Feria de las Flores 2026

The Feria de las Flores is Medellin’s most celebrated annual event, a ten-day festival held every August that showcases the flower-growing tradition of the Andean villages surrounding the city. The centrepiece is the Desfile de Silleteros — a parade in which farmers (silleteros) from the Oriente Antioqueno carry enormous floral arrangements called silletas on their backs through the streets of the city.

Origins and meaning

The festival began in 1957 as a civic initiative to celebrate the flower growers of the Arvi region, particularly the villages of Santa Elena, whose farmers had long walked down the mountain to sell cut flowers in Medellin’s markets. The word silletero refers to the wooden frame (silleta) strapped to the carrier’s back, on which the arrangement is mounted. Today’s silletas range from traditional floral designs to elaborate pictorial compositions depicting landscapes, historical scenes, and cultural symbols — some weigh more than 70 kilograms and take weeks to assemble.

Programme highlights

The 2026 edition runs from Saturday 1 August to Tuesday 11 August. Beyond the Desfile de Silleteros (held on the penultimate Sunday, typically 9 August, along Avenida El Poblado), the fair includes a wide range of events:

The Classic Car and Antique Automobile Parade (Desfile de Autos Clasicos y de Coleccion) draws vintage vehicles from across Colombia through the city streets. The Caballos de Paso parade features Colombia’s distinctive paso fino horses in formal tack. Street flower markets appear throughout the El Centro and Laureles neighbourhoods. Evening concerts across multiple outdoor stages run throughout the festival, covering vallenato, rock, and electronic music.

The full official programme is published on the Medellin city government website (medellin.gov.co) each June.

Watching the Desfile de Silleteros

The main parade route runs along Avenida El Poblado, from near the Palacio de Exposiciones south towards Parque Bello Horizonte. Ticketed grandstand seating is available, with prices typically between COP 80,000 and COP 250,000. Free street viewing is possible along the route but space on the pavement fills from early morning. The parade usually begins at 9 a.m. and lasts four to five hours.

If you cannot attend in person, the city broadcasts the parade live on large screens at multiple secondary locations and on local television channels.

Getting there and around

August is one of Medellin’s drier months in the Andean calendar, though afternoon showers remain possible. The city sits at 1,495 metres, so temperatures are comfortable — typically 22 to 28 degrees Celsius during the day. The Metro and Metroplús BRT provide reliable transport to most festival locations. For the parade, the El Poblado Metro station on Line A places you a short walk from the route.

Book flights and hotels well ahead: August is peak domestic tourism season in Medellin and the Flower Festival reliably fills the city. For broader city planning, see our Medellin city guide and our Colombia in August guide.