The Taif Rose Festival 2027 has not had its dates confirmed yet.
If you are planning a trip to Saudi Arabia’s “City of Roses,” this guide covers what the festival involves, when it typically falls, and exactly how to get there from Jeddah, Riyadh, or Makkah.
- The most recent edition, the 2026 Rose and Aromatic Plants Global Forum, ran March 29 to April 11; the wider rose harvest season spans late March to early May.
- No 2027 dates have been announced yet as of July 2026, so check official channels closer to the season.
- Taif sits in the mountains above Al-Hada, about 1,800 to 1,900 meters up, roughly 2 hours from Jeddah and under an hour from Makkah.
- Highlights include rose farm tours, traditional copper-pot distillation demos, a rose souk, and a flower carpet display.
What Is the Taif Rose Festival?
The Taif Rose Festival celebrates the Ward Taifi, a fragrant 30-petalled variety of damask rose grown almost nowhere else at this scale. Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Culture organizes it with Taif Municipality under the Vision 2030 Quality of Life Program.
A parallel, larger event runs alongside it: the Rose and Aromatic Plants Global Forum, held under the patronage of Prince Fawaz bin Sultan, Governor of Taif.
The forum adds a scientific and investment track on top of the festival’s cultural program, drawing farmers, researchers, and fragrance brands from dozens of countries.
When Is the Taif Rose Festival 2027?
As of July 2026, no dates have been confirmed for the 2027 edition. Based on the pattern of past years, expect the festival to land somewhere in the late-March-to-early-May harvest window, with an announcement from the Ministry of Culture or Visit Saudi a few months ahead.
The most recent edition, the second Rose and Aromatic Plants Global Forum, ran from March 29 to April 11, 2026, an 11-day event with 15 dialogue sessions and roughly 80 activities.
The forum sits inside the wider harvest season, which typically spans late March to early May, a roughly 45-day window when the roses are picked by hand each morning. The first forum edition, held in April 2025, attracted more than 350,000 visitors in the final 10 days of its run.
Where Taif’s Roses Grow
Taif sits on the eastern slopes of the Sarawat Mountains in Makkah Province, about 1,800 to 1,900 meters above sea level. Nearby Jabal al-Hada rises to roughly 2,000 meters, which is why the city stays noticeably cooler than Jeddah or Makkah year-round.
The rose farms cluster around Al-Hada and Al-Shafa, on the slopes just outside the city. Estimates of the annual harvest vary by source and counting method: Saudipedia puts it at around 120 million roses from about 850 farms, while Saudi Press Agency reporting on a recent season cited more than 550 million roses harvested in the roughly 45-day window.
Things to Do in Taif During Rose Season
Most visitor activity centers on the farms and the town’s public spaces. Here is what typically features on the program:
- Rose farm tours: walk the terraced fields around Al-Hada and Al-Shafa during the early morning harvest, when the scent is strongest.
- Distillation demonstrations: watch rose oil and rosewater made in traditional copper pots, a steam process that takes several hours per batch.
- The rose souk: a market where farmers sell fresh petals, rose oil, and rosewater directly.
- Flower carpet and parades: a large decorative rose display, plus parades and street performances through the festival period.
- Cultural performances and workshops: theatre, music, and hands-on sessions tied to the rose trade.
- House of Artisans shopping: a dedicated venue for local crafts and rose products alongside food stalls.
How to Get to Taif From Jeddah, Riyadh, and Makkah
Taif has its own airport, Taif International Airport (TIF, formerly known as Taif Regional Airport), served by domestic carriers including Saudia and flynas. Most travelers connect through Jeddah first, whether flying in internationally or arriving after Umrah or Hajj.
The route you pick depends on where you are starting from and how much time you have. The three most common approaches compare like this:
Taif International Airport sits about 27 km from the city center. If you are flying and want to check current conditions first, see Wego’s guide on whether Taif Airport is open for the latest terminal and travel status.
