In this year's edition, which will be held on March 21st, 2026, American Tulip Day invites you to celebrate women (a few days later than the official IWD) and take the women you love most and your families to experience seeing 80,000 tulips illuminating San Francisco's Union Plaza in honor of both Flower Bulb Day and International Women's Day.
Tulips to Celebrate Flower Bulb Day and International Women's Day in Union Square
Yes, this will indeed be one of the biggest tulip takeovers of all time, taking place in San Francisco, California. Union Square will be transformed by thousands and thousands of American-grown tulips, grown from Dutch bulbs, in honor of International Women’s Day (celebrated on March 8th) and the very well-noted #FlowerBulbDay, celebrated all across the United States. It's an opportunity to grab your favorite tulips (maximum 8 per person) and plant them straight at home. This way, your house will also be illuminated by the presence of this charming flower.
This year's tulip garden at Union Square will open to the public at 1:00 p.m., and will close at 4:30 p.m. By that time, all 80,000 tulips will be picked and give many American households a wonderful feeling of early spring. This is a call for all visitors, especially women who want to treat themselves with an act of self-love with flowers for their special day.
Photo: @kyoza
The official Union Square website shares:
"It is a day in which businesses celebrate the arrival of spring and summer with floral displays, food, cocktails, and events, to celebrate Union Square’s rich floral tradition, as well as the Alliance’s partnership with the Consulate General of the Netherlands."
Tulips to Honor 'American Tulip Day' and the Importance of This Flower
Spring is coming, and tulips know it before anyone else. These flowers are the ultimate seasonal signal. As they pop up across cities worldwide, tulips announce one thing loud and clear: change is here.
And in San Francisco’s Union Square, that change comes with a splash of color and a whole lot of meaning. American Tulip Day is a chance to get your hands dirty, quite literally, and get your hands on your favorite tulips to take home. Did you know that tulips are also one of the flowers that celebrate IWD?
Photo: @monicacr7
Here’s the twist: you don’t just admire the flowers – you pick them. Build your own bouquet, choosing from shades that scream spring. Bright reds? Fresh whites? Soft blush tones? The choice is yours. But there’s more. You’re also invited to make a bouquet for a woman who inspires you – because this day is timed perfectly to honor International Women’s Day.
It’s about sharing stories, celebrating new beginnings, and marking the moment winter gives way to something lighter, brighter, and full of promise. Plus, it’s all free – the flowers, the experience, the memories.
So, what will you choose? A bouquet for yourself, bursting with your favorite colors? Or a thoughtful bunch for someone whose impact deserves celebration? Either way, American Tulip Day turns an ordinary afternoon into a reminder that spring always brings something new – if you’re ready to pick it.
Photo by @onlyinSF
American Tulip Day
The 'American Tulip Day' 2026 is presented by JPMorganChase with the San Francisco Recreation and Parks and the Union Square Business Improvement District. Behind this special day, there is a very special intention as well, having to do with the promotion of flowers. For more information, head to Flower Bulb Day's website. But why promote flowers? Here are some of the most important reasons they share:
- Fresh flowers promote innovation, creativity, and productivity
- The presence of flowers triggers overall positive emotional health with general life satisfaction, delight, and gratitude
- Flowers reduce feelings of depression, anxiety, and agitation
- Flowers provide comfort due to an inherent tendency of humans to be drawn to nature
- Flowers boost the well-being and general health of senior citizens
- Flowers are essential for a good mood and a general state of well-being
Read more in the article 'The Benefits of Fresh Flowers'. If you're attending, make sure to visit Union Square in the early hours to be the first to grab your favorite-colored tulips.
