Your petal-packed guide to spring’s best festivals awaits.

It’s time to shake off that winter chill; spring is here! When the air hums with warmth, the days are a little longer, and landscapes burst into colour as blossoms unfurl across the country.

It’s a time made for sun-dappled mornings and golden afternoons, as our vast land’s wild beauty wakes up in spectacular style. The best way to celebrate? Shed those winter layers, grab your favourite sun hat, and embrace the seasonal magic at these spring festivals around Australia.

1. CHArts Festival

Stanley, Tas: 1–30 September

Held in the small fishing village of Stanley on Tassie’s wild north-west coast, the annual CHArts Festival is a month-long celebration of the region’s culture, heritage and arts scene, showcasing local creatives while offering visitors a chance to enjoy exhibitions, activities and events. A highlight of the program each year is the Spring Swim – because what better way to farewell winter than a plunge in the Bass Strait?

2. Brisbane Festival

Brisbane, Qld: 4–26 September

For three decades, Brisbane Festival has brought the best in arts and culture to Queensland’s capital. Under the guidance of new artistic director Ebony Bott, this year’s ‘Switch On, Light Up, Come Alive’ program marks a fresh chapter, pairing beloved festival traditions with bold new experiences. From sunrise ceremonies to late-night revelry, events will unfold across the river city’s most iconic public spaces.

3. Paper Daisy Spring Festival

Sydney, NSW: 4 September – 11 October

The Botanic Gardens of Sydney is launching the inaugural Paper Daisy Spring Festival this month. Held at its stunning Mount Annan location, the free six-week event will be filled with food trucks, live music, floristry workshops, painting classes, lakeside lawn games and a spring pop-up shop. Anticipated to be the biggest display of paper daisies Sydney has ever seen, more than one million seeds are expected to bloom.

4. Ravensthorpe Wildflower Show

Ravensthorpe, WA: 7–19 September

Each spring, this tiny WA town transforms into a rainbow of more than 700 wildflower species, many found nowhere else in the world. Held at the local town hall, the Ravensthorpe Wildflower Show invites guests to explore artists’ paintings, floral displays, craft stalls, guided walks, 4WD tours and ranger-led adventures across the region.

5. Desert Mob

Alice Springs, NT: 10 September – 25 October

Head out to Alice Springs/Mparntwe this spring to experience the convergence of more than 30 Art Centres from across Western Australia, the Northern Territory and South Australia at Desert Mob. The result is an unforgettable collection of events – exhibitions, artist talks, after-dark events and a huge artwork marketplace – celebrating First Nations artists and culture on Arrernte Country.

6. Tulip Time Flower Festival

Bowral, NSW: 11 September – 5 October

Step into a floral wonderland at Bowral’s annual Tulip Time Flower Festival, where thousands of hand-planted tulips and vibrant annuals in every shade create one of NSW’s most iconic spring displays. Beyond the blooms, the festival buzzes with live music, boutique markets and food trucks – the perfect excuse to get outside, soak up the sun and spend time with friends.

7. Margaret River Region Open Studios

Margaret River, WA: 12–27 September

Every September, more than 150 artists open the doors to their private workspaces for the Margaret River Region Open Studios. For just 16 days, visitors can go behind the scenes to admire original artworks and meet the creatives behind them, from painters and potters to ceramicists and sculptors. As well as studio openings, an array of workshops, classes and collaborative events foster inspiration and connection.

8. Floriade

Canberra, ACT: 12 September – 11 October

Arguably the biggest celebration of spring around the country, any mention of flower festivals would be incomplete without Floriade. Held for a full month in the nation’s capital, this epic event has been blooming every spring since 1988. In 2026, visitors can look forward to live entertainment, music, food and wine, horticultural workshops, market stalls, art displays and more.

9. Bloom Festival

Great Southern, WA: 12 September – 11 October

If WA is known for anything, it’s the wildflowers that bloom all across the state each spring. Nowhere knows this better than the Great Southern region, which hosts a month-long celebration because of it. Bloom Festival is all about showcasing the flowers that burst to life here, with everything from creative workshops and themed markets to guided walks and open gardens.

