Medellin Colombia is a city transformed and what better way to experience this wonderful city than by visiting its annual Feria de las Flores, or Medellin Flower Festival, the highlight of which is the desfile de silleteros, or the flower parade, held each July to August? In the 1990s the city was in a precarious position, associated with drug lords, rampant crime and terror attacks, safety in Medellin Colombia was a serious concern. A visit today reveals a triumph of urban regeneration that for just over one week is celebrated in bloom. Some of the main attractions is the Joaquín Antonio Uribe Botanical Garden that covers 14 hectares and has over 1,000 species. Within this is the Orchidiarium, a hexagonal structure that has a large orchid and butterfly collection. You can also visit flower beds in different squares across the city. The festival de las flores Colombia has been held annually since 1968 to commemorate the Battle of Boyacá as well as the Independence of Antioquia. The parade of the silleteros (desfile de silleteros), a highlight of the Ferias de las Flores Medellin Feria de las Flores Medellin 2026 In 2026 there will be 100 free events for the Medellin Ferias de las Flores. Enjoy the vibrant inaugural concert, a variety of lively tablados (street stages), the National Trova Festival, the colourful Avenida Primavera Float Parade, the Classic and Antique Car Parade, the Feria al Ritmo de la Bici (Bike Rhythm Fair), the charming Street of Artists, the enchanting Night Cultural Park, and the blooming Plazas de las Flores—just a few highlights among many unforgettable events. The full programme can be found here . You can also read Mike East’s article about visiting the Medellin Flower Festival 2025 . National Trova Festival This will be held from 21 May to 20 July. Flower Festival in Medellin Opening Concert The Medellin Colombia festival of flowers will kick off with an exciting opening concert on Friday, 31 July , starting at 7 pm and continuing into the early hours of Saturday, August 1 . The event will take place along Carrera 74 in the Obelisco sector , right in front of the iconic Atanasio Girardot Stadium . Final of the National Trova Festival Towards the culmination of the flower festival Medellin, troubadours from around Colombia will face off to become the new King of Trova. Classic and Antique Car Parade Another highlight of the Medellin Colombia festival of flowers is the Parade of Classic and Antique Cars (Desfile de Autos Clasicos y Antiguos), which sees 285 classic cars go in a procession for 19 km. Traditionally this is held on the final Saturday of the festival. Silleteros Parade The parade of the silleteros or desfile de silleteros, is arguably the most impressive part of the festival. A procession of large lightweight fan-like frames decorated in flowers, it’s an explosion of colour and a photogenic celebration. It is held on the last day of the festival, so on 9 August in 2026 and involves 500 silleteros . Also in the Medellin Colombia flower festival, there will also be the Sancochos Festival , lively p opular music and dance shows , and the Sanalejo Market , held on the first Saturday of every month . Bring the whole family to Zona que Suena , a fun-filled area created especially for kids, and don’t miss the Canine and Pet Walk , a celebration for animal lovers of all ages. Most of the events in the Feria de las Flores Medellin are free. For other major festivals in Colombia, visit its annual Barranquilla Carnival in February, or immerse yourself in Colombia’s biggest cultural event La Feria de Cali in December. What Else Is There to Do in Medellin? If you are flowered out, there are many other things on offer such as a parade of antique cars, musical concerts, dance shows and local cuisine. In many ways the event is a wider celebration of the city itself. Getting ready for La Ferias de Las Flores Medellin Then, of course, there are the things that you can do in Medellin all year around. The sculptures and artwork of Fernando Botero in both the Museum of Antioquia and the plaza outside should not be missed. When you are in Medellin, no matter if it is spring, summer, autumn or winter, you can enjoy the uniqueness of Medellin. If you want to commemorate your trip to Medellín, you can try a more original way to achieve the effect. For example, you can customise a keychain and add elements of Medellin into the design of the keychain, making the Custom Keychains a perfect souvenir of this wonderful trip! To appreciate the city, take the cable cars – here a system of public transport. Outside the city there are is the Guatape rock formation and coffee plantation tours. Be very careful with any Pablo Escobar tours, as they may sensationalise or even glorify a figure despised by almost all Colombians. Programme of Ferias de Flores 2026 The 2026 Medellin flower festival takes place in August each year. The tourism agency has a detailed breakdown of the event, day by day, see below, (though in Spanish). Click here . When is the Feria de las Flores 2026 The Medellin Flower festival 2026 will be held from 31 July to 9 August. Medellin Colombia Weather Another plus about your visit is that Medellin has a wonderful Mediterranean-like climate year round with average temperatures in the low twenties. The two rainy seasons are from April to May and September to November. Medellin is not the only place to visit in Colombia, read Mark Bibby Jackson’s Bogota Graffiti Art and Tasting the Colombia Coffee Region . Medellin Colombia Flights Avianca flies direct to Bogota from London. From the USA, there are flights to Bogota direct from Atlanta, Houston, Miami, Washington, Orlando, Fort Lauderdale and New York. Medellin has an international airport with flights to Panama and Caracas. Medellin Colombia Things to Do To discover what else to do in Medellin apart from visiting the feria de flores, click here .

Description supplied by the event organiser.