Australia’s Biggest Celebration of Spring

Floriade is Australia’s biggest celebration of spring and a much-loved annual event in Canberra, attracting visitors from across the country and the world who travel to experience its spectacular display of more than a million blooms in Commonwealth Park. The free festival has been running for nearly 40 years and takes place annually across September and October, marking the arrival of spring in the nation’s capital. Since 1988 it has grown into a major national event, showcasing large-scale horticulture, creativity, and design. Each year introduces a new theme along with completely refreshed programming and entertainment, ensuring a unique experience that continues to inspire repeat visitation.

Beyond the gardens, Floriade plays an important role in the life of the Canberra community. It brings people together through a diverse program of entertainment, food and wine, arts and cultural experiences, workshops, and family-friendly activities. The festival extends across the city through community planting initiatives and partnerships with local businesses, schools and organisations, creating a shared sense of pride, participation and connection throughout the spring season.

Floriade also delivers significant visitation and economic value, reinforcing Canberra’s reputation as a must-visit destination during spring. Its success has been recognised at the highest level, including winning Gold in the Major Festivals and Events category at the 2025 Qantas Australian Tourism Awards. Supported by partners, growers, volunteers and the wider community, Floriade continues to be a defining event for Canberra and one of Australia’s most iconic seasonal festivals.

Dense rows of pink, red, yellow and blue flowers planted in layered bands across a garden bed.

Brightly coloured tulips in the foreground with an illuminated ferris wheel visible in the background at dusk.

Close‑up of white tulips with water droplets on the petals, with colourful flower beds and a ferris wheel softly blurred in the background.

How Floriade Began

Floriade was first held in Canberra in 1988, as a one-off celebration of Canberra’s 75th birthday and to mark the Bicentenary of European settlement. It was the brainchild of landscape designer Christiaan Slotemaker De Bruine, who was inspired by the world-renowned Keukenhof gardens in The Netherlands.

Together with horticulturist Peter Sutton and the dedicated City Parks staff, they transformed Commonwealth Park into a breathtaking display of blooms for the inaugural event. With the theme of ‘Multiculturalism of the Nation,’ Floriade featured stunning Dutch and Aboriginal floral designs. Their collaborative effort, supported by the Embassy of the Netherlands and the Bicentennial Authority, set the stage for what would become a beloved annual tradition.

Held in the heart of the nation’s capital, alongside Lake Burley Griffin, Floriade has grown into a symbol of Canberra’s vibrant spring spirit. Each year, more than one million blooms create a stunning backdrop for a month-long festival brimming with music, cultural showcases, gardening workshops, art displays, and activities for all ages. Running from mid-September to mid-October, this much-loved event attracts over 480,000 local, interstate and international visitors annually, who come together to celebrate the beauty of spring.

About Our Founders

Peter Sutton and Chris Slotemaker De Bruine were the perfect team. Peter, with his passion for plants and people, and Chris, with his keen eye for design and landscaping, brought Floriade to life. Their creativity and dedication still inspire the event 30 years on, with Peter’s incredible work on Canberra landmarks like City Hill, Aspen Island, and the English Garden leaving a lasting legacy.

It wasn’t easy to bring such a wide array of bulbs into Australia back then, but Peter and Chris were persistent—and we’re all grateful for it today as we stroll through these vibrant gardens. Peter’s influence also lives on through the apprentice program he championed, which has trained many of Floriade’s gardeners.

These two visionaries always acknowledged that Floriade’s success comes from the hard work of countless individuals, from the gardeners who plant each bulb by hand to the talented team that fills the park with music and joy. Floriade, the largest flower festival in the Southern Hemisphere, thrives thanks to the collaborative efforts of so many, just as Peter and Chris first intended.

The word ‘Floriade” is derived from the Latin “floreo” meaning “to bloom” or “to blossom”.