10. Junction Arts Festival

Launceston, Tas: 17–20 September

Junction Arts Festival is an annual gathering of extraordinary art experiences in unusual spaces. First presented as a one-off event annexed to the 2010 Regional Arts Australia Conference, it has since filled a creative niche and prompted Events Tasmania and the City of Launceston to support it annually, much to the delight of artists and audiences across northern Tassie.

11. Blossom Festival

Coldstream, Vic: 18 September – 4 October

Held among the blossom trees at CherryHill Orchards in the Yarra Valley, the ever-popular Blossom Festival returns this spring with 12 days of floral fanfare, just as the entire orchard enters full bloom. Guests can enjoy a range of themed experiences, live music and local food and wine tastings, plus plenty of kid-friendly activities for little ones.

12. Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers

Toowoomba, Qld: 18 September – 5 October

Toowoomba is known for two things: the home of the Lamington, and the host of the Carnival of Flowers. Held every year at the beginning of spring, this vibrant event brings colour back to the city in spades, with more than 40 million flowers on display. Alongside beautiful blooms, guests can enjoy tasting tours, festive feasts, themed parades, lawn parties and more.

13. Kakadu Bird Week

Kakadu National Park, NT: 23–27 September

After a long winter cosied away, the hundreds of bird species that call Kakadu National Park home emerge for the spring season. Instead of spotting buds and blooms, you’ll be on the lookout for azure kingfishers, rainbow bee-eaters, partridge pigeons, magpie geese and more. BYO binoculars to witness how the season comes to life differently during Kakadu Bird Week.

14. Nature Festival

Statewide, SA: 25 September – 11 October

Dedicated to showcasing South Australia’s diverse flora and fauna, Nature Festival returns for its seventh year with an estimated 350 events across the state. There’s something on for every green thumb to enjoy, from open gardens on Kangaroo Island and nature journalling in the Adelaide Hills to guided walks on the Fleurieu Peninsula and creative workshops in Port Augusta.

15. Horizontal Festival

Bowral, NSW: 2–4 October

Following a successful debut last year, Horizontal Festival is returning to Bowral’s Centennial Vineyards this October. The three-day affair is inspired by the viticultural concept of horizontal tasting, where different producers of the same vintage are tasted side by side. In 2026, guests can expect bold flavours served up by culinary heavyweights like Matt Moran, Mark Best and Francis Mallmann, back on Australia’s east coast after 15 years.

16. Savannah in the Round

Mareeba, Qld: 8–11 October

Held at the remote Mareeba Rodeo Arena, Savannah in the Round is one of Queensland’s biggest music festivals. As well as celebrating all things country, the outback bash will welcome classic Aussie musicians like Icehouse and Missy Higgins to the stage. Making a trip out of it? No stress, you can camp out right next door, with a free shuttle bus service for all ticketed guests.

17. Bendigo Wine Week

Bendigo, Vic: 8–19 October

Bendigo Wine Week celebrates this Victorian region’s vibrant vineyard scene, its fresh produce and foodie offerings. Winery hopping between some of Bendigo’s top cellar doors, oenophiles will taste a variety of delicious tipples, meet the makers and learn the stories behind the bottle along the way.

18. Wynyard Tulip Festival

Wynyard, Tas: 10 October

It’s almost impossible to miss spring’s arrival in Wynyard, as thousands of tulips burst into bloom across the small town. To mark the occasion, the annual Tulip Festival fills Gutteridge Gardens with food stalls, markets, live music and dazzling floral displays, all free to attend. For the ultimate souvenir, pick your own bouquet from the immaculate rows at nearby Table Cape Tulip Farm.

19. Sculpture by the Sea

Sydney, NSW: 16 October – 2 November

Sydney’s beloved Sculpture by the Sea exhibition has long been a favourite event in Bondi, inviting winter-worn Aussies to shed their winter layers and enjoy the sun at one of the city’s best beaches. The two-kilometre stretch of more than 100 unique artworks and installations is the world’s largest free-to-the-public sculpture exhibition, making it a must for Sydneysiders this spring.

20. Savour The Tweed

Tweed Coast, NSW: 21–25 October

Savour The Tweed is again enticing visitors to experience this peaceful pocket of Northern NSW through the palate, bringing another year of flavour-packed fun. Launched in 2024, the five-day event has become a calendar highlight, proudly showcasing the region’s best businesses and produce through chef collaborations, local markets, long lunches, curated masterclasses and guided farm walks.

