New data from Airbnb and short-term rental analytics firm AirDNA is providing a clearer picture of Vancouver’s accommodation market during the 2026 FIFA World Cup. While hosts benefited from higher nightly rates and increased revenue, occupancy levels fell as a significant expansion in available properties outpaced demand.
Typical Vancouver Airbnb Host Earned $4,500
According to Airbnb, a “typical” Vancouver host earned $4,500 over the FIFA World Cup event period. That was higher than Toronto, where the comparable figure was $3,400.
Vancouver also recorded a 24 per cent increase in new active Airbnb listings compared with the same period a year earlier, indicating that more property owners entered the short-term rental market ahead of the international soccer tournament.
AirDNA reported in July that Vancouver’s short-term rental sector generated close to an additional $24 million in revenue during the tournament period.
Higher Nightly Rates Drove Most of the Increase
AirDNA’s analysis found that Vancouver short-term rental revenue increased 33 per cent year over year. However, nearly $22.9 million of the increase was attributed to higher rates, while only about $840,000 came from additional booked nights.
“The 2026 World Cup was a win for short-term rentals, but not the one many expected. The tournament didn’t flood host cities with a wave of incremental guests; instead, it gave hosts pricing power,” AirDNA wrote in its report.
The figures suggest hosts did not necessarily attract substantially more bookings but were able to charge more for accommodation during a period of heightened international interest.
“Despite demand gains, the World Cup did little to lift occupancy due to significant supply growth leading up to the tournament,” the report said.
Vancouver’s short-term rental occupancy rate declined 15 per cent year over year as increased supply encountered what AirDNA described as “muted demand.”
Vancouver Accommodation Concerns Shifted Before Tournament
The accommodation outlook changed considerably in the months leading up to the FIFA World Cup.
In October 2025, Airbnb warned Vancouver could face a shortfall of approximately 70,000 room nights during the tournament, potentially leaving 15,000 soccer fans without accommodation. The company also predicted hotel prices could “soar by more than 200 per cent” and said $78 million in economic activity could be at stake.
At the time, Airbnb called on the City of Vancouver and the Province of British Columbia to consider temporary changes that would make it easier for residents to register as hosts. Vancouver charges $1,108 for a short-term rental business licence.
By March, hotel listings appeared to reinforce concerns about expensive accommodation. Some downtown Vancouver rooms were advertised for as much as $1,723 per night during the tournament.
As the World Cup approached, however, concerns shifted from insufficient accommodation to weaker-than-expected occupancy.
Hotel Occupancy Also Fell Despite Higher Prices
In May, the British Columbia Hotel Association reported that June hotel occupancy during the World Cup was nine per cent below 2025 levels. In downtown Vancouver, occupancy was 15 per cent lower.
“Despite its global profile, FIFA has not generated the broad hotel demand many expected. Activity remains concentrated around match dates and continues to be shaped by late booking patterns, room block releases, and normal summer travel decisions,” the association said.
The BCHA argued that repeated warnings about limited accommodation may have discouraged some travellers, noting that “when consumers are repeatedly told there will be ‘no rooms available,’” many may decide against visiting Vancouver.
Destination Vancouver subsequently reported that, as of June 27, downtown hotel occupancy stood at 75 per cent, compared with 91 per cent in June 2025.
Like the short-term rental sector, hotels nevertheless benefited from stronger pricing. During the latter half of June, the average daily hotel rate reached approximately $500, about 30 per cent higher than 2025 levels.
“Demand remained valuable even if room nights shifted.”
World Cup Delivered Pricing Power Rather Than an Occupancy Boom
Vancouver’s experience during the 2026 FIFA World Cup ultimately differed from early expectations of an accommodation shortage. Both hotels and short-term rentals recorded weaker occupancy despite elevated prices, while Airbnb hosts benefited from substantially higher nightly rates.
For Vancouver’s accommodation industry, the tournament demonstrated that a major international sporting event can generate significant revenue without necessarily producing a corresponding surge in occupied rooms.
Francesco Petrarca is a writer for ThePacket.ca, covering news, politics, business, technology, sports, entertainment, and lifestyle. He is committed to clear and reliable reporting, providing readers with useful information, timely updates, and stories that highlight important developments and current affairs.