Albany Tulip Festival

The 78th annual Albany Tulip Festival will take place on Saturday, May 9 and Sunday, May 10, 2026, in Washington Park, Albany’s 81-acre park known as the city's "crown jewel." This signature spring event celebrates Albany’s Dutch heritage with nearly one hundred artisans selling handmade crafts, a fine arts show, food vendors, a KidZone family fun destination, and two stages featuring live entertainment. Visitors can view more than 140,000 tulips in 150 varieties throughout the park.

Key events during the weekend include:
- Street Scrubbing (official kickoff) on Friday, May 8 at 12:00pm at State and Lodge Streets.
- Mendelssohn Club Chorus performance on Saturday, May 9 at 11:30am (Tulip Court Procession at the 518 Stage).
- Tulip Queen Coronation on Saturday, May 9 at 12:00pm at the Washington Park Lakehouse Stage.
- Capital Region's Best Mom Ceremony on Sunday, May 10 at 11:00am at the Washington Park Lakehouse.

Additional activities:
- Tulip Dig on May 16, starting at 9 a.m. at the Moses Fountain. Bring a garden fork if you have one. Bulbs are $10 for a bag of 30 while supplies last.
- Tulip Bulb Sale on May 17, starting at 9 a.m. at the Lakehouse. Bulbs are $10 for a bag of 30.

Parking:
- Free parking is available at Elk Street and Eagle Street parking lots, with CDTA providing complimentary shuttles to Washington Park from 11:00am–6:00pm on both festival days.
- Paid parking is available at ParkAlbany lots (72 Central Ave., 327 Washington Avenue, and 124 Central Ave.).

Rules:
- No alcohol outside of designated beer garden areas.
- No glass containers, animals (except ADA service animals), or tobacco/marijuana use.
- Bags and containers may be inspected by security.

Volunteers are needed and can sign up online or by phone. The festival is family-friendly and open to all.