Key Facts:
Tulip Time returns to Australia's #1 country town from 11 September to 5 October 2026
One of Australia's longest-running flower festivals celebrates its 66th year with 80,000 tulips and spring annuals, following a record 85,000 visitors in 2025
An expanded program brings new ways to see, taste and experience the Southern Highlands
Bowral, NSW: Bowral will burst into colour this spring, with 80,000 tulips and spring annuals planted for the return of Tulip Time from 11 September to 5 October 2026.
Now in its 66th year, Tulip Time returns following its biggest year yet, with more than 85,000 people attending in 2025.
This year, the flowers are just the beginning. An expanded program across four Bloomin' Weekends will bring new ways to experience Tulip Time, from yoga and mindfulness among the flowers to local honey experiences, floral workshops, art, tastings and guided walks through historic Bowral and surrounding villages.
Families can join Bloom & Play during the school holidays, while Paws Among the Petals - Dogs Day Out will welcome four-legged festivalgoers. Hospitality marquees featuring leading local operators, producers and stockists will add a taste of the Southern Highlands to the program.
Wingecarribee Shire Mayor Jesse Fitzpatrick said Tulip Time was about much more than its famous floral displays.
"Tulip Time is about much more than flowers. It brings people together to enjoy the colour and beauty of spring, spend time with family and friends, and make the most of this special time of year in the Southern Highlands.
"Last year, we welcomed more than 85,000 people to Tulip Time, with many visitors making a weekend of it or visiting for a mid-week escape. Beyond the gates of Corbett Gardens, there is plenty more to discover - from our charming villages and waterfalls to shopping, art, local food and wine," Mayor Fitzpatrick said.
Behind the display, an unusually warm autumn saw Wingecarribee Shire Council's horticultural team adapt the traditional planting schedule, waiting until soil temperatures reached the required 13 degrees Celsius or below. Corbett Gardens is now on track for a spectacular spring display.
Tulip Time arrives as Bowral enjoys a moment in the national spotlight, after being named Australia's #1 country town and #5 town overall in Australian Traveller's 100 Best Aussie Towns for 2026.
The accolade adds to the appeal of the town's much-loved annual flower festival, giving visitors another reason to discover Bowral at one of the most colourful times of year - and use it as a starting point to explore the wider Southern Highlands.
Spring puts the Southern Highlands' natural attractions on show, offering visitors the chance to reconnect with nature, explore gardens and walking trails and enjoy the region's villages, waterfalls and countryside.
Within Corbett Gardens, visitors can stop to eat, drink and shop between the blooms, with hospitality marquees and market stalls showcasing local food, produce and goods. The Bowral CWA will also continue a much-loved Tulip Time tradition, serving its scones and Devonshire tea throughout the festival.
The expanded program supports a broader play and stay focus, encouraging visitors to spend a night or two in the Highlands - an increasingly important part of the regional visitor economy.
During September 2025, local business spend reached $79.2 million, up 4.8 per cent year-on-year, including $22.5 million in visitor spending. Overnight visitor spend rose 27 per cent, while visitor numbers increased 15 per cent.
Beyond Tulip Time, the Southern Highlands offers boutique shopping, antiques and galleries, along with a food and wine scene with hatted restaurants, and charming cellar doors where visitors can taste and stock up on award-winning wines.
The region's hospitality scene continues to grow, with new additions including Burradoo Park Farm by Three Blue Ducks, French-inspired Lucette in Bowral, produce-led Oliver's in Moss Vale and Ardour at Milton Park.
Beyond Bowral, each Southern Highlands town and village has its own distinct character and reason to visit. Historic Berrima combines Georgian sandstone architecture and rustic country charm with acclaimed dining, local makers and boutiques; Moss Vale has emerged as a destination for food, local produce and independent shopping; while Mittagong is a gateway to walking trails, lookouts, antiques and cool-climate wineries.
Further afield, the smaller villages and rural communities offer everything from country pubs and cellar doors to gardens, galleries and local producers - giving visitors plenty of reasons to follow the country roads and discover more of the Highlands.
