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Phool

The flower calendar

119 days and seasons of the year in which flowers are the point: festivals, parades, shows, bloom seasons, holy days and days for giving. Dates are worked out afresh every day.

KindAllFestivals and paradesFlower and garden showsBloom seasonsReligious daysNational daysRemembranceDays for giving flowers

October 2026

On now, around 11 Sept to 4 Oct 2026Toowoomba Carnival of FlowersQueensland's garden city spends September in bloom, with a floral parade through the centre. On now, around 12 Sept to 11 Oct 2026FloriadeCanberra's free spring festival: about a million bulbs and annuals in a park by the lake. On now, around 1 Oct to 9 Nov 2026Jacaranda season in PretoriaTens of thousands of jacaranda trees turn South Africa's capital purple in October. 8 Oct to 6 Dec 2026Dubai Miracle Garden seasonA garden of many millions of flowers in the desert reopens for the cool months. 10 to 18 Oct 2026BathukammaFor nine days the women of Telangana build towers of wild flowers, sing around them and float them on water. 12 Oct 2026Offering of Flowers to the Virgin of the PillarOn 12 October hundreds of thousands of people in regional dress bring flowers to the Virgin in Zaragoza. 17 to 21 Oct 2026Durga PujaBengal's great autumn festival, when 108 lotuses are offered to the goddess at the turning point of the puja. 18 Oct 2026Double Ninth FestivalChongyang: climb a hill, look at chrysanthemums and drink chrysanthemum wine for a long life. 20 Oct 2026Vietnamese Women's DayOn 20 October men and children in Vietnam give flowers to the women in their lives. around 20 Oct to 18 Nov 2026Chrysanthemum shows of JapanIn late autumn, shrines and gardens across Japan show chrysanthemums trained into extraordinary forms. around 25 to 31 Oct 2026Phool Walon Ki SairDelhi's procession of the flower sellers, with floral fans offered at a Sufi shrine and a Hindu temple. 30 Oct to 8 Nov 2026Grafton Jacaranda FestivalA river town in New South Wales celebrates its purple avenues with a festival first held in 1935.

November 2026

1 to 2 Nov 2026Day of the DeadMexican families lay paths of marigold petals to lead the souls of the dead home. 1 to 2 Nov 2026All Saints' DayAcross Catholic Europe, families take pots of chrysanthemums to the graves of their relatives. 7 to 11 Nov 2026TiharNepal's five-day festival of lights, with marigold garlands for crows, dogs, cows, doors and brothers. 8 Nov 2026DiwaliThe festival of lights. Doorways are hung with marigolds and mango leaves to welcome Lakshmi. 11 Nov 2026Remembrance DayRed poppies are worn for the dead of two world wars, on the day the guns stopped in 1918. 24 to 25 Nov 2026Loy KrathongOn the full moon of the twelfth Thai month, small boats of leaves and flowers are set afloat with a candle.

December 2026

12 Dec 2026Day of Our Lady of GuadalupeMexico honours its patron with roses, the flowers of the story of Juan Diego.

January 2027

1 Jan 2027Rose ParadePasadena opens the year with a parade of floats covered entirely in flowers, seeds and leaves. around 10 to 19 Jan 2027Boquete Flower and Coffee FairA highland town in Panama plants its fairground with thousands of flowers each January. 16 Jan 2027National Tulip DayDutch growers open the tulip season by laying out a free picking garden in the middle of Amsterdam. around 16 to 26 Jan 2027Lalbagh Republic Day Flower ShowBengaluru's botanical garden fills its Glass House with a themed flower display that ends on Republic Day. 23 Jan 2027Tu BiShvatThe Jewish New Year of the Trees, when almond trees come into blossom in Israel.

