Beyond Van Gogh Comes to Nanaimo

A world-renowned art experience is coming to downtown Nanaimo this summer. Beyond Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience will run July 18 to August 29, 2026 at the Vancouver Island Conference Centre, inviting guests to step inside a cinematic, projection-based exhibition that surrounds visitors with art, sound, and storytelling inspired by the life and work of one of history’s most enduring and influential artists, Vincent van Gogh. Early-bird tickets are on sale now at IslandEvents.ca.

Produced by Paquin Entertainment Group, Beyond Van Gogh is being brought to Nanaimo through a unique partnership between the Vancouver Island Conference Centre, the Port Theatre, the Nanaimo Museum, and Tourism Nanaimo, with a shared goal of strengthening Nanaimo’s summer arts and culture calendar and welcoming more visitors to the downtown core. Event partners estimate the exhibition could draw up to 25,000 visitors and generate up to $6 million in economic impact for Nanaimo. 

This stop required a tailored approach. Event partners say the exhibition has been reconfigured into a newly scaled 10,000 sq. ft. installation, custom-built for the Vancouver Island Conference Centre, with changes to the touring set-up and technical structure designed to bring Beyond Van Gogh to smaller markets. It is also being delivered through a rare local consortium, with the four partners collaborating on hosting, ticketing, and destination support.

“Getting Beyond Van Gogh to Nanaimo took more than booking dates. It meant adapting the tour to a completely new hosting model and redesigning it for smaller centres, while aligning local partners behind a shared plan,” said David Warburton, Artistic Executive Director, Port Theatre. “We pursued it because this kind of cultural experience should not be limited to major cities, and we strive to position Nanaimo as a vibrant community.”

“This is the kind of partnership that strengthens Nanaimo’s cultural calendar and brings real energy to the downtown core. We are proud to work with the Vancouver Island Conference Centre, the Port Theatre, and the Nanaimo Museum to deliver a marquee summer arts experience for locals, Vancouver Islanders, and visitors,” says Carly Pereboom, CEO, Tourism Nanaimo. 

For Nanaimo locals and Vancouver Islanders, Beyond Van Gogh is an easy summer plan in the downtown core. Partners also expect strong interest from visitors travelling from the Lower Mainland, elsewhere in British Columbia and Alberta, and the United States, with Nanaimo accessible by passenger ferry and air for a day trip or overnight stay. The exhibition also offers a natural reason to include the Harbour City in a broader Vancouver Island itinerary. Trip planning information is available at tourismnanaimo.com. 

About the Experience

Beyond Van Gogh brings together more than 300 works in a 360-degree projection environment that visitors can move through at their own pace. Guided by Van Gogh’s own words and writings, the experience unfolds as walls of light and colour shift into the flowers, cafés, and landscapes that define his work, set to a curated musical score. The result is an immersive, narrative journey that offers an accessible entry point for both dedicated art lovers and first-time Van Gogh fans.

A limited number of add-on Immersive Yoga sessions will be offered on Saturday mornings at 8:45am. 

Ticketing and Details

• Venue: Vancouver Island Conference Centre, 101 Gordon Street, Nanaimo, B.C.

• Price: Adults $50 | Seniors $45 | Child $35 | Family 4-pack $140 | Yoga $80

• Hours: Open Tuesdays through Sundays. View the schedule. 

• Early-bird pricing available while quantities last.