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The final FIFA World Cup match in Vancouver takes place on July 7, but don't expect Granville Street to pack up its patio furniture just yet.

Vancouver City Council has voted to extend the Granville Street Pedestrian Zone and eligible FIFA World Cup-inspired temporary patios through the Labour Day long weekend, keeping the downtown entertainment district focused on people instead of traffic for the rest of the summer.

Originally introduced as part of Vancouver's FIFA World Cup festivities, the pilot transformed Granville Street between Georgia and Davie streets into a pedestrian-first destination packed with patios, public programming, and considerably fewer buses and cars.

The extension also means that restaurants, pubs, and other hospitality businesses that received temporary patio approvals can apply to keep those outdoor spaces open until September 6, giving them a chance to ride the summer tourism wave a little longer.

According to the province, the extension is intended to help hospitality operators maintain revenue after the World Cup while creating more opportunities for outdoor dining, gathering, and supporting local tourism.

“Vancouver has rediscovered what's possible when we put people at the heart of our city,” Mayor Ken Sim says in a statement. “Granville Street has been full of energy, local businesses are seeing more customers, and residents and visitors have told us loud and clear they want this momentum to continue.”

For anyone wondering whether the car-free experiment could become something more permanent, the city isn't making that call just yet.

Instead, officials say they'll spend the rest of the summer collecting data on pedestrian activity, transportation, business performance, public safety, and public feedback before determining the street's long-term future.

The city is also encouraging residents to weigh in through an online public survey, which remains open until September 7, as part of the evaluation process.

Council has also directed staff to explore temporarily reinstating the pedestrian zone in November to support a potential Christmas market while gathering additional operational and economic data during another busy season.

In the meantime, expect plenty more room to stroll, linger, and people-watch. Robson Street at Granville remains closed to vehicles, while Georgia and Davie streets will stay open to maintain cross-city access. Additional intersection closures may also happen on particularly busy days to help manage crowds.