Rio Theatre

Is the theatre accessible to those using mobility aids?

There are no steps from the sidewalk to the main entrance and a ramp leads from the lobby into the main floor of the theatre. We have *two wheelchair seating areas located in the north-east corner of the main floor. One includes two adjacent companion seats, the second has room for two wheelchairs. Some wheelchair users prefer to sit in front of the first row, which is suitable for any regular general admission movie screening.

Unfortunately, the layout of the bathrooms are not suitable for wheelchair or walker users. The doorway entries are W29.5” and the widest stall with a grab bar in the east side washroom is W30.5” but only accessible by a W32.5” entry. We are consistently trying to solve this barrier and work around the infrastructure of the 1938 building.

*unfortunately, this area cannot fit two motorized wheelchairs. Please email us if a show is “sold out” of the wheelchair section and we can let you know if there is room. We appologize for this inconvenience.

Is there something I should do before I bring my service dog?

Email us at [email protected] ahead of time and we can reserve an aisle seat so the dog can sit comfortably.

Do you have gender-neutral washrooms?

Yes, we do. When entering the building, the washrooms to the right (west-most) have urinals, the ones to the left (east-most) have only stalls.

Do you have closed-caption devices for the deaf and hard of hearing?

Working on it! Thank you for your patience.

Can teens come to your events?

Please check the event listing: it will either say “Minors OK” or “Must be 19+”. Please see the Consumer Protection Website for more information on ratings.

How close are you to a Skytrain station?

Right across the street from Broadway/Commercial Skytrain station and transit hub. Close enough for ya?

The 99-B-line bus that runs between UBC and Commercial/Broadway will also get you here.

We always consider transit riders when programming our Late Night features so you won’t miss the last train home!

What is the parking situation like?

The Rio does not have a dedicated parking lot.

Two hour street parking is available on Broadway except between 3:00pm – 7:00pm from Monday – Friday on both the North and South sides. Metered parking is available (up to a 2-hour limit) on Commercial Drive. Paid surface parking lots are accessible at 2730 Commercial Drive on 11th Avenue & Commercial as well as 1750 East 10th which is only accessible from Victoria Street.

Please remember to check signage and do not leave any valuables in your vehicles.

Do you have a Lost and Found?

Yes, we do. Please email us at [email protected], and include a description of your lost item in the subject line.

Please note as we do not have the capacity to retain every lost and found item we have ever collected, we do a bi-annual donation of salvageable items and discard any personal items like make-up, medication, water bottles, etc.

Do I need to print my ticket?

Please arrive with your ticket downloaded or printed. If you cannot find a copy of your ticket, you can give your name at the door where we can look up your ticket.

Certain shows run by outside organizations may have different policies, so be sure to check who you purchased your ticket from.

I can’t make it to the show I bought a ticket for – can I get a refund?

Unfortunately we cannot provide refunds.

What is your bag policy?

Outside food and drink is not allowed, and we reserve the right to request to search any bag, at any time. We do not have a coat check, so be mindful that your bag may need to be placed at your feet if the theatre is full.

Can I refill my own water bottle?

We do have a water refill station if you wish to bring an empty water bottle.

FAQs