FAQs

Floriade typically takes place from mid-September to mid-October. In 2025, the dates are Saturday 13 September to Sunday 12 October 2025.

The Floriade gates will open at 9:30am and close at 5:30pm.

The theme for Floriade 2025 is “Science and Nature”, transforming Commonwealth Park into a dynamic space of discovery and learning. The garden bed designs will draw inspiration from the most recognised scientific fields of physics, chemistry, astronomy, biology and botany, embodying the excitement and adventure of experimentation and pursuit of new ideas.

Floriade is held in Commonwealth Park located on Regatta Place, Parkes, Canberra.

Floriade is free to enter and does not require registration. There are some paid events included in the Floriade program. Look out for ‘Book Tickets’ specified on the applicable event pages and linked to ticketing websites for purchase.

Keep an eye on our Facebook and Instagram pages, and subscribe to our newsletter to be notified of the most up to date information.

NightFest will be held from Thursday 2 October to Sunday 5 October 2025.

Nightfest gates will open from 6:30pm till 10:30pm.

Information on public transport and parking is available on our Getting to Floriade page.

Pickup & Set Down

There will be restricted drop off/pickup spaces outside the Floriade Main Gate on Regatta Place in front of the Canberra and Region Visitors Centre, to enable coaches to drop off and pick up.

Vehicles will be required to turn off Barrine Drive onto Regatta Place.

Signage will be positioned to guide vehicles and designate the drop off/pick up area. A Traffic Controller will also be positioned at the intersection of Regatta Point and the designated thoroughfare parking bay to communicate the process to vehicles.

Set-down and pick-up is permitted at Regatta Point however coach and bus parking in this location is prohibited.

Bus/Coach Parking

During the event, the Regatta Point bus and coach parking area will not be available for the use.

Due to construction works, no coach and bus parking is available at Acton Park carpark, West Basin.

After dropping off passengers, buses and coaches can seek parking at the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) in bays 11 and 12; however, availability may be limited due to other scheduled activity in the area.

Further information on availability will be confirmed, so please check back for more information.

The entrance to the coach parking at the AIS is on Braybrooke Street which can be accessed either via Battye Street or Ginninderra Drive. The AIS has a café onsite, as well as public restroom facilities, which is located within the visitors’ centre.
Alternatively, you can try the below coach bays which have limited first come-first served parking.

• Mall Road West, behind Questacon | 7-8 spaces
• Lennox Crossing, National Museum of Australia | 3-4 spaces
• Akuna Street, adjacent to Glebe Park | 3-4 spaces
• Alinga Street, behind the Novotel | 3 spaces
• Museum of Australian Democracy, King George Terrace | 5-6 spaces

Floriade is Australia’s Biggest Celebration of Spring and is committed to reducing barriers and delivering an event that is accessible and inclusive.

We would like your visit to Floriade to be an enjoyable experience. Floriade is accessible to wheelchairs, mobility scooters and strollers, and will offer the following services:
– Accessible parking
– Front gate drop off zone for mobility impaired or aged visitors
– Accessible toilets
– Mobility services for hiring out walking frames, wheelchairs and mobility scooters for use on site
– Sensory Hour from 9:30am until 10:30am weekdays (not including public holidays)

Please note that display marquees and markets in Floriade are either at ground level, or marquees are fixed with accessible ramps.

Paths are wide enough to accommodate pedestrians, wheelchairs, mobility scooters and strollers.

Be aware there are some loose gravel pathways and there may be water on pathways after rain.

Find out more on our Accessibility page.

Accessible public parking is available adjacent to the Regatta Point entrance (access off Commonwealth Ave). Parking is limited and vehicles must display an authorised disability parking permit.

Yes, Floriade welcomes you to bring a wheelchair, mobility scooter or stroller.

Floriade is accessible to wheelchairs, mobility scooters and strollers. Display marquees and markets in Floriade are either at ground level, or marquees are fixed with accessible ramps. Accessible toilet facilities are also available across the event site. Paths are wide enough to accommodate pedestrians, wheelchairs, mobility scooters and strollers. Be aware there are some loose gravel pathways and there may be water on pathways after rain.

