International Wild Flower Festival
22. MAJ - 7. JUNIJ 2026
20th International Wild Flower Festival
The International Alpine Flower Festival is a bouquet of botanical tours, events and culinary experiences dedicated to wild plants, Bohinj’s floral wealth and local offer.
Festival events take place every year in May and June at various locations in Bohinj, which comprises 24 villages and covers an area of more than 300 km².
The exceptional botanical diversity of the wider Bohinj area has long attracted the interest of botanical experts and the admiration of nature lovers and admirers of its beauty. Ever since the earliest days of scientific study of Slovenian flora, the mountains above Bohinj have been regarded as a veritable treasure trove of Alpine flowers.
From early spring to autumn, the floral wealth of Bohinj and the mountains above it is a feast for the eyes of everyone who visits Bohinj and its surroundings. As soon as the snow melts, the telohi and other harbingers of spring bloom… colourful meadows and hay meadows, shy wildflowers and the splendour of mountain flowers all the way to the highest peaks in summer… and when the forests burst into autumn colours, the beauty of the flowers in autumn – it’s all there for the eye to see. But: the more we know about something, the more we notice! If we go just a little bit deeper into learning about plants and flowers, the beautiful yellow flower will no longer be just a yellow flower – but our friend, about whom we will know lots of interesting things, and we will be all the more happy to meet her! Flowers are associated with a lot of knowledge, stories, ancient wisdom, scientific discoveries, they accompany us from birth to death, inspire creativity and brighten our lives. All these interesting things are often overlooked in the hectic pace of everyday life. Unfortunately! And all this floral wealth needs our care and protection in order to preserve it for the future. Many plant species are threatened by many things, and some are even in danger of extinction.
In order to give the floral wealth of Bohinj, the Triglav National Park and Slovenia real visibility, to encourage the discovery of Alpine flowers, scientific knowledge and creativity related to them, and to give visitors and locals a richer experience of Bohinj’s nature and cultural heritage, we have decided to dedicate a few days to floral themes at a time when most of the autoflowering flowers are in full bloom. From botanical knowledge to folk traditions, from artistic creation to discovering what is not only beautiful – but even belongs in the pot and on the table! And so the idea of the International Alpine Flower Festival in Bohinj was born!
Botanical attractions of Bohinj
Bohinj is a paradise for nature and botany lovers. The Triglav National Park is home to more than 1000 different plant species, many of them rare and endangered. This extraordinary diversity is the result of thousands of years of coexistence between man and nature, where traditional agricultural practices such as extensive livestock farming have shaped and preserved the cultural landscape.
Festival Symbol: BOHINJ IRIS (Iris cengialti f. vochinensis)
Bohinj pearl mushroom (Iris cengialti f. vochinensis ) is certainly one of the most beautiful and recognisable flowers that can be admired in the Bohinj area. Its unique beauty, intense colours and luxurious flowers make it a true botanical jewel and make it one of Bohinj’s specialities. Because of its popularity, it has often been moved from its natural habitat to gardens, where it is cultivated as an ornamental plant. Over time, its beauty and symbolism have made it a hallmark of the International Alpine Flower Festival, which attracts many nature and botanical lovers to Bohinj.
The iris is not just an aesthetic delight for the eye – it has been associated with various traditions, beliefs and symbolism since ancient times. It was given special importance in the Minoan culture of Crete. Archaeologists have discovered a fresco depicting plumage from around 1500 BC in the royal palace of Knossos. This is the oldest known depiction of the plant, which shows its importance and popularity in the distant past.
Among Slavic peoples, the feather is associated with the god of sky and lightning, Perun, or his wife Perunika. This mythological link is deeply rooted in Slavic culture, as the Slovenian name of the plant – perunika – shows. They believed that the perunika was a sign of her presence and protection. According to folk tradition, the belief that the rhizome of the iris protects people and their homes from lightning has been preserved.
This belief comes from a story in which the god Perun, often described as powerful and sometimes unpredictable, is said to have listened to the advice of his wife, Perunika. It is the periwinkle that is said to be a sign of her presence and the influence she has over her husband. As a symbol of wisdom, protection and beauty, the iris has established itself over the centuries as a special plant that brings good luck and security.
