FAQs

Floriade takes place from Saturday 12 September to Sunday 11 October 2026.

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

Floriade 2026: Feast of Flowers

Come hungry for colour. Leave full of inspiration.

This year’s theme celebrates the joyful meeting of nature, food and community. Inspired by seasonal harvests and the rituals of gathering, cooking and sharing meals, Feast of Flowers invites visitors to experience spring through all the senses.

Garden bed designs will reflect the abundance of the season, inspired by edible landscapes, florals that echo fresh produce, and the pleasure of outdoor dining and shared experiences.

The theme will come to life through a vibrant program connecting visitors with local growers, producers and businesses, both onsite at Floriade and across the city.

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.

NightFest is a ticketed event.

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

Sensory Hour will run from 9:30am until 10:30am on weekdays during Floriade (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.

All lost property that is handed in at Floriade will be recorded and held at the Information Marquee on the day. If you’ve lost an item, please visit the Information Marquee to check if it has been handed in, or fill out the lost property enquiry form.

If an item matching your description is found, the Events ACT team will contact you.

Items of low value that are not claimed after a period of two weeks after being found will be donated to charity or disposed of. Items of significant value or identification documents will be held for a period of one month, before being transferred to ACT Policing.  

Any further questions 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 is also a range of food and drink options available for purchase from our 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.

-Super Slide $10 for 3 Slides
– Giant Ferris Wheel $12 per person / $60 for a Full Gondola
– Fantasy Cups $7 per person
– Dodgem Cars $10 per car
– Nostalgic Carousel $7 per person
– Laughing Clowns – $6 per game or 3 games for $15
– Catch a Duck – $6 per duck or 3 ducks for $12 or 7 ducks for $25
– Trackless Train $8 per person

Amusement rides can be paid for by card.

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 11 October 2026 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 9 November 2026 you can enquire about lost property by emailing events@act.gov.au. Any items not claimed by 9 November 2026 will be donated to charity or disposed of.

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

-Change table
-Low sofa style seating and stools for breast/bottle feeding
-Microwaves to heat/sterilise equipment
-Accessible toilets located nearby
-All accessible toilets within Floriade also include a baby change table.

A map will be available closer to the event.

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 have been given to schools, community groups and organisations as part of Floriade Community to spread the joy and colour of Floriade throughout Canberra in 2026.

NightFest 2026 will be held from Thursday 1 October to Sunday 4 October 2026.

NightFest gates are open from 6:30pm till 10:30pm. Last entry is at 10pm.

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

Yes, you can! However, we do ask that patrons respect others around them by placing chairs to the back or sides of grassed viewing areas so they do not obstruct the view of others who may be sitting on picnic blankets at ground level. Please also be aware that the NightFest program offers mutliple performances and entertainment on stages around the park, rather than a central stage.

No, sorry, there are no pass outs for NightFest. If there are any exceptional circumstances they will be managed on a case by case basis.

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

– 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.

Bookings open in early June and are available on a first come, first served basis. To receive booking information and updates, please email events@act.gov.au to be added to the mailing list.

The Nursing Home Tours are booked out for 2026.

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.

A limited number of wheelchairs, walking frames, electric mobility scooters and strollers will be available for hire on site from the Mobility Marquee. The Floriade train will also be in operation, and is a lovely way to see and move around the site.

A limited number of wheelchairs, walking frames, electric mobility scooters and strollers will be available for hire on site from the Mobility Marquee. The Floriade train will also be in operation, and is a lovely way to see and move around the site.

More information will be available soon.

Yes, Floriade welcomes you bringing 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 dedicated parents and carers room will be available at Floriade. More information available soon. 

There will be accessible toilets available on site at Floriade. More information on locations will be available soon. 

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.
Please go to the Accessibility page (link) to find out more about accessible parking options.

Designated pick-up and drop-off locations are available at:

-Regatta Point drop-off, providing access via the Regatta Point Entry Gate.
-Allara Street drop-off, providing access via the Parkes Way Entry Gate.

Visitors with limited mobility may find the Regatta Point Entry Gate the most suitable access point. However, due to ongoing traffic and access changes in the area, vehicle congestion and delays may occur at peak times.

Visitors using the Allara Street drop-off location should note that access to the venue is via the footbridge to the Parkes Way Entry Gate. The footbridge includes a gradient and may not be suitable for all visitors with mobility requirements.

Event staff will be available to assist visitors and provide guidance on the most appropriate access route where required.

On-site bus tours allow community groups and nursing homes to experience Floriade from the comfort of their own minibus. Your driver will follow a set route through the park, giving passengers the opportunity to enjoy the floral displays without leaving the bus.

Bookings for the Floriade 2026 Community and Nursing Home Bus Tours are now closed.

Floriade offers dedicated bus tours for community disability groups, retirement villages and nursing homes, making it easier to experience the festival from the comfort of a bus. Designed for visitors with limited mobility, these guided routes allow passengers to enjoy the colour and scale of the event.

All available timeslots have now been allocated. To be added to the waitlist, please email events@act.gov.au. Should any places become available, our team will be in touch.

Please contact us at events@act.gov.au, and we will add you to a waitlist for any potential openings.  

These tours are available to community groups and nursing homes that have their own minibus and driver.

Bookings are now open here and will be available on a first come, first served basis. To receive booking information and updates, please email events@act.gov.au to be added to the mailing list.

Yes. Groups must use their own minibus to participate in the on-site bus tours.

Tours will operate on weekdays during the Floriade event period. More information will be available in June when bookings open. 

The tour takes approximately 15 minutes, but you can take up to 25 minutes in your allocated timeslot.

The maximum vehicle size allowed is a 25-seater bus, as the park is open to the general public during the tour times. 

The tour is free. Other costs such as catering for your passengers and staff are your decision and responsibility. 

No. To ensure the safety of all attendees, only one bus is permitted inside the park at a time. If you wish to bring more than one bus you will need to make separate bookings for each bus.

Yes. Groups will be allowed a maximum of two bookings each across the event period. To do this, please make separate bookings for each tour timeslot. If you book more, we will  only  take the first two bookings placed.

Once you have made a booking online, you will be sent a link to provide the following information. These documents must be provided to confirm your booking:

– A copy of the driver’s licence of the person who will be driving the bus
– Compulsory Third Party Insurance (CTPI) for the bus
– Vehicle Insurance certificate for the bus
– Public Liability Insurance certificate

Bookings opened in early June and are currently at capacity. Please email events@act.gov.au to be added to the waiting list.

Bookings opened in early June and are currently at capacity. Please email events@act.gov.au to be added to the waiting list.

Tours will be operating on weekdays,  between the 14th and 25th of September.

If you are interested in becoming a Floriade volunteer, please register for our mailing list and we will contact you when applications open.

Applications to become a food vendor in 2026 are now 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 2026 program, please email your details through to us at entertainment@act.gov.au.

Applications for community and school performances for 2026 are now closed.

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