If you’re planning to ring in the New Year in Victoria, getting around late on New Year’s Eve will be a little easier and cheaper.
BC Transit has confirmed that transit will be free across the Victoria region after 6 p.m. on Wednesday, December 31st, with extended late-night service in place to help people get home safely after celebrations.
The free service applies to both conventional buses and handyDART, making it easier for residents to leave the car at home while heading downtown, visiting friends, or returning home after midnight.
BC Transit says the Victoria region will operate on a regular weekday schedule on New Year’s Eve, with additional late-night service added.
On Thursday, January 1st, 2026, buses in Victoria will run on a Sunday schedule.
Victoria is not the only Vancouver Island community offering free or extended transit service on New Year’s Eve. In Nanaimo, service will be extended with buses becoming free after 6 p.m. Port Alberni will also see extended late-night service, with free rides starting after 7:30 p.m.
BC Transit recommends checking schedules in advance, as late-night routes and hours vary by community.
The transit authority says the New Year’s Eve service changes are part of a province-wide effort to support safer travel during one of the busiest nights of the year.
Full schedules, trip planning tools, and service alerts are available at bctransit.com.
With free transit after 6 p.m., Victoria residents have one less thing to think about as the city counts down to 2026.
