The Best Flower Festivals in Australia and Around the World

In short: Australia’s big flower festivals run in spring, from September to early November (Toowoomba, Floriade, Kings Park, Tesselaar and Grafton’s jacarandas), with KaBloom and the Melbourne flower show in autumn. Overseas, Keukenhof (March to May) and Japan’s cherry blossom season (late March to April) are the most famous.

Photo by Sora Sagano on Unsplash

There’s something about flower festivals that feels like a deep breath of fresh air. Maybe it’s the vibrant colours, or the palpable sense of joy and wonder in the air, or perhaps it’s just being somewhere that smells amazing.

Around the world, flower festivals blend natural beauty with local culture, seasonal tradition and a sense of celebration that’s hard to find anywhere else. From the Keukenhof gardens in the Netherlands, where around seven million bulbs burst into colour each spring, to Spain’s Batalla de Flores, where people happily pelt each other with petals, here are the best flower festivals in Australia and around the world, and when to go.

Flower Festival Calendar: When to Go

Dates change every year with the season and the bloom, so always check the official website before you book.

Flower Festivals in Australia

Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers

Photo by Kgbo on Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped

Where: Toowoomba, Queensland
When: September to early October
Website:tcof.com.au

Dating back to 1949, when it began as a way to lift community spirits after the Second World War, the Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers is one of Australia’s best-known floral festivals. It runs over three weekends each spring in Queensland’s “Garden City”, and draws hundreds of thousands of visitors.

Each year, hundreds of thousands of meticulously planted blooms, from tulips and pansies to begonias and marigolds, are arranged in Queens Park Botanic Gardens and Laurel Bank Park to transform Toowoomba’s beloved public parks into living floral masterpieces. The Grand Central Floral Parade brings flower-covered floats, marching bands and community groups to the city streets, and there are more than 80 events, from twilight garden tours to food and wine.

Floriade

Photo by Grahamec on Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped

Where: Commonwealth Park, Canberra, ACT
When: Mid-September to mid-October
Website:floriadeaustralia.com

Floriade calls itself Australia’s biggest celebration of spring. Since 1988 it has filled Commonwealth Park, on the shore of Lake Burley Griffin, with more than a million bulbs and annuals planted in huge themed beds, along with music, markets, talks and night events.

Entry to the gardens is free. Floriade returns in 2027 for a milestone year, so keep an eye on the website for dates.

Tesselaar Tulip Festival

Photo by Chris Phutully from Australia on Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0, cropped

Where: Tesselaar Flower Farm, Silvan, Victoria
When: Mid-September to mid-October
Website:tesselaar.net.au

About an hour east of Melbourne in the Dandenong Ranges, the Tesselaar flower farm turns into rows and rows of tulips every spring. Expect fields in every colour, themed weekends with music and dancing, market stalls, food and plenty of photo spots. Go early on a weekday if you can, as weekends get busy.

Want to grow your own? Read our guide to growing tulips.

Tesselaar KaBloom

Photo by Chris Phutully from Australia on Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0, cropped

Where: Tesselaar Flower Farm, Silvan, Victoria
When: March to April
Website:kabloom.com.au

As the crisp autumn air settles over the scenic Dandenong Ranges, KaBloom springs to life at the Tesselaar Flower Farm as over a million sunflowers, salvias, marigolds, dahlias, snapdragons, and other vibrant blooms burst into colour. It’s the same farm as the spring tulip festival, so Victoria gets two flower festivals a year from one place.

What sets KaBloom apart is its autumn timing, after most festivals have finished. It’s a family day out, with food trucks, live entertainment, a tractor train through the blooms and dog-friendly days.

Kings Park Festival

Where: Kings Park and Botanic Garden, Perth, WA
When: September to early October
Website:bgpa.wa.gov.au

Western Australia has one of the richest wildflower floras on Earth, and the Kings Park Festival is its showcase. Each spring the botanic garden overlooking the Swan River celebrates WA’s wildflowers with displays, guided walks, workshops, art and evening events, and entry to the park is free.

