Districts
Open Studios is evolving toward a Design District model. Studios, showrooms, schools, and community partners will be grouped by neighbourhood on dedicated days to make the festival more walkable, easier to plan, and more connected. Design Districts are designed to help participants uplift one another through shared visibility, shared attendance, and shared community energy.
Open Studios is evolving toward a Design District model. Studios, showrooms, schools, and community partners will be grouped by neighbourhood on dedicated days to make the festival more walkable, easier to plan, and more connected. Design Districts are designed to help participants uplift one another through shared visibility, shared attendance, and shared community energy.
Participation in the Open Studio
Open Studios is a key part of Design Vancouver Festival, inviting the public into Vancouver’s design community through studio visits, conversations, and behind-the-scenes access to creative practice.
Design Districts
Open Studios has grown quickly. In past years, Open Studios brought great energy, but with so many studios open at once, it was difficult for visitors to see multiple locations across the city. In 2026, DVF is introducing Design Districts. Studios will be grouped by neighbourhood, and each district will have a dedicated day in the festival calendar. This makes Open Studios more walkable, easier to plan, and better organized for both visitors and studios.
Date and hours:
Armoury/Railtown/Other: Sat, Sept. 19, 10am to 4pm
Granville Island: Sun, Sept. 20, 10am to 4pm
Downtown/Gastown: Fri, Sept. 25, 3pm to 7pm
Mount Pleasant: Sat, Sept. 26, 10am to 4pm
What it looks like
Open Studios is drop-in and informal. Visitors come to see how things are made, meet the team, ask questions, and experience design up close. It is a great way to build public awareness, connect with peers, and welcome students and emerging designers into practice.
How to participate
Studios can keep it simple or make it special. Examples include:
Studio tours and behind-the-scenes walkthroughs
Process displays (materials, sketches, prototypes, models)
Short talks or Q&A sessions
Hands-on demos or mini workshops
Neighbourhood “studio crawl” collaborations
Minimum requirements
A staffed open studio during the required hours
Clear visitor access plan (entry, wayfinding, capacity)
Basic accessibility notes included in your listing
Any permits or permissions required for your space
DVF provides
Listing on the DVF schedule and Open Studios map
Promotion through DVF channels (as capacity allows)
Brand assets and guidance for marketing
DVF signage and posters for on-site use
Studio locations:
If your studio is located in Armoury, Railtown, Granville Island, Gastown, Downtown, or Mount Pleasant, please contact us. hello@designvancouver.org.
REGISTRATION FORM
Open Studios is a key part of Design Vancouver Festival, inviting the public into Vancouver’s design community through studio visits, conversations, and behind-the-scenes access to creative practice.
Design Districts
Open Studios has grown quickly. In past years, Open Studios brought great energy, but with so many studios open at once, it was difficult for visitors to see multiple locations across the city. In 2026, DVF is introducing Design Districts. Studios will be grouped by neighbourhood, and each district will have a dedicated day in the festival calendar. This makes Open Studios more walkable, easier to plan, and better organized for both visitors and studios.
Date and hours:
Armoury/Railtown/Other: Sat, Sept. 19, 10am to 4pm
Granville Island: Sun, Sept. 20, 10am to 4pm
Downtown/Gastown: Fri, Sept. 25, 3pm to 7pm
Mount Pleasant: Sat, Sept. 26, 10am to 4pm
What it looks like
Open Studios is drop-in and informal. Visitors come to see how things are made, meet the team, ask questions, and experience design up close. It is a great way to build public awareness, connect with peers, and welcome students and emerging designers into practice.
How to participate
Studios can keep it simple or make it special. Examples include:
Studio tours and behind-the-scenes walkthroughs
Process displays (materials, sketches, prototypes, models)
Short talks or Q&A sessions
Hands-on demos or mini workshops
Neighbourhood “studio crawl” collaborations
Minimum requirements
A staffed open studio during the required hours
Clear visitor access plan (entry, wayfinding, capacity)
Basic accessibility notes included in your listing
Any permits or permissions required for your space
DVF provides
Listing on the DVF schedule and Open Studios map
Promotion through DVF channels (as capacity allows)
Brand assets and guidance for marketing
DVF signage and posters for on-site use
Studio locations:
If your studio is located in Armoury, Railtown, Granville Island, Gastown, Downtown, or Mount Pleasant, please contact us. hello@designvancouver.org.
REGISTRATION FORM
Participation in the Open studio
Open Studios is a key part of Design Vancouver Festival, inviting the public into Vancouver’s design community through studio visits, conversations, and behind-the-scenes access to creative practice.
Design Districts
Open Studios has grown quickly. In past years, Open Studios brought great energy, but with so many studios open at once, it was difficult for visitors to see multiple locations across the city. In 2026, DVF is introducing Design Districts. Studios will be grouped by neighbourhood, and each district will have a dedicated day in the festival calendar. This makes Open Studios more walkable, easier to plan, and better organized for both visitors and studios.
Date and hours:
Armoury/Railtown/Other: Sat, Sept. 19, 10am to 4pm
Granville Island: Sun, Sept. 20, 10am to 4pm
Downtown/Gastown: Fri, Sept. 25, 3pm to 7pm
Mount Pleasant: Sat, Sept. 26, 10am to 4pm
What it looks like
Open Studios is drop-in and informal. Visitors come to see how things are made, meet the team, ask questions, and experience design up close. It is a great way to build public awareness, connect with peers, and welcome students and emerging designers into practice.
How to participate
Studios can keep it simple or make it special. Examples include:
Studio tours and behind-the-scenes walkthroughs
Process displays (materials, sketches, prototypes, models)
Short talks or Q&A sessions
Hands-on demos or mini workshops
Neighbourhood “studio crawl” collaborations
Minimum requirements
A staffed open studio during the required hours
Clear visitor access plan (entry, wayfinding, capacity)
Basic accessibility notes included in your listing
Any permits or permissions required for your space
DVF provides
Listing on the DVF schedule and Open Studios map
Promotion through DVF channels (as capacity allows)
Brand assets and guidance for marketing
DVF signage and posters for on-site use
Studio Locations
If your studio is located in Armoury District, Railtown, Granville Island, Gastown, Downtown, or Mount Pleasant, please contact us. hello@designvancouver.org.
Sponsorship
Opportunities
Sponsorship
Opportunities
DVF comes to life through partners who believe in the power of design to shape communities. Sponsorship helps us deliver signature programs, keep the festival accessible and public-facing, and grow a community-powered platform for Vancouver design.
For sponsorship opportunities. Email partners@designvancouver.org .
DVF comes to life through partners who believe in the power of design to shape communities. Sponsorship helps us deliver signature programs, keep the festival accessible and public-facing, and grow a community-powered platform for Vancouver design.
For partnership opportunities. Email partners@designvancouver.org .
DVF comes to life through partners who believe in the power of design to shape communities. Sponsorship helps us deliver signature programs, keep the festival accessible and public-facing, and grow a community-powered platform for Vancouver design.
For sponsorship opportunities. Email partners@designvancouver.org .
