With the, well, less-than-favorable winter we’ve been having, looking forward to spring has become less of a pastime and more of a coping mechanism. The magical time of year when our beloved parks transform from gray, slushy landscapes into vibrant picnic spots under bright blue skies is surely on its way—but if we’re being honest, it can’t come soon enough.
As we look forward to sunnier times, we can’t help but reminisce on the sweet traditions that greet the city with the arrival of spring each year. But sadly, one of the city’s most beloved spring traditions won’t be making its way back to NYC this year.
🌷 Tulip Day 2026
For years, Tulip Day has been one of New York City’s most beloved spring traditions, transforming Union Square into a breathtaking sea of color. Crowds would gather each spring to marvel at the 170,000 tulips blanketing the square, and visitors could even pick up to ten tulips each—making it part flower festival, part scavenger hunt.
The event, hosted by Royal Anthos, has long been a free, cheerful celebration that signals the arrival of warmer days and the promise of spring. Tickets would fly off the shelves the moment they were released—often selling out in just 15 minutes—and walk-ins weren’t always guaranteed, ensuring that only the fastest fingers could join in the floral fun.
This year, however, New Yorkers will have to admire their tulips from afar. After years of delighting the city, Tulip Day 2026 will not return to NYC and is moving to Washington, D.C. instead. A representative for the event let us know via email this week, and the Tulip Day website has also been updated to no longer include NYC and feature DC instead.
The shift means the iconic springtime ritual of wandering among checkerboard patterns of vibrant blooms and picking your own tulips in Union Square won’t happen this March. The move will be a major change for longtime fans who have looked forward to this colorful start to the season.
Despite the relocation, the spirit of Tulip Day lives on: the combination of dazzling flowers, cheerful crowds, and the promise of spring remains intact—even if the backdrop is a little different this year. For NYC residents craving a dose of tulip magic, it may be time to plan a trip to D.C., while keeping an eye out for future returns to the city that has loved this event for so long. To get all the details on the DC event and start planning for potential travels, check out Secret DC.
We also reached out to Union Square Alliance and NYC Parks to ask if any similar events are planned for this year, but have yet to receive a response.