Its symbolism has survived to this day and continues to fascinate botanists, nature lovers and tourists who visit Bohinj for the unique beauty of the Bohinj iris.
Festival programme
Floral Cuisine
During the International Alpine Flower Festival, Bohinj’s caterers prepare unique floral menus to delight your taste buds and bring the flavours of nature to your plate.
Exhibitions during the festival
The exhibition programme of the International Alpine Flower Festival offers an insight into the world of plants, art and cultural heritage. Med razstavami najdete botanične ilustracije, ki raziskujejo lepoto in raznolikost rastlin, sodobne umetniške projekte, ki tematizirajo družbene norme, ter ročna dela, ki ohranjajo tradicionalne tehnike, kot je vezenje s cvetličnimi motivi.
2026 Festival Guide
Festival photo highlights
Video content
The International Alpine Flower Festival 2020 has been digitised. The theme for 2020 was: ‘For every disease, a flower grows’. Čeprav nam je hudo, ker te naše ljube zelene in s cvetjem okrašene oaze nismo mogli tradicionalno skupaj proslaviti v živo, upamo, da boste v posnetkih našli obilico navdiha in pozitivnih vibracij.
And because Bohinj is just a step away from your home, you can fully experience the colourful meadows, fragrant green forests, varied network of hiking trails, breath-taking views, delicacies and masterpieces from the local market and delicious flower menus on an individual basis. Our digital “guides” will help you understand, know and see more than you would otherwise.
All digital events of the festival are also organised in a playlist.
Playlist
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1:02
0:31
3:07
15:08
19:29
37:19
34:08
9:45
27:10
8:19
22:54
6:07
23:27
In partnership with:
The Dr. Janez Mencinger Primary School in Bohinjska Bistrica is actively participating in the Alpine Flower Festival again this year. Through a varied programme and activities in the regular school day, pupils discover, consolidate and deepen their knowledge of Bohinj’s natural and cultural heritage and the importance of its preservation.
During the festival, pupils will learn about the characteristics of the Bohinj environment in various subjects, learn the rules of behaviour in nature, reflect on the importance of protecting natural and cultural values, and practise various skills that promote a responsible attitude towards the area in which they live.
During the festival, the school library will host an exhibition of botanical books, which will give pupils an additional opportunity to explore the plant world on their own and deepen their knowledge of Alpine flora.
All pupils at the school will take part on the Saturday of the Weekend of Sport. Pupils from 1. Up to 5th grade, they will explore the natural and cultural heritage of Bohinj in addition to sports activities. Pupils in grades 6 to 9 will also test their knowledge of natural history at one of the orienteering stations, which combines exercise with learning in the field.
Throughout the festival, students gain experiences that go beyond the traditional learning environment – by getting in direct contact with nature, place and community , they co-create an event that celebrates life in the Alpine region and its diversity.
The Triglav National Park is an indispensable partner of the Alpine Flowers Festival, as its expertise and long-standing work in the field of nature conservation contribute significantly to the richness of the festival’s content.
Through carefully designed content, the Triglav National Park opens up a space for discussion about the importance of preserving the natural balance, respectful visits to nature and protecting biodiversity, which is particularly valuable in the Alpine region. In doing so, it promotes an understanding of nature not only as an environment, but as a shared value that we co-create and protect together.
The presence of the Triglav National Park at the festival thus reinforces the awareness that nature is not just a backdrop to our existence, but the foundation of its quality – today and for future generations.
During the Alpine Flower Festival, Bohinj House hosts a series of diverse events that complement and enrich the festival programme. During this time, the Bohinj House, which operates under the auspices of the Municipality of Bohinj, hosts creative workshops, small exhibitions and educational events for all ages.
Festival visitors can take part in various hands-on creative workshops, primarily designed for children, where they explore natural materials, plants, and express their creativity through play and practical work. The programme also includes presentations that raise awareness about the importance of preserving Bohinj’s natural and cultural heritage, as well as a temporary exhibition of botanical illustrations.