A limited number of wheelchairs, walking frames, electric mobility scooters and strollers will be available for hire. For mobility hire and booking enquiries, please email scooters@netspeed.com.au or send a text message to 0403 242 584.

Please go to the Accessibility page to find out more about mobility options.

Floriade is located on a four-hectare site. The circuit around Floriade is approximately 1.6km and contains some loose granite pathways. We recommend you wear sensible footwear and take all necessary precautions to prevent injury to yourself or those in your party.

Yes. Sensory Hour will be on between 9:30am till 10:30am on weekdays (not including public holidays).

During this hour, there will be limited amplified sounds and stage performances to create a relaxed and inclusive atmosphere, offering a sensory friendly experience at Floriade for individuals with sensory processing challenges.

The Floriade gates will open at 9:30am and close at 5:30pm.

Our Community and Nursing Home Bus Tours for Floriade 2025 are now booked out. If you wish to join our waitlist for any cancelled slots, please email events@act.gov.au.  

Due to liquor licencing restrictions, only alcohol purchased from one of the licenced traders can be consumed at the event.

You can bring your own food and drink to Floriade and NightFest, but there are also a range of food and drink options available for purchase from our range of food vendors.

If you purchase closed bottles of alcohol from one of the retail vendors on site it is not for consumption on site and should be taken home.

This year there will be a range of food and drink vendors on site offering a wide variety of food and plenty of seating. You do not need to make a booking.

In the interest of health and public safety, no dogs or any animals (other than assistance/companion animals as per Assistance animals – City Services) are permitted to enter Floriade or Floriade Nightfest.

All other dogs will be permitted at Floriade only on Sunday 12 October 2025 for Dogs’ Day Out. Conditions apply.

Floriade, Australia’s Biggest Celebration of Spring, attracts thousands of visitors each year. Floriade is a family friendly event and is smoke-free and vape-free within its boundaries at Commonwealth Park.

We kindly ask that you respect other patrons and refrain from smoking or vaping in the Floriade site.

All lost property handed in will be registered and remain at the Information Marquee during the day. Please present to the Information Marquee to see if your lost property has been handed in or to register your name and contact details along with details of your lost item for the team to contact you if handed in.

Until 10 November 2025 you can enquire about lost property by emailing events@act.gov.au. Any items not claimed by 10 November 2025 will be donated to charity or disposed of.

Yes, we will have a dedicated room for baby/infant care which will include the below:

1. Change table
2. Low sofa style seating and stools for breast/bottle feeding
3. Microwaves to heat/sterilise equipment
4. Accessible toilets located nearby

All accessible toilets within Floriade also include a baby change table.

A map will be available closer to the event.

Yes there will be a bulb dig on Monday 13 October. The information on The Great Big Bulb Dig can be found on the Bulb Dig page.

Yes Dogs’ Day Out will be held on Sunday 12 October. More details available here.

Yes you may bring other pets to Dogs’ Day Out but for the safety of your pet and other attendees they must be restrained or in suitable cages/carry boxes. Please note that you bring your pet at your own risk.

Floriade Community was introduced in 2021 following the success of Floriade: Reimagined in 2020, which saw more than 90 community groups plant bulbs and annuals to help create a tulip trail through Canberra’s suburbs.

This year 300,000 bulbs and annuals will be made available to schools, community groups and organisations as part of Floriade Community to spread the joy and colour of Floriade throughout Canberra in 2025.

If you are interested in becoming a Floriade volunteer, please sign up to the mailing list via our volunteers page, and we will contact you when applications open.

Applications for food vendor and market stallholders for 2025 have closed.

You can register for our mailing list for the most up to date information regarding future opportunities.

If you are a professional performing artist or group and would like to be considered for the 2025 program, please email your details through to us at entertainment@act.gov.au.

Applications for school and community performance groups are closed for 2025.