Mahjong is surging in popularity among young Canadians and non-Asian demographics. Event participation jumped 70% in 2025, fueled by celebrity trends, local clubs, and a desire for meaningful, real-world social connections away from digital screens.
Mahjong, once considered a game for the elderly, is rapidly gaining popularity among Canada’s younger generation and interracial communities. Data and events show that mahjong is developing into a highly attractive offline social and cultural exchange activity in the post-pandemic era. Platform data shows that in 2025, the number of mahjong events in Canada increased by 5%, but the number of participants surged by 70% year-on-year, with celebrities such as former supermodel Cindy Crawford and Meghan Markle also contributing to the trend.
Entrepreneurs in Vancouver and other cities have established mahjong event companies, and their courses have seen enthusiastic enrollment, with some institutions having nearly half of their students being non-Asian. Canadian universities such as UBC have established mahjong clubs. Young people are connecting with family and culture through mahjong, and are also using this hands-on traditional board game to temporarily escape digital screens and expand their real-world social connections.
Source: UCA, CP24