Canada’s largest independent bubble tea festival returns to Burnaby on August 1, bringing together food brands, multicultural communities and new consumer experiences
BURNABY, British Columbia — [July 23, 2026] — The Canada Bubble Tea Festival will celebrate its fifth anniversary on Saturday, August 1, 2026, at Swangard Stadium in Burnaby, bringing together bubble tea, desserts, international food, cultural performances and interactive consumer experiences.
Running from 11:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., the free-admission festival is expected to welcome thousands of visitors from across Metro Vancouver.
Since launching in 2022, Canada Bubble Tea Festival has recorded more than 100,000 cumulative visits, growing from a community celebration into a consumer-facing cultural and business platform for food and beverage brands.
The festival’s core audience includes adults aged 20 to 39, young families and multicultural consumers interested in discovering new flavours, products and cultural experiences. Its audience extends well beyond the Chinese-speaking community, reflecting the increasingly mainstream appeal of bubble tea and Asian-inspired food culture in Canada.
“Bubble tea may be the starting point, but the larger story is about creativity, community and connection,” said Eric Yang, Founder and Festival Director of Canada Bubble Tea Festival. “The festival gives consumers a place to discover new experiences while providing food and beverage brands with a direct way to engage Canada’s diverse and rapidly evolving market.”
A Mass Bubble Tea Toast
One of this year’s signature moments will be Boba Cheers, taking place at approximately 1:30 p.m.
The festival aims to bring together over a THOUSAND attendees for a coordinated bubble tea toast, creating a highly visual celebration of community and shared food culture.
Festivalgoers can purchase a drink from participating brands, gather for the countdown and raise their cups together. During the celebration, attendees will also have opportunities to receive one of 300 sponsored rewards provided by BlackBall.
Boba Cheers is designed to become more than a promotional moment. Organizers hope the annual ritual will grow into a recognizable cultural tradition associated with Canada’s bubble tea community.
More Than a Food Festival
The 2026 festival theme, Bubble Tea + Desserts, expands the event beyond traditional drinks and food stalls.
Visitors will be able to explore a range of interactive programs, including:
- A curated Festival Picks program featuring drinks from more than 10 participating bubble tea brands
- The ticketed Boba Blind Tasting Challenge
- The Boba Shake Ritual
- Spot the Boba and the Boba Order Challenge
- Cultural performances, K-pop showcases and community entertainment
- A diverse selection of international foods designed to pair with bubble tea
The programming reflects the festival’s broader mission: to present bubble tea not simply as a beverage, but as a cultural connector capable of bringing together different communities, cuisines and generations.
A Consumer Platform for Food and Beverage Brands
Canada Bubble Tea Festival is also developing into a market-access platform for brands interested in reaching Canadian consumers.
Participating businesses can showcase and sell products, offer samples, test new concepts, produce branded experiences and receive direct consumer feedback in a real-world festival environment.
The platform is particularly relevant to international and U.S.-based companies exploring opportunities in Canada’s multicultural food and beverage market.
“Traditional advertising tells consumers about a product,” Yang said. “A festival allows people to see it, taste it, experience it and share it. That creates a much stronger connection between the brand and the consumer.”
Opportunities for 2027 will include exhibitor participation, sponsorship, experiential brand activations, product trials and strategic market-entry collaborations.
Event Information
Canada Bubble Tea Festival 2026
Date: Saturday, August 1, 2026
Time: 11:30 a.m.–7:00 p.m.
Location: Swangard Stadium, Burnaby, British Columbia
Admission: Free
Website: vanbubbleteafest.ca
Instagram and Facebook: @bubbleteafest
Media Opportunities
Media representatives are invited to attend and cover:
- The festival’s fifth-anniversary celebration
- The opening ceremony at approximately 12:30 p.m.
- The Boba Cheers mass toast at approximately 1:30 p.m.
- Consumer and brand activations
- Interviews with festival organizers, participating brands and community partners
- Visual coverage of the festival crowd, food, drinks and cultural performances
Media interview and on-site access requests may be directed to admin@vanbubbleteafest.ca.
About Canada Bubble Tea Festival
Established in 2022, Canada Bubble Tea Festival is Canada’s largest independent bubble tea festival and a celebration of creativity, community and connection inspired by bubble tea culture.
Held in Metro Vancouver, the festival brings together food and beverage brands, local businesses, performers, creators and multicultural communities through interactive experiences, cultural programming and consumer engagement.
The festival is organized by the Canadian Community Action & Restorative Empowerment Society.