February 2027

1 to 6 Feb 2027Lunar New Year flower marketsIn the last days of the old year, families in southern China and Hong Kong shop for blossom at night markets. around 1 to 28 Feb 2027PanagbengaBaguio's month-long flower festival, with a street dance and a parade of floats covered in blooms. around 1 Feb to 27 Mar 2027Amrit Udyan seasonThe gardens of the President of India open to the public for a few weeks of tulips and roses. around 5 to 7 Feb 2027Chiang Mai Flower FestivalNorthern Thailand's cool-season flowers on show, with a Saturday parade of floats around the old city moat. around 6 to 9 Feb 2027Fiesta de las Flores y de las FrutasAmbato in Ecuador keeps Carnival with floats of flowers, fruit and bread instead of water fights. 7 to 9 Feb 2027TếtVietnamese New Year: pink peach blossom in the north, yellow apricot blossom in the south. 11 Feb 2027Basant PanchamiThe first day of spring in north India, dressed in yellow for the mustard fields and for Saraswati. around 13 to 27 Feb 2027Nice Carnival Battle of FlowersDuring the Nice Carnival, floats roll along the seafront and the riders throw their flowers to the crowd. 14 Feb 2027Valentine's DayThe busiest day of the year for red roses, flown in from farms in Colombia, Ecuador and Kenya. 14 Feb 2027Pohela FalgunThe first day of spring in Bangladesh, when Dhaka wears yellow and women put marigolds in their hair. around 17 to 21 Feb 2027Fête du MimosaA Riviera town celebrates the yellow mimosa that covers its hills in the middle of winter. around 19 to 21 Feb 2027Chandigarh Rose FestivalThree days in late February at the Zakir Hussain Rose Garden, when its many hundred varieties are in flower. 21 Feb 2027Language Martyrs' DayOn Ekushey February, Bangladesh walks barefoot to the Shaheed Minar and covers its steps in flowers.

March 2027

1 Mar 2027St David's DayThe national day of Wales, when people pin a daffodil or a leek to their coats. 3 Mar 2027HinamatsuriJapan's Doll Festival is also Momo no Sekku, the peach blossom festival. around 6 to 14 Mar 2027Philadelphia Flower ShowThe oldest and largest indoor flower show in the United States, held at the end of winter. 7 Mar 2027Mothering SundayMother's Day in Britain and Ireland, the fourth Sunday of Lent, with posies of daffodils. 8 Mar 2027International Women's DaySprigs of yellow mimosa in Italy, tulips across eastern Europe and central Asia. around 14 Mar 2027Phool DeiChildren in Uttarakhand lay spring flowers on every doorstep in the village. around 15 Mar to 28 Apr 2027Taif rose seasonIn the mountains above Mecca, pink damask roses are picked at dawn and distilled into rose oil. 17 to 18 Mar 2027Fallas flower offeringFor two days, Valencians in traditional dress carry carnations to build a cloak for the Virgin. 18 Mar to 9 May 2027Keukenhof seasonThe Dutch bulb garden at Lisse opens for eight weeks of tulips, hyacinths and daffodils. 19 Mar 2027Día de las FloresOn the Friday before Holy Week, Guanajuato's main garden fills with flowers and people give them away. around 20 Mar to 12 Apr 2027National Cherry Blossom FestivalWashington marks Tokyo's gift of cherry trees with a festival timed to their bloom around the Tidal Basin. 21 Mar to 2 Apr 2027NowruzPersian New Year at the spring equinox, with a pot of hyacinth on every haft-sin table. 21 Mar 2027Palm SundayPalms, olive branches, pussy willow and tall bouquets of dried flowers are blessed a week before Easter. 21 to 27 Mar 2027Holy Week carpets of AntiguaFamilies lay carpets of dyed sawdust, flowers and pine needles for Holy Week processions to walk over. 22 Mar 2027HoliThe festival of colours. In Vrindavan it is also played with flower petals, in Phoolon ki Holi. around 22 Mar to 20 Apr 2027HanamiCherry blossom viewing in Japan, as the bloom moves north through the country in spring. around 23 Mar to 21 Apr 2027Srinagar Tulip Garden seasonTerraces of tulips above Dal Lake open for about a month each spring. around 27 Mar to 5 Apr 2027Jinhae GunhangjeKorea's largest cherry blossom festival, in a naval port town lined with hundreds of thousands of trees. 28 Mar 2027EasterWhite trumpet lilies in American churches, daffodils and tulips across Europe.

