An insider's guide to visiting Canberra’s Floriade Festival

It’s the most vibrant time of year to visit Canberra, as the flowers bloom and the city comes alive.

Australia’s most famous flower festival occurs every spring in Canberra, where for 30 days across September and October the nation’s capital is awash with colour and entertainment in celebration of the season.

Floriade is more than just a flower festival, though. Each year Canberra springs to life with entertainment, music, cultural celebrations, food and wine, horticultural workshops, market stalls, art displays, and more. Here is everything you need to know about Floriade before visiting.

Celebrating Floriade Festival is the perfect way to embrace the arrival of spring. (Image: Floriade Australia)

What is Floriade?

Floriade was the brainchild of Christiaan Slotemaker de Bruine, a landscape architect with the Department of Capital Territory in Canberra. Back in 1986, he was inspired by the famous Keukenhof Garden in The Netherlands and teamed up with horticulturalist and manager of the Commonwealth Garden, Peter Sutton, to create something similar.

The first event was held in 1988 and was intended to be a one-off celebration for Canberra’s 75th birthday, which coincided with Australia’s Bicentenary. It was so popular, however, that Canberra decided to run the festival annually. “Floriade” is derived from the Latin “floreo”, meaning “to be decked or covered with flowers”.

Floriade is the largest flower festival in the Southern Hemisphere, and over 400,000 visit Canberra to participate. Each year has a different theme. The theme for 2023 is Floral Wonderland, with visitors encouraged to get inquisitive, escaping for a moment into their own wonderland as they explore the magic of over one million flowers blooming.

Prepare to marvel at fields upon fields of vibrant flowers. (Image: Visit Canberra)

When is Floriade?

Floriade is held across 30 days in the months of September and October. For 2023, the festival is running from 16th September until 15th October.

There is also a secondary festival that runs at the same time called NightFest. The evening program sister to Floriade, NightFest, runs from 28 September until 1 October 2023. During the evenings, you’ll see the floral displays lit up, giving you a completely different perspective. There will also be entertainment, plus food stalls and shopping.

The action doesn’t stop once the sun goes down. (Image: Floriade Australia)

Within Floriade, there are also some key dates to know about. Dogs’ Day Out is a designated day when visitors can bring their fur babies to the festival so they can enjoy the flower fields. It’s held on the final day of Floriade, Sunday, 15 October.

Bring your pooch to Floriade on Dogs’ Day Out. (Image: Floriade Australia)

There is also the Great Big Bulb Dig. Held Monday, 16 October, the Dig gives you a chance to take a piece of Floriade home and also supports local charities.

Expect to see a variety of acts at NightFest. (Image: Floriade Australia)

How much does Floriade cost?

Entry to Floriade is free! The festival won’t cost you anything, as it predominantly takes place in Commonwealth Park, although some events within may incur a cost. Gates are open from 9.30am – 5.30pm daily, with NightFest running from 6.30pm until 10.30pm.

Beyond Commonwealth Park, take a wander around the neighbourhoods of Canberra in 2023. Residents are given over 300,000 bulbs to plant in their suburbs, stretching the Floriade colours far and wide.

Make sure you get involved in the events of Floriade. These include shows and demonstrations by Floriade’s gardeners.

Soak up the magic of over one million flowers blooming. (Image: Visit Canberra)

Is Floriade kid-friendly?

Yes, definitely. Each year, Floriade holds kid-friendly events and workshops that will delight all ages. In 2022, the Sustainable Kids Workshop invited children ages five to 12 to participate in activities including seed planting, crafts with recycled materials and even a recycling competition. There was also a Woodworking Workshop where kids seven to 16 could use various tools to make objects, including bird feeders, bug keepers, and toolboxes.

There are events and activities to entertain kids of all ages during the festival. (Image: Visit Canberra)

Beyond kid-friendly events, Floriade is a safe and enjoyable day out for all ages, with plenty to see and experience. There is also a designated sensory hour between 9:30am and 10:30am on each day of the festival for those with autism or sensory processing disabilities, during which there is no stage programming and no loud amplified music.

Treat the family to a Ferris wheel ride. (Image: Visit Canberra)

Where should you stay for Floriade?

Floriade’s main celebrations occur in Commonwealth Park, so staying nearby will make your visit a little easier. There are several hotels within walking distance of the park.

QT Canberra and Ovolo Nishi are two of the top hotels in Canberra, and both are approximately a 15-minute walk to Commonwealth Park. They are also situated near some of the top restaurants in Canberra, Rebel Rebel, Monster, and Capitol Bar & Grill.

On the other side of Commonwealth Park and slightly out of the city centre is The Sebel in Campbell. Although a less luxurious hotel than the QT and Ovolo Nishi, it is situated in a quieter part of the city and is a little more affordable, too.

However, due to Canberra’s efficient infrastructure, you can stay in any of the neighbourhoods within the city and still easily access Commonwealth Park. See our list of the best hotels in Canberra by neighbourhood for more tips.

Getting to Floriade

Floriade is held in Commonwealth Park. The best way to get to Floriade is to use public transport (or walk from a nearby hotel). Parking can be difficult as it’s a busy time of year, so leave the car at your accommodation and catch the light rail or bus into the CBD.

Getting to Floriade is easy thanks to its prime location in Commonwealth Park. (Image: Visit Canberra)

There is a free Floriade shuttle bus that runs to and from Canberra City each day, with weekends extending to Kings, Commonwealth and Constitution Avenues. It’s best to check the Floriade site closer to the date for specific pick-up locations.

If you plan to drive, the best parking can be found at the CIT, Canberra Olympic Pool, Canberra Centre, and National Convention Centre. However, these will all cost per hour.

Check out our Canberra travel guide for more insider travel tips and hidden gems.