‘Everyone is feeling the vibe’: Talks underway to keep Vancouver’s Granville car-free past World Cup

Touting the success of a pedestrian-only pilot during the World Cup, officials say there is growing interest in extending it through the summer.

Discussions are underway about the possibility of extending Vancouver’s Granville Street Pedestrian Zone beyond the FIFA World Cup, CTV News has learned.

Calling the closure a “runaway success,” Deputy Mayor Sarah Kirby-Yung said there is strong interest in keeping portions of Granville Street car-free long into the summer.

“People are so thrilled with how it’s going that they’d love to see it happen now,” Kirby-Yung said.

She told CTV News talks are already underway, including with Downtown Vancouver about keeping the momentum going.

“So definitely, I think there are some live conversations around extending this, possibly into August,” she said.

There have long been plans by the city council to make portions of Granville Street car-free, eventually.

The current pedestrian zone was created as part of Vancouver’s FIFA World Cup hosting plans and is currently scheduled to run through July 19.

In a statement to CTV News, the City of Vancouver said the space has been “extremely popular,” creating a vibrant area for residents and visitors while supporting local businesses.

It is collecting data throughout the pilot to help with future planning and, so far, has not committed to continuing the closure, saying the street “will reopen to vehicles and transit starting July 27, 2026.”

Business owners along the strip who have been reporting record-breaking sales hope the city will change its mind.

“Oh, my god. It’s really, really good,” said Huda Abderhamid, owner of Flamingo Cafe.

The Vancouver Police Department has also expressed support for extending the pedestrian zone, with a spokesperson saying “everyone is feeling the vibe.”

Any extension would require further planning and coordination, and no official decision has been announced.