April 2027

1 to 30 Apr 2027Skagit Valley Tulip FestivalThrough April, working bulb farms north of Seattle open their tulip fields to visitors. around 1 to 30 Apr 2027Istanbul Tulip FestivalEach April the city plants its parks and roadsides with millions of tulips, a flower it gave to Europe. around 1 Apr to 5 May 2027Luoyang Peony FestivalThe old capital of Luoyang opens its peony gardens for the few weeks the tree peonies are in flower. 8 Apr 2027Hana MatsuriThe Buddha's birthday in Japan, the Flower Festival, with a small shrine roofed in blossom. 13 to 15 Apr 2027SongkranThai New Year. Before the water fights, scented water with jasmine is poured over the hands of elders. around 14 Apr 2027VishuNew Year in Kerala, when the first thing seen at dawn is a tray of golden konna flowers. around 15 Apr to 19 May 2027Great Wisteria FestivalAt Ashikaga Flower Park, very old wisteria vines trained over frames flower in sheets of purple. 17 to 18 Apr 2027Bloemencorso BollenstreekThe spring flower parade of the Dutch bulb region, from Noordwijk to Haarlem. around 20 Apr to 10 May 2027Bluebell seasonFor about three weeks, old woods in Britain and Belgium turn blue from end to end. 23 Apr 2027Sant JordiOn St George's Day, Catalonia exchanges roses and books, and the streets fill with stalls of both. 25 Apr 2027TsvetnitsaFlower Day in Bulgaria: Orthodox Palm Sunday, and the name day of everyone named after a flower. 25 Apr 2027Anzac DayAustralia and New Zealand remember their war dead with sprigs of rosemary, poppies and wreaths at dawn. 25 Apr 2027Freedom DayPortugal remembers the Carnation Revolution of 1974 with red carnations.

May 2027

1 May 2027May DayIn France a sprig of lily of the valley is given for luck on 1 May. 1 May 2027Lei DayMay Day is Lei Day in Hawaii, a celebration of the garland and the skill of making it. 1 to 31 May 2027Flores de MayoThrough May, Filipino children bring flowers to the Virgin Mary each afternoon. around 1 to 21 May 2027Madeira Flower FestivalFunchal's spring festival, with a children's Wall of Hope and a parade of flower-covered floats. around 4 to 15 May 2027Córdoba Patios FestivalFor two weeks in May, the people of Córdoba open their flower-filled courtyards to anyone who walks in. around 5 May to 3 Jun 2027Qamsar rosewater seasonVillages near Kashan pick damask roses at dawn and distil them into golab, Iranian rosewater. 5 to 6 May 2027HıdırellezA spring festival of Turkey and the Balkans, when wishes are tied to a rose bush overnight. 8 May 2027Parents' DayKorean children pin a red carnation on the chest of each parent. around 8 to 10 May 2027Kelaa M’Gouna Rose FestivalA town in Morocco's Valley of Roses celebrates the end of the rose harvest. around 8 to 16 May 2027Girona, Temps de FlorsFor nine days in May, Girona's old town fills its courtyards, steps and churches with flower installations. 9 May 2027Mother's DayThe second Sunday of May: carnations in the United States and Japan, chrysanthemums in Australia. 13 May 2027Lotus Lantern FestivalFor the Buddha's birthday, Korea hangs paper lanterns in the shape of lotus flowers. around 14 to 24 May 2027Canadian Tulip FestivalOttawa's tulips are a thank-you from the Dutch royal family, renewed with fresh bulbs every year. around 15 May to 13 Jun 2027Isparta rose harvestTurkey's rose province picks its damask roses at dawn, from mid May to mid June. around 15 to 19 May 2027Ooty Flower ShowThe hill station's botanical garden holds its annual flower show at the height of the summer season. 16 May 2027Infiorata di NotoOn the third Sunday of May a steep baroque street in Sicily is paved with pictures made of petals. 16 May 2027PentecostWhitsun, when the peony blooms: its German name is the Pentecost rose. 18 to 22 May 2027Chelsea Flower ShowThe Royal Horticultural Society's great show in London, where new plants and garden ideas are launched. 20 May 2027World Bee DayA United Nations day for bees and other pollinators, a reason to plant flowers that feed them. 20 May 2027VesakThe full moon day of the Buddha's birth, enlightenment and death, kept with offerings of flowers. 27 May 2027Corpus Christi flower carpetsTowns from Tenerife to Poland pave their streets with petals for the Corpus Christi procession. 29 to 31 May 2027Infiorata di GenzanoA hill town near Rome covers its main street with a carpet of petal pictures, a custom since 1778. 31 May 2027Memorial DayThe United States decorates the graves of its war dead on the last Monday of May.