21. Royal Hobart Show

Hobart, Tas: 22–24 October

Proving some traditions only get better with age, the Royal Hobart Show is back again this spring, after celebrating 200 years in 2025. From country heritage and agriculture to top-level competition and the latest in entertainment, the carnival fair has been a Tassie favourite for over two centuries now – and this year will be no different.

22. Canberra Nara Candle Festival

Canberra, ACT: 24 October

Each October, the Canberra Nara Candle Festival transforms Nara Peace Park into a glowing haven, with more than 2000 candles lighting up the dark to honour Canberra’s Japanese sister-city, Nara. Locals and visitors are encouraged to join in for an evening of cultural artistry, from live performances and martial arts demos to lantern-making workshops and food stalls.

23. Wangaratta Jazz & Blues Festival

Wangaratta, Vic: 30 October – 1 November

If you crave crooning melodies, make tracks for the Wangaratta Jazz & Blues Festival in regional Victoria. The exciting three-day program unfolds across local venues, where some of Australia and the world’s most exciting voices will take to the stage. Apart from mesmerising live performances, attendees can also look forward to the 36th National Jazz Awards and the Tiny Jazz Series.

24. Jacaranda Festival

Grafton, NSW: 30 October – 8 November

At its core, spring means flowers. And nowhere knows this better than Grafton in NSW’s Clarence Valley. Each year, the town is painted purple thanks to the countless blossoming jacaranda trees that call it home. To celebrate, the aptly named Jacaranda Festival invites you to experience the magic for yourself as petals rain down across garden parties, long lunches, local markets and more.

25. Mural Fest

Sheffield, Tas: 1–7 November

Once a year, Sheffield converts into a living canvas as painters turn public spaces into vibrant masterpieces for Mural Fest. Held in the so-called ‘town of murals’, it’s both an art competition and a celebration of local art, where visitors get the chance to vote for their favourite mural, admire local exhibits and witness one of Tassie’s most charming towns transform into an open-air gallery.

26. Pair’d

Margaret River, WA: 19–22 November

Fusing the Margaret River’s extraordinary landscapes with the best of its diverse produce and wine is Pair’d, the latest foodie festival out of WA. The plentiful program has been curated through the lens of a sommelier, with wine tastings masked as pottery workshops and Sunday sessions fuelled by good food, great wine and live music – all hosted by the region’s top vintners and producers.

27. Sunset on Seppeltsfield Road

Barossa Valley, SA: 20 November

Evening light, palm-lined views and the very best of the Barossa come together for Sunset on Seppeltsfield Road, where local vineyards, distilleries, producers and food stalls turn the strip of bitumen into a flavour-packed adventure. Wander down the avenue of Canary Island date palms, tucking into local gourmet fare, sipping the region’s standout wines and soaking up that golden-hour magic.

28. Hamilton Island Ocean Swim

Hamilton Island, Qld: 22 November

Join hundreds seeking respite from the Queensland heat as they dive into the waters off Catseye Beach this November. Framed by palm trees and coral reefs, the Hamilton Island Ocean Swim is part of the Endurance Series, an ongoing catalogue of island-based sporting adventures. It’s equal parts challenge and idyllic escape: a sun-soaked day of fitness and fun set against the beauty of the Whitsundays.

29. Great Vic Bike Ride

Great Ocean Road, Vic: 23–27 November

The Great Vic Bike Ride is the ultimate excuse to explore Victoria on two wheels, swapping city noise for coastal breeze along the Great Ocean Road. Over five days, participants will roll through scenic townships, pushing their pace or casually cruising with friends. By night, you’ll set up camp under the stars and enjoy local food, live music and restorative activities like yoga.

30. Giiyong Festival

Eden, NSW: 28 November

Giiyong Festival is a vibrant celebration of Aboriginal culture held at Jigamy, a property between Pambula and Eden in NSW. Meaning ‘Come to Welcome’ in the language of the South Coast Elders, it invites everyone to experience the richness of Country through music, dance, art, workshops, markets and storytelling. More than just a festival, Giiyong is an opportunity to connect, learn and celebrate living culture.