a historic return for Vancouver's own Sarah McLachlan. The iconic singer-songwriter will grace the PNE stage for the first time since 1991, joining an impressive lineup that includes Weird Al Yankovic, Earth, Wind and Fire, Pierce the Veil, and Boy George.
New Venue Brings Expanded Capacity and Major Talent
This year's concerts will debut in the brand-new Freedom Mobile Arch amphitheatre on the PNE fairgrounds, a state-of-the-art venue boasting 10,000 seats. This represents a significant increase of nearly 3,000 seats compared to previous years, enabling the fair to attract some of the biggest names in music.
"We've been trying to get Earth, Wind and Fire to play the fair for over a decade and we finally have them," said PNE creative director Patrick Roberge. "They tour the East coast in the summers religiously, but have only been here a few times on arena bills. I expect them to be a huge hit at the fair."
McLachlan's Long-Awaited Return to PNE Stages
Sarah McLachlan's return holds special significance for Vancouver music history. Her last PNE performance was in 1991 on the Coca-Cola Free stage, with an earlier appearance in 1989 at the Aquastage. This was shortly after the release of her debut album, Touch, in 1987, which featured her breakthrough single Vox.
"The last time that Sarah performed for us was in 1991," confirmed Roberge. "The only other time before that was in 1989 where she performed at the Aquastage."
Weird Al's Comeback and Full Artist Lineup
The booking of Weird Al Yankovic coincides with his resurgence in popularity following the 2022 satirical biopic Weird: The Al Yankovic Story, starring Daniel Radcliffe. Roberge noted that Weird Al was among the first artists he worked with at the fair during the 1997 Star Spectacular.
The complete 2026 Summer Night Concert series lineup includes:
- Sarah McLachlan
- Weird Al Yankovic
- Earth, Wind and Fire
- Pierce the Veil
- Boy George
- Blue Rodeo
- The Guess Who
- The Beaches
- Nelly
- Zedd
- Mt. Joy
- Cynthia Erivo with the VSO
- Punjabi Virsa
- Train
- Barenaked Ladies
Event Details and Ticket Information
The 2026 PNE is scheduled to run from August 22 to September 7. While specific dates and times for the Summer Night Concert series are yet to be announced, concerts typically feature doors opening at 6:30 p.m. with shows beginning at 7:30 p.m.
A variety of PNE Fair and Playland passes are currently available for purchase at pne.ca. Individual day passes and concert tickets will be announced at a later date.
This expanded concert series represents one of the most diverse and star-studded lineups in PNE history, combining legendary acts with contemporary stars in a new venue designed to enhance the concert-going experience for Vancouver music fans.
