11/09/2026
🌷 FLORIADE 2026 OPENS TODAY! 🌷
Photox was invited along to yesterday’s media launch for a first look at this year’s Floriade, which opens later this morning in Commonwealth Park.
We didn’t want to spoil all the surprises by flooding your feed with photographs of every corner of this year’s festival, so we’ve selected just a few sneak peeks to share. We have, however, put together all the key information you’ll need to plan your visit to Floriade 2026.
The 2026 theme is Feast of Flowers, bringing together flowers, food, local produce and the traditions of gathering and sharing a meal. It was introduced rather appropriately yesterday, with Chief Minister Andrew Barr helping to cook pumpkin ravioli on stage.
Of course, the flowers remain at the heart of Floriade. More than one million blooms will fill Commonwealth Park over the next month, with this year’s garden beds inspired by seasonal produce, edible landscapes and the colours and textures of food.
One thing we have to mention first up - FLORIADE HAS A NEW FERRIS WHEEL!!!
After many years of the old Ferris wheel creaking and screeching its way around, the new wheel feels like a substantial upgrade. It was almost silent during yesterday’s ride, and each carriage can be rotated by gently turning the pole in the centre, allowing passengers to choose the direction they face as they travel around.
At 35 metres tall, it's the same height as previous years, however it actually feels noticeably higher than the previous wheel, and provides a fantastic uninterrupted view across the garden beds, Commonwealth Park and the wider Floriade site. It is an excellent way to appreciate the scale and design of the gardens from above.
Another major addition this year is the new multi-use pavilion, The Garden House by Bunnings Warehouse.
Designed as a hub for learning, creativity and conversation, The Garden House will host a changing program of live cooking demonstrations, workshops, expert talks, audience Q&As, cultural experiences and live podcast recordings throughout the festival.
Some of Australia’s best-known chefs, cooks and food personalities will appear there, including:
🍴 Karen Martini, with live demonstrations and a meet-and-greet today
🍴 Mindy Woods, a Bundjalung woman, native food chef, restaurateur and MasterChef Australia finalist, appearing tomorrow
🍴 Stephanie Alexander, celebrating 30 years of The Cook’s Companion in conversation with Canberra food writer Lucy Ridge
🍴 Justine Schofield, chef, author and host of Everyday Gourmet
🍴 Simon Bryant from ABC’s The Cook and the Chef, presenting across the NightFest weekend
The Garden House will also feature award-winning Les Bistronomes chef Clement Chauvin, Lunetta Executive Chef Tristan Rebbettes, demonstrations from the teams behind Such and Such and Pilot, and a native ingredients and First Nations storytelling experience with Wiradjuri man Adam Shipp.
There will also be floristry demonstrations, matcha and grazing-box masterclasses, gardening sessions, discussions about food and community, Pilates and live podcast recordings. It is worth checking the program before visiting, as some sessions require bookings even when they are free.
There is plenty happening across the rest of the festival as well, including food stalls, markets, live entertainment, family activities, Floriade Sprouts, the newly relocated Gnome Knoll and guided tours through the garden beds.
NightFest returns from 1 to 4 October, with the gardens illuminated after dark and performances from The Temper Trap, Tim Finn, Christine Anu, Busby Marou and Pacific Avenue.
There is also a different way to travel to Floriade this year, with Love Boats Canberra operating a dedicated scenic ferry service across Lake Burley Griffin.
The morning service travels from Kingston Foreshore to Regatta Point Jetty, right beside Commonwealth Park, with an afternoon return service back to Kingston. It provides an opportunity to avoid some of the traffic and parking challenges around Floriade while enjoying a scenic cruise past some of Canberra’s best-known landmarks.
Love Boats will also run 90-minute sightseeing cruises on Saturdays and Sundays throughout Floriade. These depart from Regatta Point Jetty at 10:30 am and 12:30 pm, making them easy to include as part of a day at the festival.
Places are limited, so advance bookings are recommended. Visit the Love Boats Canberra website for schedules, prices and bookings.
Other highlights include:
🌷 More than one million blooms across the garden beds
🍴 Food stalls, local produce and cooking demonstrations
🎨 Workshops, crafts and activities for children
🧑🌾 Guided garden tours on weekdays
🏡 A satellite Floriade program at Lanyon Homestead
⛴️ Scenic ferry services and weekend lake cruises
🐕 Dogs’ Day Out on Sunday 11 October
💡 NightFest from Thursday 1 to Sunday 4 October
🌱 The Great Big Bulb Dig on Monday 12 October
Floriade is open daily from 9:30 am until 5:30 pm, with last entry at 5 pm. General admission is free, although some rides, workshops and special events are ticketed.
With construction and changed access around Commonwealth Avenue, parking may be more limited than usual. Free daily shuttle buses will operate through the city and National Triangle, with weekend express services running from Tuggeranong, Woden and Belconnen.
Floriade runs from today, Saturday 12 September, until Sunday 11 October 2026.
Here are some of the photographs captured by Photox during yesterday’s media preview.
Who is planning to visit this year?
Visit the official Floriade website for the complete program, event details and visitor information.