For more on the plants you’ll see, take a look at our Australian native flowers collection.

Jacaranda Festival

Photo by Sheba_Also 43,000 photos on Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0, cropped

Where: Grafton, NSW
When: Late October to early November
Website:jacafest.com

Grafton has been celebrating its jacaranda trees since 1935, which makes its Jacaranda Festival one of Australia’s oldest floral festivals. When the trees flower, the town’s streets turn purple and the festival fills the weeks with a parade, markets, concerts and the crowning of a Jacaranda Queen.

Can’t get to Grafton? Sydney’s jacarandas flower at the same time. See the most iconic trees in Sydney and where to see them.

Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show

Photo by Chris Phutully from Australia on Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0, cropped

Where: Royal Exhibition Building and Carlton Gardens, Melbourne
When: March
Website:melbflowershow.com.au

Melbourne’s flower show is the big one for gardeners in the southern hemisphere: five days of show gardens, floral design competitions, plant stalls and talks in and around the heritage-listed Royal Exhibition Building. It’s a great place to pick up ideas, and plants, for your own garden.

Flower Festivals in Asia

Cherry Blossom Season, Japan

Where: All over Japan, including Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka
When: Late March to April (earlier in Okinawa, later in Hokkaido)
Website:Japan cherry blossom forecast

Japan is world-famous for its breathtaking cherry blossom trees, but not many people know that there’s an entire season of festivals dedicated to celebrating them, known as Hanami or flower viewing. This tradition, which welcomes the arrival of spring, has deep historical roots that date as far back as the year 710, when aristocrats first gathered to admire plum blossoms. Over time, however, cherry blossoms became the main focus of these gatherings as their beauty gradually captured the hearts of the nobles, and by the 1600s the pastime of flower viewing also spread from the nobles to people of every background.

Today, cherry blossom festivals take place all across Japan, with popular spots in Kyoto, Tokyo, and Osaka. For a few precious weeks, life slows down as families and friends gather in parks and by riversides where the cherry blossoms bloom to enjoy picnics in the daytime and paper lantern-lit streets at night. It’s a deeply communal and reflective experience that has inspired countless poems, paintings, and other art forms.

Chiang Mai Flower Festival

Where: Chiang Mai, Thailand
When: Early February

The historic city of Chiang Mai, known as the “Rose of the North”, comes alive with florals during its annual flower festival held in spring when blooms are at their peak. The festival features a grand floral parade made up of elaborately decorated floats adorned with thousands of fresh orchids, vibrant chrysanthemums, and Chiang Mai’s famous damask roses. Awards are given to the best float and flower display.

The main exhibition area for the festival is at the Buak Haad Public Park, where intricate floral arrangements, competitive garden displays, and agricultural exhibits are showcased. The city itself joins in the floral celebrations, with residents and shopkeepers adorning their homes and storefronts with stunning floral displays. Traditional dancing, music, storytelling and a flower queen pageant add to the fun.

Kashmir Tulip Festival

Where: Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden, Srinagar, India
When: Late March to April

The Kashmir Tulip Festival is a spectacular annual event held at the Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden in Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir, India. Typically spanning from late March to mid-April, it marks the glorious arrival of spring in the picturesque Kashmir Valley by showcasing over 1 million tulip bulbs of more than 75 varieties, spanning a mesmerising array of colour and hues.

In addition to being Asia’s largest tulip garden, what makes this festival particularly special is its stunning backdrop. The snow-capped peaks of the Zabarwan mountains provide a dramatic contrast to the vibrant floral tapestry while the meticulously terraced garden overlooks the iconic Dal Lake, creating an incredible experience of being surrounded by breathtaking natural beauty.

Hiroshima Flower Festival

Where: Hiroshima, Japan
When: Early May (Golden Week)
Website:hiroshima-ff.com

One of Japan’s largest and most vibrant spring celebrations, the Hiroshima Flower Festival is held annually during Japan’s Golden Week in early May. More than just a colourful display of blossoms, it is a moving and meaningful tribute to peace, community, and hope, held in a city whose name is forever linked with tragedy and resilience. Since its inception in 1977, the festival has attracted millions of visitors who come not only to admire the flowers but to participate in an event that honours life and renewal in the most beautiful way.

