Expo 86

world’s fair, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 16, 2026

Quick Summary

Expo 86 was a world's fair held in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, in 1986. It commemorated the city's centennial and was a significant event for both Vancouver and the province. The fair attracted over 22 million visitors and featured numerous exhibits and attractions. A notable structure from Expo 86 is Canada Place, which was the Canada Pavilion and now houses cruise-ship docking facilities, restaurants, shops, and a hotel. The event contributed to Vancouver's emergence as a world-class metropolis and a major port on the Pacific Rim.12

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

4 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

British Columbia
Postwar political consolidation and realignment
…Vancouver and the province were Expo 86 in 1986, a world’s fair to commemorate the city’s centennial, and the city’s selection as host of the 2010 Winter Olympics.
Read More
…Vancouver and the province were Expo 86 in 1986, a world’s fair to commemorate the city’s centennial, and the city’s selection as host of the 2010 Winter Olympics.
Read More

Vancouver
The contemporary city
…as the Canada Pavilion for Expo 86, a nearly six-month-long world’s fair that celebrated Vancouver’s centennial in 1986 and to which more than 22 million visits were made. Adjacent to the Vancouver Convention Centre (which opened vastly expanded facilities in April 2009), it juts out into Burrard Inlet and includes…
Read More
…as the Canada Pavilion for Expo 86, a nearly six-month-long world’s fair that celebrated Vancouver’s centennial in 1986 and to which more than 22 million visits were made. Adjacent to the Vancouver Convention Centre (which opened vastly expanded facilities in April 2009), it juts out into Burrard Inlet and includes…
Read More