What to Do in Medellin During the 2026 Flower Festival?
Medellin will once again transform into Colombia’s great garden between July 31 and August 9, 2026, with a new edition of the Flower Festival, one of the country’s most important cultural and tourist events. Over the course of ten days, the city will host more than 50 activities across multiple venues, combining rural traditions, music, art, gastronomy, and popular expressions that are part of Antioquia’s cultural identity.
The celebration, which was created in 1957 as a tribute to the flower growers of the Santa Elena district, has evolved over the years into one of Latin America’s most recognized festivals and one of Medellin’s main tourist attractions.
Although the Silleteros Parade remains the festival’s main symbol, the program offers numerous alternatives for visitors looking to experience the city from different cultural perspectives.
Parades you should attend during the 2026 Medellin Flower Festival
The official Flower Festival program is centered around several parades that attract thousands of spectators to Medellin’s streets every year.
Chivas and Flowers Parade
The first of these will be the Chivas and Flowers Parade, scheduled for Saturday, August 1. Traditional Antioquian chivas, or colorful rural buses, will travel through different parts of the city decorated with floral arrangements, music, and cultural performances that celebrate the department’s popular traditions.
@chivasrumberasvip DESFILE DE CHIVAS Y FLORES 2025 💜🚍🌺#feriadeflores #chivasrumberasvip #medellín #chivasmedellin #chivasrumberas @Juan Garces Vasques @EL BISCOCHO 💜 ♬ sonido original – Dj Andy Palacios
Bicycle Parade
On Sunday, August 2, the Bicycle Parade will take place, an event that combines creativity and sustainable mobility through bicycles artistically decorated with flowers and festival-themed designs.
@areametropol Nuestras bicis también están modo Feria de Flores 🚲🌺. Sobre ruedas, colores y alegría recordamos que moverse de forma sostenible también es celebrar 💚. #medellín #ritmo #bici #ruedas #flores #sostenibilidad #colors #colores #fyp #parati ♬ Spring mountain (environmental sound) / bird’s cry(53173) – Killy
Classic and Antique Car Parade
Friday, August 7, will feature one of the most photographed events of the celebration: the Classic and Antique Car Parade. More than 300 restored vehicles, including automobiles, motorcycles, and historic buses, will travel along Medellin‘s main avenues in a large public exhibition.
@en.elmapa ¿Listos para el desfile de Autos Clásicos y Antiguos de la Feria de las Flores? Día: 7 de agosto Lugar de salida: Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana Hora: 9:45 AM #FeriaDeLasFlores #EnElMapa #Medellín #Colombia ♬ Me Voy para Medellín – El Combo De Las Estrellas
Silleteros Parade
The festival will reach its peak on Sunday, August 9, with the traditional Silleteros Parade along Avenida del Río. More than 530 silleteros from Santa Elena will march carrying monumental, traditional, emblematic, and children’s silletas, keeping alive a tradition recognized as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of the Nation.
@uyqueparche Desfile de SILLETEROS , orgullo paisa. #feriadelasflores2025 #desfiledesilleteros ♬ sonido original – La Cantina 🤠 Del Pueblo🍻
Activities to enjoy in Medellin during the Flower Festival
Beyond the large public events, the festival also offers experiences that allow visitors to connect with the origins of Antioquian traditions.
Silletero Farms
One of the most recommended activities is visiting the silletero farms in Santa Elena, where farming families open their doors to show visitors the flower-growing process and the creation of the silletas that later participate in the main parade.
These visits, available between July 18 and August 8, include guided tours through flower fields, live demonstrations of silleta construction, and conversations with silleteros who have preserved this tradition for generations. Visitors can also enjoy local snacks and learn firsthand about one of Antioquia’s most representative cultural traditions.
@medellin_travel 🚗🌼 ¡Acompáñanos en un increíble road trip por 4 fincas silleteras en Santa Elena! Vive la magia de las flores y la tradición de los silleteros de cerca. ¿Listos para una aventura llena de color? 🌸✨ #SantaElena #Silleteros #FeriaDeLasFlores #medellintravel ♬ In My Fantasy – Lucas Estrada, Henri Purnell & NEIMY
Santa Fe Shopping Center
Another point of interest is Santa Fe Shopping Center, home to the traditional Floral Carpet, an artistic installation made with more than 100,000 natural flowers and open free of charge to the public throughout the festival.
Each edition features a different design inspired by Colombia’s biodiversity, landscapes, or elements of Paisa culture, making it one of the most popular attractions for photography and family gatherings.
@santafemedellin Así se ven 24 horas de montaje, más de 200.000 mil flores y un equipo comprometido que hace magia con sus manos. 🌸 🎥 Disfruta el resultado del Tapete de Flores más grande de Colombia. ¡Ven y tómate la foto del año! 🌸🦋🥰 #tapetedeflores2025 #elviajedelasflores #timelapse ♬ YAMORE (Afro House) – F4ST & Cornetto
Joaquin Antonio Uribe Botanical Garden
The Joaquin Antonio Uribe Botanical Garden will once again become one of the main cultural venues thanks to the traditional Orchid, Flower, and Handicrafts Fair.
The exhibition will showcase more than 3,000 orchid specimens, including native species and hybrids, along with bromeliads, ferns, and other tropical plants that represent Colombia’s biodiversity.
The event will also feature flower competitions, specialized workshops, and educational activities focused on conservation and scientific outreach, turning the Botanical Garden into a meeting point for nature, education, and culture.
Placita de las Flores (The flower market)
In downtown Medellin, the Placita de las Flores, or Flower Market, will play a special role during the festival. This traditional marketplace transforms each year into a space where merchants, florists, artisans, and national and international visitors come together.
There, visitors can find everything from roses, sunflowers, and orchids to miniature handcrafted silletas, local souvenirs, and regional food products, while musicians and traditional troubadours contribute to the festive atmosphere.
Music, gastronomy, and popular culture
The festival program also includes spaces dedicated to music and Antioquian popular culture.
National Trova Festival
The National Trova Festival, scheduled for Thursday, August 6, will bring together improvisational singers from different regions of Colombia at Parque de los Deseos, while the traditional neighborhood stages known as tablados musicales will offer free concerts across different areas of Medellin.
Fondas de Mi Tierra
The Fondas de Mi Tierra, scheduled for August 7 and 8, will showcase traditional cuisine, local beverages, and folkloric expressions from Antioquia’s different subregions.
Primavera Urbana
Additional events include Primavera Urbana, a space dedicated to design, entrepreneurship, and local brands that reflects Medellin’s cultural and creative transformation in recent years.