Spanning three days, the festival kicks off with the Grand Flower Parade that takes place along Peace Boulevard and includes dance troupes, marching bands, lively music, and “hana-guruma” (flower-decorated cars). At Peace Memorial Park, which is a central hub of the festival, visitors can marvel at the impressive 8-metre-tall Flower Tower and explore flower-themed exhibits and displays during the day. In the evenings, the Flower Candle Message event takes place, where people write personal peace messages on paper lanterns, which are then lit and arranged in the park as a collective tribute to the past and a hopeful message for the future.

Zhuzihu Calla Lily & Hydrangea Festival

Photo by lienyuan lee on Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0, cropped

Where: Yangmingshan, Taipei, Taiwan
When: Mid-March to June
Website:flowersfestival.taipei

Set high in the misty hills of Yangmingshan National Park, the Zhuzihu Calla Lily & Hydrangea Festival is a floral celebration rooted in local farming traditions. From mid-March through mid-June, visitors flock here for a seasonal showcase of blooming calla lilies followed by vibrant hydrangeas.

The village of Zhuzihu began hosting the festival in 2002 to highlight the area’s flower-growing heritage. Today, it produces up to 90% of Taiwan’s calla lilies, making it the country’s leading white lily hub. During March and April, visitors can suit up in waterproof boots to walk into shallow, lily-filled ponds and pick their own blooms. Many farms offer DIY bouquet workshops, turning your harvest into a take-home floral keepsake. And in May and June, the callas give way to dense fields of hydrangeas in rich pinks, purples, and blues.

Singapore Garden Festival

Photo by William Cho on Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0, cropped

Where: Singapore
When: Every two years, usually July or August
Website:sgf.nparks.gov.sg

Amid Singapore’s futuristic skyline and lush tropical setting, the Singapore Garden Festival stands out as Southeast Asia’s premier celebration of horticultural artistry and innovation. Held biennially since 2006, the festival transforms the city into a vibrant garden showcase, attracting top designers, plant lovers, and tourists from around the world. It’s a one-of-a-kind event in the region, where landscape and floral design take centre stage.

Conceived by the National Parks Board to be a world-class platform, this international event brings together the best landscape and garden designers from Singapore and around the globe. A key highlight of the festival is its array of award-winning show gardens and floral displays. Visitors can explore diverse landscapes created by top designers, ranging from vertical gardens, fantasy floral installations to practical urban green spaces and rare orchids. These exhibits often push the boundaries of design, incorporating sustainable practices, cutting-edge technology, and stunning plant palettes.

Flower Festivals in Europe

Keukenhof

Where: Lisse, Netherlands
When: Mid-March to mid-May
Website:keukenhof.nl

Keukenhof is arguably the most iconic flower park in the world. Known as the “Garden of Europe”, it features over 7 million hand-planted flower bulbs spread across 32 hectares of manicured gardens. Among these, more than 800 varieties of tulips in every conceivable hue create vibrant, sweeping carpets of colour that stretch as far as the eye can see.

While it’s most famous for its tulips, Keukenhof also features stunning displays of hyacinths, daffodils, lilies, roses, carnations, and irises, which create a vibrant tapestry of colour that changes throughout its eight-week opening. In addition to floral displays, the festival also features cultural events, musical performances, and delicious Dutch treats. It’s an unforgettable experience that embodies the Netherlands’ deep connection to its national flower and is truly a highlight of any global flower festival itinerary.

RHS Chelsea Flower Show

Where: London, UK
When: May
Website:rhs.org.uk

A true floral institution, the Chelsea Flower Show is a high-society event that has captivated the world since 1913. Hosted by the Royal Horticultural Society, it showcases cutting-edge garden designs, rare plant varieties, and horticultural innovation.

