Vancouver Lapu Lapu Festival Returns After Deadly Attack

The annual event will focus on reflection and communal healing a year after a vehicle ramming killed 11 people.

Mar. 12, 2026 at 5:38pm

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Filipino BC has announced that it will host its annual Lapu Lapu Day festival in Vancouver on April 19, a year after a vehicle ramming attack at the last festival killed 11 people. The festival will feature a comprehensive safety plan and focus on "reflection and communal healing" rather than being held on community streets.

Why it matters

The Lapu Lapu festival is an important cultural celebration for the Filipino community in Vancouver. Last year's deadly attack shook the community, and organizers are now focused on prioritizing safety and providing a space for healing and reflection.

The details

The festival will be held at the Italian Cultural Centre instead of on community streets, with controlled access, defined entry points, trained security, and coordination with emergency services. Organizers say the event is about "moving forward together, with survivors, families, and the broader community, to reclaim space for healing, cultural pride, and collective care."

  • The Lapu Lapu Day festival will be held on April 19, 2026.
  • The deadly vehicle ramming attack occurred on April 26, 2025.

The players

Filipino BC

The organization hosting the Lapu Lapu Day festival in Vancouver.

Adam Kai-Ji Lo

The individual charged with 11 counts of second-degree murder and 31 counts of attempted murder for the 2025 vehicle ramming attack at the Lapu Lapu festival.

Céline Loriot

A board member of Filipino BC.

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What they’re saying

“We want people to know that however they choose to engage, or even if they choose not to, that choice is respected.”

— Céline Loriot, Filipino BC board member

What’s next

Detailed schedules on programming for the 2026 Lapu Lapu Day festival will be released later.

The takeaway

The Lapu Lapu festival's return to Vancouver after last year's tragic attack demonstrates the resilience and commitment of the Filipino community to celebrate their culture and come together for healing, while also prioritizing safety and respecting individual choices about participation.