A city-focused calendar of blue hour, golden hour, sunrise, sunset and moon phase for planning dawn, dusk, cityscape and travel shoots in Vancouver.
| Date | Blue hour | Golden hour | Sunrise | Sunset | Tonight's Moon |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-08-26 | 05:44-06:18 / 20:09-20:43 | 06:18-07:01 / 19:26-20:09 | 06:18 | 20:09 | Waxing Gibbous 98% |
| 2026-08-27 | 05:46-06:20 / 20:07-20:41 | 06:20-07:03 / 19:24-20:07 | 06:20 | 20:07 | Full Moon 100% |
| 2026-08-28 | 05:47-06:21 / 20:05-20:38 | 06:21-07:04 / 19:22-20:05 | 06:21 | 20:05 | Waning Gibbous 100% |
| 2026-08-29 | 05:49-06:23 / 20:03-20:36 | 06:23-07:05 / 19:20-20:03 | 06:23 | 20:03 | Waning Gibbous 97% |
| 2026-08-30 | 05:51-06:24 / 20:01-20:34 | 06:24-07:07 / 19:18-20:01 | 06:24 | 20:01 | Waning Gibbous 92% |
| 2026-08-31 | 05:52-06:25 / 19:59-20:32 | 06:25-07:08 / 19:16-19:59 | 06:25 | 19:59 | Waning Gibbous 86% |
| 2026-09-01 | 05:54-06:27 / 19:57-20:30 | 06:27-07:09 / 19:14-19:57 | 06:27 | 19:57 | Waning Gibbous 77% |
Today the Sun rises from East (72°) and sets toward West (287°); choose the foreground by direction before timing the shot.
Daylight in Vancouver is shrinking by about 23 minutes week over week; today lasts about 13h 51m.
Today’s morning/evening golden-hour windows in Vancouver are about 43 / 43 minutes. At this high latitude, the Sun usually spends longer crossing the low-angle twilight band.
Across these seven days, 2026-08-27 has the brightest moon (100%), while 2026-09-01 is darkest (77%); choose by whether you want foreground light or stars.
Use the local times above to plan when to arrive, then choose a viewpoint by direction: east and southeast for sunrise, west coast for sunset.
Sunrise
Area: Stanley Park, Burrard Inlet
The east side of the seawall faces Burrard Inlet and the North Shore Mountains, where dawn lights the harbour from behind the ridges; the full solar disc is not visible in every season. Walk or cycle the Stanley Park Seawall, carrying a light and watching for shared-path traffic before dawn.
Sunset
Area: West End, English Bay
This west-facing beach combines English Bay, the North Shore Mountains and the edge of downtown in one sunset view. It is easy to reach on foot, by bike or transit from downtown; summer evenings are busy, so keep the seawall and boat access clear.
Sunset
Area: Little Mountain, Vancouver
This high point looks northwest across downtown and the North Shore Mountains, with the sunset shifting toward the coast or mountains by season. It is an uphill walk from nearby transit and the viewpoint is straightforward, but gardens and parking areas have their own hours, so check your exit when arriving late.
This calendar lays out upcoming twilight windows so you can choose warm light, cool light, silhouettes, or Moon shots before leaving.
Blue hour
Before sunrise and after sunset, the sky still has tone while street and building lights become visible. It is strong for bridges, streets, skylines, and reflections.
Golden hour
Low Sun angles create softer light and longer shadows. Landscapes, portraits, coastlines, and ridgelines gain clearer direction in this window.
Moon
Bright moonlight can reveal foreground detail but may reduce star contrast. If you want the Moon in frame, also check moonrise, moonset, and direction.
The best light lasts only minutes. Having a visual idea before arrival is more reliable than searching at the peak.
Arrival
Sunrise and sunset change quickly. Arrive 20 to 30 minutes early to test composition, safe movement, and backup angles.
Frame
Reflections, wet pavement, street lamps, silhouettes, ridgelines, and buildings often carry the image. The timetable tells you when light arrives; the scene makes the photo.
Backup
A blocked sunset is not a failed trip. Cloud texture, silhouettes, street lights, wet reflections, and blue hour can all become alternative subjects.
Related tools: Sunrise & Sunset · Photography Golden Hour Planner · Stargazing & Moon Viewing Score