- News
- The Chan Centre Announces the Second Wave of Events for its 2026–2027 Season
The Chan Centre Announces the Second Wave of Events for its 2026–2027 Season
New events feature Ta-Nehisi Coates, Silvana Estrada, Ocean Vuong, Seong-Jin Cho, and celebrations of jazz and blues legends
The Chan Centre for the Performing Arts has announced eight additional events for its landmark 2026–2027 season, with more events to come. These offerings expand an already ambitious lineup with acclaimed literary voices, internationally celebrated classical musicians, rising stars, and performances honouring some of the most influential figures in jazz and blues.
"These new additions continue to reflect the breadth of artistic experiences we strive to present at the Chan Centre. We’re thrilled to welcome renowned writers and thinkers shaping our cultural landscape, some of the world’s best classical musicians, Latin America’s next great star, and to offer a dedicated, club-style jazz series in our Telus Studio Theatre. This season is bigger than ever, and there’s even more still to come! I can’t wait to see it all come alive in our spaces.”
Jarrett Martineau, Head Curator of the Chan Centre for the Performing Arts
Three of today’s most important literary voices will take the Chan Centre stage this season. In a co-presentation with SFU’s Centre for Comparative Muslim Studies, National Book and National Magazine Award-winner Ta-Nehisi Coates returns following his sold-out 2020 appearance to discuss the complex and challenging issues of American identity and culture today. Joining him is UBC alum and internationally renowned physician and bestselling author Gabor Maté, whose groundbreaking work on trauma, addiction, and healing has transformed public conversations around mental health. Acclaimed poet and novelist and MacArthur Genius Grant recipient Ocean Vuong will make his first Vancouver appearance, discussing his celebrated works, including New York Times bestsellers On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous and The Emperor of Gladness.
The season’s classical offerings welcome internationally acclaimed South Korean pianist Seong-Jin Cho, widely regarded as one of the defining pianists of his generation since winning the 2015 International Chopin Piano Competition. South Korean cellist Jaemin Han, who at 15 became the youngest-ever Grand Prix winner at the George Enescu International Competition, joins acclaimed Steinway pianist David Fung for a recital featuring works by Rachmaninoff, Shostakovich, and Chopin.
Latin Grammy-winner, Silvana Estrada, brings her emotional intimacy to the Chan Centre with accompaniment from Vancouver’s Black Dog String Quartet. Estrada has become one of the defining voices of her generation, hailed as the “Gen Z, Latin American answer to Joni Mitchell.” (Dazed) Her sophomore album, Vendrán Suaves Lluvias, earned spots on year-end best-of lists from Pitchfork, NPR, and the Los Angeles Times.
Jazz also takes centre stage this season with three performances in the intimate Telus Studio Theatre, co-presented with Infidels Jazz. Canadian saxophonist Ryan Oliver commemorates John Coltrane’s centennial with a live performance of the legendary 1964 album A Love Supreme. An essential vocalist in Vancouver’s music scene, Dawn Pemberton honours the iconic women who shaped jazz in Portraits of the First Ladies of Jazz, while two-time Western Canadian Music Award winner Krystle Dos Santos celebrates pioneering blues legends including Big Mama Thornton, Ma Rainey, and Etta James in First Ladies of the Blues.
Tickets for all newly announced events are available beginning Monday, July 13 at 10 AM for Chan Centre Plus Members. Basic Members get access Thursday, July 16 at 10AM and General On-Sale begins on Friday, July 17 at 10AM. Tickets can be purchased online at the Chan Centre website or through the box office phone line: 604-822-2697.