Vancouver, what better way to make the most of the final summer weeks than watching some of the hottest musical acts perform at the Pacific National Exhibition (PNE)?
Aside from the exciting exhibitions, delicious food, and exhilarating rides that always fill up the PNE’s jam-packed schedule, this year’s Summer Nights Concert lineup is stacked with big names like The Beaches, Sarah McLachlan, Cynthia Erivo, Nelly, and more.
This is also the first year musical acts will play the Freedom Mobile Arch, the purpose built amphitheatre replacing the defunct PNE Amphitheatre, which closed in 2023.
Running from Saturday, Aug. 22 to Monday, Sept. 7, the can’t-miss end-of-summer festival is the perfect way to end summer with a bang.
Here are 5 musical acts that will be part of the PNE’s Summer Night Concerts.
The Beaches
Hailing from the Beaches neighbourhood in Toronto, The Beaches is Canada’s most hyped all-girl rock band. With seven Juno Awards under the belts, an infectious sophomore album, Blame My Ex, and a chart-topping lead single, “Blame Brett,” the band had made the alternative music scene their oyster. Catch The Beaches at the PNE Aug. 25 at 8:30 p.m.
Nelly
It’s getting hot in herre, so take…your friends to the PNE and watch Nelly throw it back to 2002. Cornell Iral Haynes Jr., known professionally as Nelly, has been making club tracks for over 25 years. Both his debut (Country Grammar) and sophomore albums (Nellyville) topped the Billboard Hot 100 and 200 charts, spawning career-defining singles “Hot in Herre” and “Dilemma.” Haynes also consistently ranks among the best-selling artists of the 2000s, and has won three Grammy Awards and nine Billboard Music Awards. He’ll be performing on Aug. 26 at 8:30 p.m.
Weird Al Yankovic
Music’s best parodist Weird Al Yankovic is taking his Bigger and Weirder tour to the PNE, where he’ll be playing his iconic hits and deep cuts. Despite his weirdness, Yankovic is the best-selling comedy music artist of all time and has won five Grammy Awards for his catchy parodies of hits by Michael Jackson, Taylor Swift, Nirvana and Lady Gaga. Catch Yankovic perform on Sept. 3 at 7 p.m.
Pierce the Veil
Emos, rejoice! Pierce the Veil is also playing the PNE this summer. Formed in 2006, the trio have become one of the most influential pop punk and post-hardcore bands of the 2010s. Pierce the Veil have released five albums thus far in their career, although their 2012 LP, Collide with the Sky is still considered by many as their best work, spawning the beloved single, “Hold On Till May.” Outside of the studio, the band has toured with some of the scene’s biggest bands, including Blink-182, Bring Me The Horizon and Sleeping With Sirens. Pierce the Veil will be performing on Sept. 5 at 8:30 p.m.
Sarah McLachlan
At this point in her career, Sarah McLachlan is practically Canadian musical royalty. She has three Grammy Awards, 12 Juno Awards, and has sold over 40 million albums worldwide. She is an acclaimed singer-songwriter, philanthropist and the founder of the Lilith Fair Tour, which made an effort to highlight female musicians in its three-year run. In 2025, McLachlan returned to the studio after a lengthy hiatus, releasing her tenth studio album, Better Broken. Catch her on Sept. 6, the second-last day of the PNE, at 8:30 p.m.
