Pink Tennis Canberra founder Geoff Dudley often collaborates with Underground Spirits for events – including Floriade 2026. Photo: James Coleman.
Canberra’s biggest spring event is set to get even bigger, with new budget funding paving the way for an expanded Floriade from next year.
The ACT Government has committed $749,000 over two years to grow the festival from 2027, coinciding with Floriade’s 40th anniversary.
The extra funding will allow the festival to open a day earlier than usual and stay open longer each day to align with daylight saving time, with the aim of attracting more visitors and boosting spending across Canberra’s tourism and hospitality sectors.
Chief Minister Andrew Barr said it was a relatively low-cost way to expand one of the city’s most successful events.
“It’s a relatively low cost – it does involve some cost – way of expanding access to the event, and having a slightly different commencement than the usual Saturday morning,” he said.
Mr Barr said the additional day could bring thousands more people through the gates.
“An extra 10,000 or 20,000 visitors through the gates, more trading opportunities, and an opportunity for people who are visiting to come on the Friday and then stay an extra night.”
He estimated the economic return would comfortably outweigh the cost.
“Thirty days at the moment is about $70 million, or $1.5 to $2 million a day in economic impact. So I think it’s worth it. The cost of doing it to the benefit is a pretty good return on investment.”
By then, Mr Barr said two new light-rail stops right outside Commonwealth Park would also improve access to the festival, especially for north-siders.
“The city will be better connected to the lake at that point … so it’s going to be a different setting for Floriade. This is an opportunity to expand.”
He also said the construction of a new aquatic facility in the park would only have minimal effect on “one or two Floriades”, and the result would definitely be worth it – especially if the Federal Government was footing that particular bill.
“We may have to make some adjustments, but the National Capital Authority is very enthusiastic about more permanent infrastructure in the park as well,” Mr Barr said.
“The added bonus for the ACT is the Commonwealth usually pays for much of the infrastructure in its own park. So that’s a direction we’re very comfortable to pursue … I think all is well for Floriade’s future.”
Preparation for Floriade 2026 underway in Commonwealth Park. Photo: James Coleman.
Before then, however, organisers are focused on this year’s event, which will run in Commonwealth Park from 12 September to 11 October under the theme ‘Feast of Flowers’.
More than one million blooms will fill the park, with garden beds inspired by the “colours, textures and richness of seasonal produce”.
Expect food and wine workshops, live music, cultural performances, market stalls and family activities.
NightFest will return from 1 to 4 October, while Dogs’ Day Out and the Great Big Bulb Dig are also back on the program.
One of the more unusual additions this year will come from Canberra distillery Underground Spirits, which plans to serve edible cocktails inspired by one of its most popular drinks.
Bentspoke is back among this year’s stallholders too. Photo: James Coleman.
Chief executive Claudia Roughley has been experimenting with turning the company’s caramel vodka and apple cocktail into something resembling a jelly slice.
“So this is showing off our beautiful spirits at the same time as leaning into the theme of feasting,” she said.
“I thought: let’s make something a bit unique, different, a bit creative.”
Ms Roughley said the concept was still in development but had generated plenty of interest.
“You can’t tell the world we’ve invented the cocktail slice – we haven’t. People have done these across the world. But I’ve not seen anyone do them in Canberra.”
If visitors embrace the idea, Underground Spirits may take the edible cocktails to other events in the future.
Floriade’s expansion plans come after a record-breaking 2025 festival, which attracted 519,413 visitors through the gates – the highest attendance in Floriade’s history and more than 10 per cent higher than the previous year.
More than 308,000 people attended during the ACT school holidays, while NightFest sold close to 21,000 tickets despite freezing conditions on opening night.
Mr Barr said Floriade remained one of Canberra’s defining events.
“Floriade invites people to slow down and reconnect, with nature, with each other, and with the simple joy of being outdoors in Canberra’s spring,” he said.
“With more than half a million people coming through last year, we’re seeing how deeply this festival resonates, not just as an attraction, but as a shared tradition that supports local businesses and brings people into our city.”
Floriade will run from 12 September to 11 October 2026. Visit Floriade for more information.
