Lights of Wonder won’t return to downtown Victoria in 2026

A popular holiday tradition in downtown Victoria will not be lighting up Centennial Square this year.

The Downtown Victoria Business Association (DVBA) has confirmed that its annual Lights of Wonder event will not take place in 2026, citing rising costs and aging infrastructure.

In a statement, the organization said the future of the event will be reviewed as part of ongoing planning efforts.

“Since launching in 2019, Lights of Wonder has become a popular holiday tradition, welcoming visitors to Centennial Square each December for a free, outdoor light experience,” said the DVBA in a media statement.

However, the event comes with a significant price tag, and after several years of use, the light structures themselves are showing considerable wear and tear.

“Lights of Wonder costs hundreds of thousands of dollars each year and is funded through the DVBA… along with sponsorships and grants,” the organization noted.

“After five years of use, the light structures are showing significant wear and tear. The cost to repair them, combined with increasing challenges in securing sponsorship, has made the event financially unfeasible to continue,” the DVBA said.

As a member-funded non-profit supported by a levy on downtown commercial properties, the organization said it must be mindful of how it allocates resources.

“Given the scale of investment required for Lights of Wonder, the organization is reassessing its approach to large-scale events.”

Instead of a single centralized attraction, the DVBA says it will shift its focus for the 2026 holiday season toward smaller experiences spread throughout the downtown core.

“For the 2026 holiday season, the DVBA will prioritize programming that encourages exploration throughout the downtown core,” the statement reads, adding that the move aligns with its new Events and Activations Fund aimed at supporting a broader range of community-led initiatives.

It remains unclear whether other elements tied to Lights of Wonder, including the popular Ferris wheel, will also be affected. Victoria Buzz has reached out to the DVBA for clarification.

More to come.