Rose Festival in Grasse 2026

May is the month of the rose in France, and during the annual Rose Festival in the perfume capital of Grasse, the city is transformed into a blossoming sensory universe. Here, the rose scent of the festival blends beautifully with the aromas from the surrounding jasmine and lavender fields.

Fountain with roses in Grasse — *The fountain at Place aux Aires is beautifully decorated with colorful roses – ©cityxee.com*

At a glance

What: Expo Rose – Grasse’s annual rose festival, where the city celebrates the rose as a flower, artistic inspiration, and a central part of the perfume tradition
When: May 8–10, 2026
Where: In the historic town of Grasse on the Côte d’Azur, especially around the city’s streets and Villa-Musée Fragonard
Why: The festival transforms Grasse with thousands of roses and celebrates the city’s unique rose tradition and fragrance culture
Highlights: Flower exhibitions, decorated squares and fountains, markets, artistic installations, and sensual fragrance experiences
CityXee recommends these perfume experiences in Grasse: Classic perfume workshop in Grasse

Rose Festival in Grasse

For more than half a century, Expo Rose – Rose Festival in Grasse – has been held, where the city over a weekend in May celebrates the rose – the queen of all flowers – and honors the creators and producers of roses.

In 2026, the Rose Festival will be held on May 8-10.

The already beautiful and intimate streets, fountains, statues and public squares of the old city are decorated with bouquets, rose bushes and thousands of cut roses. And shopkeepers in the city try to outdo each other in imaginative rose decorations in front of their stores.

Yellow 2CV decorated with boomer in Grasse — *Creativity knows no bounds at the Rose Festival in Grasse*

Euphoric scent permeates the entire city

The smell in the streets is amazing as it’s not just the tens of thousands of roses that smell, but also the rose perfume that is sprayed via atomizers into the streets of the old town, adding to the scent explosion.

Above the streets are thousands of pink umbrellas that form a beautiful roof and cast their octagonal patterns as shadows on the pavement.

Pink umbrellas in the streets of Grasse — *The pink umbrellas that cast a special glow over the city’s pedestrian streets – ©cityxee.com*

On the steps leading up to the Cours Honorè Cresp square, the pink carpet is laid out and in one part of the large square, local producers have set up their stalls with crafts and local specialties. The rest of the square is a sea of flowers where producers showcase the rose in every color and shape imaginable.

*The red carpet on the steps of Cours Honoré Cresp in Grasse*

Dance and music performances in the streets and squares of the city throughout the weekend complete the festival, which is well worth a visit whether the rose is your favorite flower or not.

Practical info:

Location: Grasse, Alpes-Maritimes, Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur
Date: May 8–10, 2026
Duration: 1–3 hours, depending on how many exhibitions and areas you visit
Price: Free admission to most outdoor events and flower decorations
Transport: Train to Grasse from Cannes or Nice, then walk to the historic city center
Best time: Morning or late afternoon for fewer visitors and better light for photos
Suitable for: Couples, families, flower and garden enthusiasts, and those interested in perfume
Tip: Combine the visit with a perfume museum or a visit to a local perfume factory for a full Grasse experience