Taif Rose Farms and Rosewater: What to Buy
Buying rose oil or rosewater directly from a farm or from the House of Artisans is the surest way to get the genuine product. Estimates of how many roses go into a single 11-gram tola of pure Taif rose oil vary by source.
Industry sources commonly cite 40,000 to 50,000 roses per tola, while a 2026 Saudi Press Agency estimate for Taif’s harvest put the figure closer to 12,000. Either way, the ratio is why the oil trades at prices comparable to gold by weight.
The traditional method uses large copper stills, sometimes generations old, sealed and heated slowly so steam carries the essential oil through a coiled pipe into a cooling vessel. It is worth watching a demonstration even if you do not plan to buy, since the process itself is one of the festival’s main draws.
Planning Your Visit: Practical Tips
Go early. The rose scent is strongest and the temperature most comfortable in the early morning, before the midday sun builds.
Pack layers even in summer. Taif’s altitude keeps it noticeably cooler than Jeddah or Makkah, and evenings can turn chilly.
If your trip is built around Umrah or Hajj, confirm what your visa actually permits before adding Taif to the itinerary. Travelers visiting for tourism alone should check Saudi Arabia’s tourist eVisa rules, since eligibility and validity periods are updated periodically.
For places to stay, compare hotels in Taif directly, since options range from mountain resorts to simple city hotels near the souks.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the Taif Rose Festival 2027?
Dates have not been announced yet as of July 2026. Based on past years, expect an announcement a few months ahead through official Saudi tourism or culture channels, with the festival likely falling somewhere in the late-March-to-early-May harvest season.
What happened at the most recent Taif Rose Festival?
The 2026 edition, staged as the second Rose and Aromatic Plants Global Forum, ran from March 29 to April 11 and drew about 400 participants from 44 countries alongside the wider public harvest-season program.
How do I get to Taif from Jeddah?
Drive around 2 hours via Makkah and Highway 15, or about 3 hours via the Route 298 bypass if you are not Muslim. A domestic flight to Taif International Airport takes under an hour.
Can I visit Taif on an Umrah or Hajj visa?
Many pilgrims add Taif to their trip since it sits close to Makkah, but visa permissions vary by type and should be confirmed before you travel. If you are visiting purely as a tourist, Saudi Arabia’s tourist eVisa is the more relevant route.
What should I buy at the Taif Rose Festival?
Rose oil and rosewater bought directly from a farm or the House of Artisans are the most authentic souvenirs. Watching a copper-pot distillation demonstration is worth doing even if you do not buy anything.
How many roses does Taif produce each year?
Estimates vary by source and counting method, from around 120 million roses across roughly 850 farms per Saudipedia, to over 550 million in a single harvest season per Saudi Press Agency reporting.
Plan Your Trip
Taif rewards a slower pace: a rose farm at sunrise, a walk through the souk, and a cool mountain evening after the heat of the coast. Compare flights to Saudi Arabia on Wego and build the rest of your route around whichever edition of the rose season you catch.
Sources
- Saudi Press Agency — Taif Governor Launches Second Rose and Aromatic Plants Global Forum at Taif University
- Arab News — Taif to Host Global Forum as Rose Sector Growth Gains Momentum
- Saudi Press Agency — Taif Rose Harvest Season Produces Over 550 Million Roses
- Saudipedia — Rose Season
- Saudipedia — Taif Governorate
- Saudipedia — Taif International Airport
- Arab News — What Makes the Taif Rose Such a Precious Fragrance Product?
- Saudi Press Agency — Rose and Aromatic Plants Global Forum Attracts over 350,000 Visitors
- Visit Saudi — Taif
- Wikivoyage — Ta’if Travel Guide
Disclaimer: We’ve worked hard to make sure the information in this article is as accurate and up to date as possible at the time of publishing. Travel details such as prices, schedules, visa rules, and entry requirements can change at short notice, so it remains your responsibility to verify the current details with official sources before you book or travel. Wego accepts no liability for any loss or inconvenience arising from the use of this content.
