IFTEX 2026

24 Jul 2026

More Than a Flower Show

Where the Floral World Comes Together

Every June, something rather magical happens in Kenya.

Thousands of people from across the floral world arrive for IFTEX. Breeders, growers, wholesalers, florists and friends gather together, all brought by a shared love of flowers. It is one of the busiest weeks of our year, but also one of our favourites.

Months of planning finally come together in just a few extraordinary days. This year felt especially special.

A Week Begins with Creativity

Before the exhibition had even begun, the celebrations were already underway. Together with Paula Rooney, Kat Josey and Claire Rowland, we welcomed florists to a special masterclass at Art Caffé. Surrounded by beautiful flowers and like-minded creatives, ideas were shared, techniques demonstrated and friendships formed long before the exhibition halls opened. It was the perfect way to begin a week that would be filled with inspiration.

Building Our Palace of Roses

Long before the exhibition doors opened, more than 3,000 rose stems had already made the journey from our farm to Nairobi, ready to be transformed into something far more than a trade show stand.

Working alongside Paula, Kat and Claire, our team spent hours creating what became our own little Palace of Roses. There was laughter. There were aching feet. There were countless cups of coffee. And there was that familiar excitement that always comes when a room slowly fills with flowers.

By the time the doors opened, the stand was no longer simply somewhere to display roses. It had become somewhere people wanted to spend time. Somewhere to pause. To talk. To take photographs and learn all about Tambuzi and our beautiful roses.

Breakfast Before the Buzz

One of the highlights of the week… Our annual Tambuzi Breakfast hosted at Art Caffe Gastro welcomed around 80 guests for a relaxed morning of good food, beautiful flowers and even better company. Before the busy days of meetings and walking the halls, it gave everyone a chance to simply enjoy being together.

The People Behind Every Stem

Of course, none of it would be possible without the incredible people behind the scenes.

The harvest team who carefully cut every stem at exactly the right moment. The packhouse who prepared each box. The logistics teams who made sure everything arrived safely. Our office team, who spent months organising every detail. The stand builders, the florists, the drivers, the cleaners, the caterers and every member of the Tambuzi family who played their part. Thank you.

Back Where It All Begins

For some of our visitors, the journey didn’t end when the exhibition closed. They travelled to Tambuzi, where the story of every rose truly begins.

Guests enjoyed a tour of the farm, walking through the fields, visiting the packhouse and meeting the people who grow and care for our roses every day. Seeing the roses in their natural surroundings gives a completely different appreciation for the journey each stem takes before arriving in the hands of a florist.

The visit finished with one final floral experience as Paula, Kat and Claire hosted another hands-on masterclass, this time surrounded by the very roses that had inspired the week. It was a fitting way to bring everyone together one last time before they returned home, taking with them not only beautiful memories but new techniques, fresh inspiration and friendships that will continue long after IFTEX.

Until Next Year

As the last visitors left and the final roses were packed away, there was, as always, a mixture of relief and sadness.

An event that takes months to prepare for is over in just a few days. But the memories remain, the conversations, the friendships, the shared creativity. And thousands of beautiful roses that, for one unforgettable week, brought the floral world together in Kenya.

We cannot wait to welcome everyone back next year.