When and where does the Da Lat Flower Festival 2026 take place?
According to the plan of the Lam Dong Provincial People's Committee, the 11th Da Lat Flower Festival 2026 carries the theme "Da Lat, a Harmony of Flowers and Music". The opening ceremony is expected on the evening of December 19, 2026 at Lam Vien Square, while the New Year art programme combined with the closing ceremony will be held on the evening of December 31, 2026. Core activities cluster in late December, but the festival's programme chain spans the whole province, running from April 1, 2026 to January 5, 2027.
This is the 11th edition, following the 10th in 2024, which drew around 2 million visitors to Da Lat and Lam Dong.
What does the theme "a harmony of flowers and music" mean?
The theme places flowers and music on equal footing rather than treating flowers as the sole centre. Da Lat has been recognised as a creative city in the field of music within the UNESCO Creative Cities Network, and the 2026 festival is designed to affirm that status. Programmes are meant to blend flower spaces, natural landscapes and local cultural identity with art and music, creating a distinct mark compared with previous editions. The province has asked that the festival ensure innovation, creativity and stronger use of modern technology in both organisation and visitor experience.
The main programmes of the Da Lat Flower Festival 2026
The initial plan lists eight key programmes, including the opening and closing ceremonies, an international flower and ornamental plant exhibition, a scientific workshop on sustainable development of the flower value chain, a carnival with modern bands and dance groups, a wine street, and other art activities. The full chain comprises 15 main programmes and 35 supporting ones.
| Programme group | Main content |
|---|---|
| Ceremonies | Opening on the evening of December 19 at Lam Vien Square; New Year art programme combined with the closing on the evening of December 31, 2026 |
| Exhibitions | International flower and ornamental plant exhibition; flower miniatures around Xuan Huong Lake |
| Workshops and networking | Scientific workshop on sustainable development of the flower value chain; exchanges with localities that signed development cooperation programmes with Lam Dong |
| Performances and street festivities | Carnival with modern bands and dance groups; wine street; other art activities |
| Community | The campaign "Every person plants flowers, every household plants flowers, greenery welcomes the festival" |
Flower miniatures around Xuan Huong Lake will continue to be invested in as landscape highlights for residents and visitors. Hot-air balloon displays, a tourism highlight in recent editions, also sit among the activities drawing attention.
A new direction: towards a "year-round flower festival"
Provincial leaders stressed that the 2026 festival needs comprehensive renewal in how it is organised, moving towards a "year-round flower festival". Under this direction, the festival space will not be confined to Lam Vien Square but extended to residential areas, streets and public spaces. Wards in the Da Lat area are asked to review and tidy up urban areas, plant more flowers and trees, and install artistic lighting. Around 30 to 50 central streets will be studied for upgrading under the "bright, green, clean, beautiful" criteria. Along Prenn Pass, relevant units are tasked with seeking sponsorship to plant mai anh dao trees from Prenn Waterfall tourist area to Datanla Waterfall, forming a gateway route with the city's signature flower theme.
How is the "Every person plants flowers" campaign carried out?
To support the festival, Lam Dong plans to launch the campaign "Every person plants flowers, every household plants flowers, greenery welcomes the 11th Da Lat - Lam Dong Flower Festival". The campaign is chaired by the Department of Agriculture and Environment, with the participation of localities, businesses, flower associations and residents. Activities include building flower streets, flower alleys, green schools and green, clean, beautiful offices, along with competitions such as "Beautiful home, lovely garden welcoming the festival", "Flower-blooming neighbourhood" and "Community flower garden, colours of Lam Dong". Each street is to feature one signature flower species for a consistent landscape, building Da Lat's image as a "flower city".
How does the festival connect to flower growing and international cooperation?
Beyond cultural and artistic activities, the 11th festival continues to honour flowers and the flower-growing trade, an economic sector tied to the Da Lat brand. The event is expected to help growers, producers and traders of local specialities meet, connect and expand cooperation towards green, sustainable agriculture and international integration.
A notable requirement is that decoration and display activities prioritise flowers and ornamental plants produced within Lam Dong, to promote the local flower brand. On international cooperation, the 2026 festival will expand exchanges with localities that have signed development cooperation programmes with Lam Dong. The province plans to invite countries and territories strong in flowers, landscape architecture and art to join displays, exchanges and performances, raising the scale and reach of the festival.
Why is the 2026 festival expected to lift Da Lat's brand?
The Da Lat Flower Festival is seen as one of the locality's signature cultural and tourism events, helping promote Da Lat and Lam Dong to domestic and international visitors. The expanded scale, combined with urban landscape upgrades and community participation, is expected to raise the "flower city" brand and add appeal to local tourism.
Lam Dong also aims to boost socialisation in organising the festival. Professional associations such as the Business Association, Da Lat Flower Association, Tourism Association and Tea Association, along with many businesses and organisations, will be encouraged to take a deeper part. Commune, ward and special-zone authorities are asked to tidy up urban areas, upgrade infrastructure, develop flower and green spaces, ensure a green, clean, beautiful environment and maintain security throughout the festival.
Note: the dates and programme content above are based on the published plan. Detailed schedules may be adjusted during implementation, so visitors should follow official announcements from Lam Dong province before planning their trip.
