Kelowna ranked second in Canada in the recently released 2026 Arts Vibrancy Index, a first-of-its-kind indicator that can help track which Canadian Census Metropolitan Areas (CMAs) are driving growth through arts and culture. The results mirror the findings of the City of Kelowna’s Creative Sector Economic Impact Assessment and place Kelowna just behind Victoria and ahead of major cultural centres, including Quebec City and Vancouver.
The Arts Vibrancy Index, which aims to highlight linkages between economic growth and the vibrancy of local arts communities through regional data, follows the release of the report Artworks: The Economic and Social Dividends from Canada’s Arts and Culture Sector. This research was conducted by the Canadian Chamber of Commerce’s Business Data Lab and commissioned by Business / Arts in partnership with the Canada Council for the Arts.
“Kelowna’s second-place ranking affirms what the local business community already knows: the creative sector is thriving, with cascading benefits across the economy,” said Kelowna Chamber of Commerce President, Derek Gratz. “Those benefits show up in full restaurants and coffee shops before and after performances, increased visitor activity, stronger demand for local suppliers, and more vibrant neighbourhoods and community spaces.”
The city’s creative sector contributes a total economic output of $579.6 million and supports more than 3,500 full‑time equivalent jobs. Behind those numbers are people working as makers, performers, designers, producers, technicians, and educators, many of whom operate as small-business owners or independent contractors.
Photo sourced from Tourism Kelowna
“Kelowna’s recognition as one of Canada’s most vibrant arts communities reflects the extraordinary collaboration between artists, cultural organizations, businesses, and civic leaders who believe that creativity is essential to a thriving city,” said Colleen Fitzpatrick, Executive Director of the Rotary Centre for the Arts. “At the Rotary Centre for the Arts, we see every day how the arts bring people together, inspire innovation, and strengthen our local economy. This national recognition affirms the value of continued investment in arts and culture as a cornerstone of Kelowna’s identity and future.”
In Kelowna, arts and culture are supported through the City’s Cultural Plan, which guides how the City invests in, partners with and supports the creative sector. The plan helps shape decisions on funding, programs, and cultural spaces and is currently being updated with community input to inform the next phase of cultural development. In the coming months, a Cultural Plan report card will also be published to show progress on outcomes outlined in the 2020 – 2025 plan.
Content sourced from Tourism Kelowna