A major highlight of the Chelsea Flower Show is its prestigious awards, which are considered symbols of excellence within the horticultural world. Gardens and exhibits are meticulously judged and can receive gold, silver-gilt, silver, or bronze medals in recognition of their outstanding design, planting, and innovation. Winning at Chelsea is a big deal as it can transform a designer’s career and set trends in garden design for years to come.

La Fête de la Rose

Image by pasja1000 from Pixabay

Where: Grasse, France
When: May
Website:jardinsdelange.com

Known as the perfume capital of the world, the town of Grasse in France’s Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region hosts La Fête de la Rose, or the Rose Festival, every May to celebrate the blooming and harvest of the Centifolia rose also known as the May rose. This exquisitely fragrant rose plays a pivotal role in the town’s identity and economy, and is behind some of the world’s most iconic and luxurious perfumes, including Chanel No. 5.

The festival emerged as a natural extension of Grasse’s agricultural and industrial legacy and is deeply embedded in the region’s history. During the floral celebration, streets and fountains are draped in roses, perfume houses open their doors to visitors, and master perfumers lead scent-making workshops that let people blend their own memories into a vial.

Madeira Flower Festival

Photo by Paul Mannix on Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0, cropped

Where: Funchal, Madeira, Portugal
When: Spring, usually April or May
Website:visitmadeira.com

Often called the “Garden Isle”, the island of Madeira naturally flourishes with blooms, and the spectacular Madeira Flower Festival acts as its grand, living catalogue. The festival’s roots trace back to the 1950s, initially conceived by the island’s tourism board as a way to showcase Madeira’s unique natural beauty and its rich floral heritage. What began as a more modest floral exhibition has blossomed over the decades into an internationally renowned event featuring floral stars such as orchids, birds of paradise, anthuriums, and hydrangeas.

In addition to a colourful parade of massive flower floats accompanied down the city streets by costumed dancers and energetic musical bands, the festival features a deeply touching tradition known as the Wall of Hope or Muro da Esperança. A tradition practiced for over 40 years, it sees thousands of children gather to place a single flower into a wall of blooms, symbolising peace and hope for the world.

Bohinj Wildflower Festival

Where: Bohinj, Slovenia
When: Late May to early June
Website:bohinj.si

Beyond the grand, cultivated gardens and bustling city parades, there exists a quiet, breathtaking spectacle where nature itself takes centre stage. Welcome to the Slovenia International Wildflower Festival, an annual ode to untamed blooms that takes place in the Bohinj region within the Julian Alps. Bohinj boasts an exceptional richness in wildflowers, with over 1,000 different plant species, including around 70 endemic to the region and almost 80 species of orchids.

Typically held over several weeks from late May to early June, this is a fairly new festival that first took place in 2007. It has quickly gained popularity, growing into a significant international event that attracts nature lovers and botanists alike, underscoring Slovenia’s commitment to “green and slow tourism”.

Infiorata di Genzano

Where: Genzano di Roma, Lazio, Italy
When: June (the Corpus Domini weekend)
Website:infioratadigenzano.it

In the quiet, charming town of Genzano di Roma in Italy, the Genzano Infiorata is an extraordinary floral festival held typically on the Sunday of Corpus Domini, which is a Christian feast celebrated by the Roman Catholic Church and some other denominations to honour the Eucharist.

This breathtaking event transforms the Via Italo Belardi, the main street leading to the Church of Santa Maria della Cima, into a magnificent flower carpet using hundreds of thousands of fresh carnations and other flowers. The tradition dates back to the 18th century, evolving from the simple scattering of flowers into an elaborate art form. The designs, which change annually, often depict religious scenes, classical artworks, or complex geometric patterns.

Batalla de Flores

Where: Valencia and Laredo, Spain
When: Late July (Valencia) and late August (Laredo)
Website:Valencia: batalladeflores.net · Laredo: batalladeflors.com

The Batalla de Flores (Battle of Flowers) is one of Spain’s most vibrant and colourful festivals. Celebrated in several towns, most famously Valencia and Laredo, this festive deeply-rooted community event is unique in that it involves participants engaging in a playful flower “battle” by tossing thousands of flower petals at each other.

