Spring comes to life in Kyneton each year with the return of the much-loved Kyneton Daffodil & Arts Festival.
For more than 70 years, daffodils have been part of Kyneton’s story, with the annual festival bringing together flowers, gardens, art, community events and country hospitality to celebrate the arrival of spring.
Held throughout Kyneton and its surrounds, the festival is an opportunity to discover the town at its most colourful – from its famous daffodil displays and historic gardens to galleries, exhibitions, markets and some wonderfully quirky local events.
The 2026 festival takes place from 4 to 13 September, with the theme The Bulb and the Beautiful.
A celebration of daffodils, art and spring
Daffodils are at the heart of the festival, and you’ll find them flowering throughout Kyneton and the surrounding countryside during spring.
One of the best-known displays is Kyneton’s Golden Mile, a spectacular stretch of mass-planted daffodils along Burton Avenue. When the flowers are in bloom, it provides one of the most memorable ways to experience the arrival of spring in the town.
The Spring Daffodil Show is another festival highlight, showcasing beautiful blooms and celebrating Kyneton’s long association with daffodil growing.
But there’s much more to the festival than flowers. Art exhibitions, gardens, markets, performances and community events take place throughout the town, making it easy to spend a few hours exploring or turn your visit into a multi-day exploration.
Discover the Kyneton Daffodil Art Prize
The festival’s artistic side is celebrated through the Kyneton Daffodil Art Prize, which invites artists to interpret the festival’s floral theme across a range of mediums.
The prize continues to grow as an important part of the festival program, with categories covering painting, works on paper, photography and digital art, sculpture and other mediums.
For 2026, the Daffodil Prize includes a $1,500 major prize for the overall best piece containing a daffodil, alongside a $750 Highly Commended prize. A new category celebrating Kyneton Botanic Gardens also forms part of the 2026 competition.
The exhibition is held at The Old Auction House in historic Piper Street, making it easy to combine an art-filled visit with a wander through the heart of Kyneton.
Where is the Daffodil Festival’s Golden Mile?
Uncover the luminous Golden Mile at one of the main entrances into Kyneton. When in bloom, expect masses of magnificent daffodils, as far as the eye can see…or technically a mile-long, approximately 2-metre-wide strip of mass-planted daffodils along Burton Avenue.
Visitors are encouraged to enjoy a visit to the Golden Mile and to enjoy the sweet scent of spring. It should be noted that picking the daffodils is strongly discouraged.
Explore gardens in spring
Spring is the perfect time to slow down and explore Kyneton’s gardens. As well as the daffodils flowering around town, the festival program includes opportunities to visit gardens and discover some of the region’s beautiful spring landscapes.
Keep an eye out for Open Gardens and garden tours, including opportunities to explore gardens that aren’t normally open to visitors.
And remember to take time to visit Kyneton Botanic Gardens, set beside the Campaspe River. The gardens are a peaceful place to take a stroll and enjoy the changing season, and their connection with the 2026 Daffodil Art Prize makes them an especially fitting stop during the festival. During the 2026 Festival, the Daffodil Dash fun run takes place at Kyneton Botanic Gardens, and visitors can opt to book tickets to a guided tour of the Kyneton Botanic Gardens
Follow the Scarecrow Trail
One of the festival’s more playful traditions is the Scarecrow Trail, which brings the creativity of the local community to the streets of Kyneton.
Scarecrows appear in and around the town, each with its own personality and story, creating a fun way to explore Kyneton with the family.
The trail is a reminder that while daffodils and art may be at the heart of the festival, community spirit is what makes it special.
Experience the Grand Parade
The Grand Parade on 13 September 2026 is one of the much-anticipated highlights of the festival, bringing colour, music and community spirit to the streets of Kyneton.
With decorated floats, community groups and plenty of springtime celebration, it’s a wonderful way to experience the festival atmosphere and see Kyneton come together.
There is plenty more to discover
Part of the fun of the Kyneton Daffodil & Arts Festival is discovering the unexpected.
Alongside the flowers, gardens and art, the program regularly features markets, exhibitions, workshops, nature walks and a collection of wonderfully quirky events.
The 2026 program includes favourites such as the Kyneton Antique Fair, Dog Dash, Ferret Racing, Bull Boar Eating Competition and Roller Skates Disco, as well as the Spring Daffodil Show, Open Gardens and Grand Parade.
With events spread across Kyneton, you can build your day around the things that interest you most – or simply wander through town and see where spring takes you.
Make a day of it in Kyneton
You don’t need to attend every festival event to enjoy the Daffodil & Arts Festival.
Start with the daffodils, then explore an exhibition or garden before stopping for lunch in town. Spend some time browsing the shops and galleries along Piper Street, take a stroll through Kyneton Botanic Gardens, or follow the Scarecrow Trail before settling in for an afternoon event.
Kyneton’s historic streets, food scene, galleries and independent shops make it easy to combine the festival with the simple pleasure of spending a day in town.
And if you don’t want the day to end, stay overnight and explore more of the Macedon Ranges the following day.
If you’re travelling by train, Kyneton is on the Bendigo line, making it possible to enjoy the festival without driving. Some individual events and gardens may be easier to reach by car, so check the details of anything you plan to visit before setting off.
Plan your visit to the Macedon Ranges
The festival is held each spring in Kyneton, with the 2026 festival running from 4 to 13 September. The 2026 theme is The Bulb and the Beautiful.
Daffodils can be found throughout Kyneton during spring. The Golden Mile on Burton Avenue is one of the town’s best-known displays, while the Spring Daffodil Show provides an opportunity to see some of the festival’s finest blooms.
The program varies each year but typically combines daffodil displays and flower shows with art exhibitions, gardens, markets, performances and community activities. The 2026 program includes the Grand Parade, Scarecrow Trail, Daffodil Art Prize, Open Gardens, Antique Fair, nature walks and a range of family and community events.
Absolutely. The festival includes plenty of activities suitable for families, with the Scarecrow Trail, Grand Parade and various community events providing easy ways to explore Kyneton together.
You can certainly experience some festival highlights in a day, but staying overnight gives you more time to explore the town’s gardens, galleries, food and shops and discover more of the Macedon Ranges.
Whether you’re drawn by the daffodils, the gardens, the art or simply the chance to spend spring days in the country, the Kyneton Daffodil & Arts Festival is a wonderful time to discover one of the Macedon Ranges’ most charming towns. Whether you’re coming for a day or staying for the full stretch, the 2026 Kyneton Daffodil and Arts Festival is just one of many reasons this spring to visit and stay within the Macedon Ranges.
Meander along the charming streets of Kyneton, enjoy local cafés, pubs, and restaurants, and soak in the warm, welcoming community spirit that makes this annual festival truly special.
For full schedules, tickets to specific events, and downloadable maps (like the Scarecrow Trail), check the official Festival website or stop by to chat with the helpful volunteers at the Woodend or Kyneton Visitor Information Centres.
Explore the Visit Macedon Ranges What’s On calendar to discover more Macedon Ranges events, workshops, tours, and experiences less than an hour from Melbourne this spring 2026.
Enter for your chance to win an Unforgettable Macedon Ranges Spring 2026 Getaway. Entries close 7 Sept 2026
