by adminThe Flora Festival 2026 is once again filling Córdoba’s historic patios with floral art. The ninth edition of the International Flower Festival takes place in October under an evocative theme, Efímero (Ephemeral), with five installations by international artists and more than a hundred free activities. Here are the dates, the venues and some tips to enjoy it.
Flora Festival 2026 dates
The festival runs from 12 to 22 October 2026, although not every one of those days is open to visitors. It is organised in three phases:
- 12 to 15 October: the installations are set up in the patios.
- 16 to 21 October: the installations are open to the public, roughly from 11:00 to 20:00.
- 22 October: Guerrilla Flora, the closing day when the flowers leave the patios and spill into the city.
Entry to the installations is free. Even so, queues form at the most popular venues at weekends, so it is worth going early in the day or late in the afternoon.
The five venues and their installations
As in every edition, Flora invites creators from different countries to reinterpret a Córdoba patio with a large floral installation that competes for the festival’s prizes. These are the 2026 venues:
Palacio de Viana: «El murmullo»
The Patio de las Columnas at the Palacio de Viana, one of the most photographed in the city, hosts the work of British artist Hamish Powell. It is the largest patio in the palace, with its arcaded gallery on columns, and is usually one of the public’s favourite stops.
Mosque-Cathedral: «Halcyon»
The Courtyard of the Orange Trees at the Mosque-Cathedral welcomes the installation by South Korean artist Sohee Park. Seeing a contemporary work among orange trees, fountains and the bell tower is one of the most powerful images of the festival.
Palacio de la Merced, Palacio de Orive and the Archaeological Museum
The route is completed by the baroque patio of the Palacio de la Merced, seat of the Provincial Council, with «No puedo esperar más al futuro» by New York studio FLOVER NYC; the central patio of the Palacio de Orive, with «Interludio» by Spain’s Taller Banegas; and Patio II of the Archaeological Museum, with «Cataclismo» by French collective Mas Rasa.
«Efímero», this year’s theme
The 2026 theme fits floral art like a glove: a flower lasts as long as it lasts, and Flora’s installations are dismantled just days after opening. That fleeting quality connects with the very essence of Córdoba’s patios, which change with every season and with the daily care of the people who live in them. If you want to understand where that tradition comes from, read our article on the history of Córdoba’s patios.
Around the installations there is a parallel programme of more than a hundred activities including music, art, workshops and talks. Among the names announced are singer Martirio, artist Maider López and writer and psychiatrist Sue Stuart-Smith, author of a well-known book on the benefits of gardening.
Prizes and organisation
An international jury chooses the best installations, which receive prizes of 25,000 and 10,000 euros. The decision is expected on 16 October, the same day the festival opens to the public. Flora is organised by Zizai Cultura and Córdoba City Council, with the involvement of more than a hundred public and private organisations.
Tips for visiting Flora and the patios in October
Flora is not the Patios Festival held in May, but it is the perfect excuse to discover Córdoba in autumn, with pleasant temperatures and fewer tourists. A few ideas to make the most of it:
- Plan your route by distance: the Mosque and the Archaeological Museum are a few minutes’ walk apart, while Viana, Orive and the Merced are further north in the old town.
- Go on a weekday if you can: Saturday and Sunday queues at Viana can exceed half an hour.
- Combine the festival with a walk through the private patios of the San Basilio or Alcázar Viejo neighbourhood, which can be visited with a guide outside the May season.
Autumn is also a lovely time simply to wander the old town, where many doorways reveal flower-filled patios even when there is no festival on.
Frequently asked questions about the Flora Festival 2026
When is the Flora Festival 2026 in Córdoba?
The festival runs from 12 to 22 October 2026. The installations can be visited from 16 to 21 October, roughly from 11:00 to 20:00, while 12 to 15 October are set aside for installation work. On 22 October Guerrilla Flora brings the festival to a close with floral interventions around the city.
How much does it cost to visit the Flora Festival?
Visiting the five Flora Festival installations is free. Simply go to each venue during opening hours. At the most popular patios, such as the Patio de las Columnas at the Palacio de Viana or the Courtyard of the Orange Trees, there may be queues at the weekend, so it is best to go early or on a weekday.
Which patios take part in Flora 2026?
The 2026 venues are the Patio de las Columnas at the Palacio de Viana, the Courtyard of the Orange Trees at the Mosque-Cathedral, the baroque patio of the Palacio de la Merced, the central patio of the Palacio de Orive and Patio II of the Archaeological Museum of Córdoba, each with an installation by a different artist.
Is Flora the same as the Córdoba Patios Festival?
No. The Patios Festival takes place in May and opens private patios to the public as they compete in a municipal contest. Flora is a contemporary floral art festival held in autumn in institutional patios, with invited international artists. Both share a love of flowers and of the traditional Córdoba patio.
Flora lasts only a few days, but Córdoba’s patios can be enjoyed all year round. If you would like to discover the most historic patios with a local guide, book our Córdoba Patios tour and find out what lies behind their entrance halls.