June 2027

around 4 to 6 Jun 2027Kazanlak Rose FestivalBulgaria's Rose Valley ends its harvest with rose picking at dawn, a parade and a Rose Queen. around 5 Jun to 4 Jul 2027Hydrangea seasonAjisai, the flower of Japan's rainy season, turns temple paths blue through June. 11 Jun 2027ShavuotSynagogues and homes are dressed with flowers and green branches for the festival of the giving of the Torah. 11 Jun 2027King Kamehameha DayHawaii drapes the statues of its first king in very long lei and holds a floral parade. around 19 to 20 Jun 2027MidsummerSwedes raise a pole dressed in leaves and flowers and wear crowns picked from the meadow. around 20 Jun to 19 Jul 2027Lavender season in ProvenceFrom late June the plateaus of Provence turn purple, until the harvest in mid or late July. 23 to 24 Jun 2027Līgo and JāņiLatvian midsummer: flower crowns for women, oak leaf crowns for men, and a night without sleep.

July 2027

around 6 to 11 Jul 2027Hampton Court Palace Garden FestivalA large summer garden show in the park of a Tudor palace beside the Thames. 6 to 7 Jul 2027Kupala NightA Slavic midsummer night of bonfires, when young women float flower wreaths down the river. 7 Jul 2027TanabataThe Star Festival: wishes written on paper strips are tied to branches of fresh bamboo. around 15 Jul to 28 Aug 2027Valley of Flowers seasonA high Himalayan valley in Uttarakhand, reached on foot, flowers through the monsoon.

August 2027

around 1 to 10 Aug 2027Feria de las FloresMedellín's flower fair ends with farmers carrying great flower displays on their backs. around 6 to 16 Aug 2027Lalbagh Independence Day Flower ShowThe monsoon edition of Bengaluru's flower show, ending around Independence Day on 15 August. around 10 Aug to 18 Sept 2027Namaqualand flower seasonAfter winter rain, the dry country of South Africa's north-west is covered in orange daisies. 12 Aug 2027Mother's Day in ThailandThai children kneel to give their mothers a garland of white jasmine. around 13 to 14 Aug 2027Jersey Battle of FlowersA summer carnival on the island of Jersey with large floats covered in fresh flowers. 15 Aug 2027Assumption herb blessingOn the feast of the Assumption, central Europe takes bunches of herbs, flowers and grain to be blessed. 20 Aug 2027Debrecen Flower CarnivalHungary's second city marks its national day with a parade of floats covered in flowers. 27 Aug 2027Daffodil DayOn the last Friday of August New Zealanders buy a daffodil to support people with cancer. around 28 Aug to 26 Sept 2027ExpofloraA Brazilian town founded by Dutch farmers holds the largest flower show in Latin America.

September 2027

1 Sept 2027Wattle DayAustralia welcomes spring on 1 September with a sprig of golden wattle. 1 Sept 2027Knowledge DayOn the first day of school, children across the former Soviet countries bring flowers for the teacher. 5 to 6 Sept 2027Bloemencorso ZundertOn the first Sunday of September a Dutch village parades huge sculptures made only of dahlias. 9 Sept 2027Chrysanthemum DayChōyō, the ninth day of the ninth month, Japan's old festival of the chrysanthemum. 12 Sept 2027EnkutatashEthiopian New Year, when the rains end and the highlands turn yellow with Meskel daisies. 12 Sept 2027OnamKerala's harvest festival, when a flower carpet is laid at the door and grows for ten days. 28 Sept 2027MeskelEthiopian Christians light a tall bonfire decked with yellow daisies for the finding of the True Cross.

Dates marked "around" shift from year to year with the weather or the organisers. Check before you travel.

Photo credits on this page

The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.

The weekly bunch

Every Monday: what is in bloom, the flower festivals of the week, seven flowers you may not know and one tradition explained.