Dahlias and carnations were, and still are, the most commonly used flowers during the celebrations, which include a parade of flower-adorned floats, music, dance, traditional food, and other cultural events that bring communities together.

The two best-known battles are on different dates: Valencia’s closes the city’s July Fair on the last Sunday of July, while Laredo’s, on Spain’s north coast, is held on the last Friday of August.

Brussels Flower Carpet

Where: Grand-Place, Brussels, Belgium
When: August, every two years (even-numbered years)
Website:flowercarpet.brussels

Can hundreds of thousands of blooms transform a UNESCO World Heritage site into a breathtaking, temporary floral masterpiece? Every two years, the Brussels Flower Carpet proves it’s possible when artists and volunteers collaborate to design and lay between 500,000 and a million begonias and dahlias in the Grand-Place in the historic heart of Brussels, Belgium.

The history of this unique tradition dates back to 1971, when landscape architect E. Stautemans created the first large-scale flower carpet in Brussels. His vision was to showcase the vibrant colours and resilience of tuberous begonias and leverage Belgium’s reputation as their major exporter. The event’s immense popularity led to its establishment as a biennial tradition from 1986 onwards. Each edition features a different theme, often commemorating significant historical events, honouring specific countries or regions, or exploring artistic movements. This deliberate thematic approach adds depth and meaning to the visual splendour, inviting contemplation as much as admiration.

Jersey Battle of Flowers

Where: St Helier, Jersey, Channel Islands
When: August
Website:battle.je

Dating back to 1902, the Jersey Battle of Flowers is a delightful blend of carnival fun and floral artistry. Originally held to celebrate the coronation of Edward VII, it’s now one of Europe’s most spectacular floral parades. Held in St. Helier, the capital of Jersey in the Channel Islands, the Battle of Flowers is anything but a traditional flower show. Its name harks back to the original event, when spectators playfully threw flowers at one another from the elaborately decorated floats. While the “battle” element has softened over time, the showmanship remains firmly at the heart of the event.

The day parade features an impressive lineup of floral floats, dancers, musicians, and performers from both the island and abroad. The floats are covered in tens of thousands of fresh and paper flowers, each crafted to suit a specific theme, and judges award prizes based on craftsmanship, originality, and floral artistry. And on the next day, the night parade takes centre stage, where the floats return illuminated by thousands of tiny lights. Accompanied by music, fireworks, and a festive night-time atmosphere, this parade brings a spectacular end to the two-day celebration.

Bloemencorso Zundert

Where: Zundert, Netherlands
When: The first Sunday of September
Website:corsozundert.nl

While the Netherlands is renowned for its tulips, the Zundert Flower Parade focuses exclusively on dahlias. Each September, on the first Sunday of the month, around twenty hamlets in Zundert use millions of dahlias as they compete to decorate the most spectacular floats that can reach 9 metres high and 19 metres long.

In preparation for the parade, families plant dahlias throughout the summer on approximately 40 hectares of flower fields specifically set aside for the parade and residents dedicate months to creating their monumental masterpieces. Considered the largest flower parade in the world, the town of Zundert, also renowned for being the birthplace of Vincent Van Gogh, welcomes between 50,000 to 70,000 visitors each year.

Flower Festivals in Africa

Clanwilliam Wildflower Show

Where: Clanwilliam, Western Cape, South Africa
When: Late August to early September
Website:clanwilliam.info

Have you ever wondered what it feels like to step inside a living display of wildflowers, lovingly crafted by an entire community? The Clanwilliam Wildflower Show in South Africa’s ruggedly beautiful Cederberg region offers just that experience. Held each spring, typically in late August and early September, the show transforms the town’s historic Dutch Reformed Church into a breathtaking floral sanctuary, earning it the nickname “Blomkerk” or “Flower Church”.

