Tulip Time 2026 is the Ultimate Celebration of Spring

Get ready to immerse yourself in a sea of colour as the Tulip Time Festival returns to the Southern Highlands for its spectacular 66th year!

Running from Friday, 11 September to Monday, 5 October, this beloved spring festival transforms the heart of Bowral into one of Australia's most vibrant floral showcases.

Held at the stunning Corbett Gardens in Bowral, the Tulip Time Festival 2026 will feature more than 80,000 hand-planted tulips and spring annuals, creating an unforgettable spring display that draws visitors from all over New South Wales and beyond. Whether you're a green thumb, a weekend wanderer or a family looking for a fun-filled day out, Tulip Time is a must-see spring event in NSW.

Festival Highlights

 

The Tulip Time 2026 Theme: Together We Bloom

Corbett Gardens, 11 September to 5 October 2026, Ticketed entry

The 2026 theme, Together We Bloom, celebrates the way colour, community and shared experiences can bring people together. 13 specially designed garden beds will carry messages such as Pause & Bloom, Kindness Grows Here, Small Seeds, Big Dreams and You Belong Here, with each planting combining distinctive tulip varieties and playful spring inspiration.

Explore the Tulips at Corbett Gardens

Corbett Gardens, 11 September to 5 October 2026, Ticketed entry

Corbett Gardens will once again become the floral heart of the Southern Highlands as thousands of tulips and annuals burst into colour. Visitors can follow the winding paths through the themed garden beds, stop for plenty of photos and enjoy one of Bowral's loveliest green spaces at its brightest. The festival runs daily from 9.30 am to 4.30 pm, with extended hours until 5.30 pm over the October long weekend from 2 to 4 October.

Food, Markets and Entertainment

Corbett Gardens, 11 September to 5 October 2026, Included with festival entry

Visitors can browse market stalls selling local goods and unique finds, pick up lunch from festival food vendors and enjoy activities and entertainment throughout the event. The Bowral Country Women's Association will also be serving its popular scones and Devonshire tea from 10 am to 2 pm each day.

Bloomin' Weekends

Senior Citizens Building, selected weekends in September 2026, Free and ticketed activities

The Senior Citizens Building will become a creative community hub on selected weekends, with a changing program of hands-on workshops, exhibitions and gentle creative activities. The opening weekend from 11 to 13 September will feature the free Bloomin' Arts Expo, while further activities are planned for 19 to 20 September and 26 to 27 September. Details for the later sessions are still being finalised.

Spring Into Life at Quest for Life

Quest for Life Centre, Saturday, 19 September 2026, 10 am to 3 pm

The festival will spread to Bundanoon for Spring into Life, an open day set across the Quest for Life Centre's nine acres of gardens, orchards and vegetable plots. Families can join free workshops covering experiences such as kombucha and sound healing, while children enjoy face painting and a petting zoo. Picnic hampers will also be available to pre-order for a relaxed lunch among the gardens.

Dogs Day Out

Corbett Gardens, Monday, 21 September 2026, General admission prices apply

Dogs usually need to admire Tulip Time from afar, but on 21 September they will be invited inside Corbett Gardens for one special pet-friendly day. Pups of every shape and size can stroll through the festival beside their humans, provided they remain on a lead and owners clean up after them. Accredited assistance animals are welcome throughout the festival, but other pets are only permitted on Dogs Day Out.

Bloomin' Friday

Bowral Town Centre, Friday, 25 September 2026, FREE

Tulip Time will spill beyond the garden gates during Bloomin' Friday, when Bowral businesses dress their shopfronts with flowers, tulips and colourful spring displays. Visitors can wander through town spotting decorated windows and doors while exploring Bowral's boutiques, cafes and local businesses.

Sunset Tours at Retford Park

Retford Park, 11-26 September 2026, 5-7 pm, Ticketed

Retford Park will open after hours for a series of atmospheric Sunset Tours during Tulip Time. The evening begins with drinks and canapés on the front verandah, accompanied by local Sondara Estate wines, before guests are guided through the former home of James Fairfax. The tour explores the property's collection of historic furniture, textiles and fine art as daylight fades across the gardens.

Bloom & Play

Bowral Memorial Hall, Monday 28 September 2026

Bloom & Play brings a dedicated day of school holiday fun to Bowral Memorial Hall. The family-focused program will feature hands-on activities, entertainment and creative experiences designed to keep young imaginations busy away from the flower beds. Further activity details are expected closer to the festival.

The Tulip Time Trail

Across the Southern Highlands, throughout September 2026

The colour continues beyond the main festival site with the Tulip Time Trail, connecting public gardens and spring displays across the Southern Highlands. Stops include Corbett Gardens in Bowral, the Southern Highlands Visitor Information Centre in Mittagong and Leighton Gardens in Moss Vale, with private gardens also expected to open for inspection during the season. Pack the camera and turn the festival into a wider floral road trip through the Highlands.

Ride the Moss Vale Picnic Train

Selected dates during Tulip Time, Ticketed

Families can make the journey part of the adventure aboard the Moss Vale Picnic Train, a nostalgic steam service hauled by locomotive 5917. The train travels from Sydenham through the countryside to Bowral and Moss Vale, leaving passengers free time to visit the festival or explore the region's gardens, shops and cafés before the return journey. Timetables and fares are available through the train operator.

Free Tulip Bulbs For Local Residents

Wednesday, 14 and Thursday, 15 October 2026, 9 am to 1 pm

Once the festival has finished, Wingecarribee Shire residents can take a little Tulip Time colour home. Free bulb dispersal days will be held on 14 and 15 October, with up to 10 randomly selected tulip bulbs available per resident while daily supplies last. Proof of residency and a reusable bag are required.

Visit Tulip Time for more information and to book tickets.

Where:  Corbett Gardens, Bendooley Street, Bowral
When:   11 September to 5 October 2026 | 9.30 am to 4.30 pm; extended until 5.30 pm from 2 to 4 October
Online Cost: Adults $18.50; concession $12.50; youth aged 13-17 $13; under 12s go FREE
Gate cost: Adults $20; concession and youth $13.50; under 12s go FREE

More Spring Festivals

REAL Festival
Cabramatta Moon Festival
Orange Blossom Festival

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