What makes the show truly special is its focus on conservation and its unique display method. Volunteers carefully hand-pick over 350 to 400 species of indigenous wildflowers, many of which are endemic to the area, and transplant them to the Blomkerk. Inside the church, visitors can see everything from giant aloes and proteas to delicate daisies, nemesias, and succulents, all arranged to mimic their natural habitats. Highlights include specimen rooms with information on medicinal plants, seasonal themes, and a local rooibos exhibit.

The show, which has been a tradition since 1972, is not only a testament to community effort but also a crucial platform for raising awareness about the conservation of the region’s fragile flora. It offers an intimate, immersive experience, inviting visitors to learn about the unique biodiversity of this part of the world.

Flower Festivals in the Americas

Daffodil Festival at Gibbs Gardens

Where: Ball Ground, Georgia, USA
When: March to April
Website:gibbsgardens.com

If the sight of a daffodil sends a thrill through your heart, then the Daffodil Festival at Gibbs Gardens is the perfect event for you. Featuring a dazzling display of over 20 million daffodils covering more than 50 acres of hillsides, valleys, and woodland, this breathtaking spectacle is one of the largest daffodil displays in the United States and usually runs from March into April.

Located just an hour north of Atlanta, Gibbs Gardens was opened to the public in 2012 after its founder, landscape architect Jim Gibbs, spent over 30 years meticulously designing and developing the vast property. The garden’s daffodil collection has more than 100 different varieties in a wide range of colours and has grown exponentially over the years due to the bulbs’ natural reproduction, resulting in richer displays year after year.

Canadian Tulip Festival

Photo by Eric Bouliane on Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0

Where: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
When: May
Website:tulipfestival.ca

What began as a heartfelt gesture of international friendship has blossomed into one of Canada’s most cherished floral events. The origins of the Canadian Tulip Festival, held each May in Ottawa, trace back to the dark days of World War II when, during the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands, the Dutch royal family found refuge in Canada. In 1945, as a token of gratitude, the royal family sent 100,000 tulip bulbs to Canada, laying the roots for what would become a vibrant national tradition celebrating peace, remembrance, and the stunning beauty of tulips in full bloom.

Today, over one million tulips bloom across Ottawa, transforming the capital into a vivid sea of colour. The main display is at Commissioners Park near Dow’s Lake, where more than 300,000 tulips of every shade paint the landscape. Guided tours, art installations, and historical exhibits add context and meaning to the visual spectacle.

Feria de las Flores

Where: Medellín, Colombia
When: Early August

Medellín truly lives up to its nickname of the City of Eternal Spring during the magnificent Feria de las Flores that takes place every August. Originating in 1957 as a tribute to the region’s flower growers (silleteros), the festival has since grown into a grand celebration of Antioquian culture, heritage, and, of course, flowers.

Set against the lush hills of this vibrant metropolis in the Andes, the Feria de las Flores is an explosion of colour, music, and tradition. The undisputed highlight of the show is the silleteros parade, where local farmers carry elaborate flower arrangements called silletas on their backs as a nod to the region’s traditions. These silletas are stunning works of art, meticulously crafted from a vast array of flowers, including orchids, gladioli, chrysanthemums, and countless tropical blooms. Each silleta can weigh up to 70 kilograms and feature thousands of flowers, often depicting intricate scenes, portraits, or abstract designs.

Planning a Flower Festival Trip

The beautiful thing about flower festivals is that they don’t just show off blooms. They give you a glimpse into the culture, traditions and spirit of the places that host them, from the petal-carpeted streets of Genzano to the peace lanterns of Hiroshima.

A few tips before you go:

• Check dates every year. Most festivals move with the season and the bloom, and some (Brussels, Singapore) only run every second year.

• Go early, and on a weekday if you can. The flowers look best in the soft morning light and the crowds are smaller.

• Book ahead. Keukenhof, Floriade’s night events and the big parades sell out, and nearby accommodation fills fast.

• Dress for the weather. Flower farms are muddy after rain, so wear comfortable shoes.

Planning a spring day out closer to home? Our guide to spring flowers in Sydney has what’s blooming and where.

Can’t make it to a festival? Bring the season home with a bunch of fresh tulips in spring, or a native bouquet any time of year.