D.C.'s Cherry Blossoms Expected to Peak in Late March

National Park Service predicts peak bloom between March 29 and April 1

Published on Mar. 5, 2026

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The iconic cherry trees decorating the nation's capital will hit peak bloom between March 29 and April 1, the National Park Service predicted on Thursday. The annual National Cherry Blossom Festival, which celebrates the 3,000 cherry trees gifted to the U.S. by Japan in 1912, is set to run from March 20 to April 12 and typically draws over 1.6 million visitors.

Why it matters

The cherry blossom festival is a beloved annual tradition in Washington, D.C., marking the arrival of spring and celebrating the historic friendship between the U.S. and Japan. The timing of the peak bloom is closely watched, as it can impact festival planning and tourism.

The details

The National Park Service declares peak bloom when 70% of the Yoshino blossoms around the Tidal Basin have opened. While the weather could affect the exact timing, officials said there could be more than 10 days of blooms this year. In addition to the original 3,000 trees, Japan will gift an additional 250 trees this year to honor the U.S. 250th-anniversary celebration. The National Park Service will also plant 150 more trees, some grown from clippings of the beloved 'Stumpy' tree that was removed in 2024.

  • The National Cherry Blossom Festival will run from March 20 to April 12, 2026.
  • The National Park Service predicts peak bloom will occur between March 29 and April 1, 2026.

The players

National Park Service

The federal agency responsible for managing the National Mall and Memorial Parks, including the iconic cherry trees around the Tidal Basin.

Japan

The country that gifted 3,000 cherry trees to the United States in 1912 as a symbol of friendship, and will gift an additional 250 trees in 2026 to honor the U.S. 250th-anniversary celebration.

Stumpy

A beloved scraggly cherry tree that was razed in 2024 as part of a sea wall construction project, but whose clippings are now being used to grow new offspring trees.

David Moran

Chair of the National Cherry Blossom Festival's board of directors.

Masatsugu Odaira

Minister for public affairs at the Japanese Embassy.

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What they’re saying

“No matter who you are, under these trees you feel a quiet sense of connection to the people around you, and perhaps, in a small way, to Japan as well.”

— Masatsugu Odaira, Minister for public affairs, Japanese Embassy (dnyuz.com)

“The cherry blossom festival does more than welcome a new season. It brings a renewed sense of joy and vitality to our entire region.”

— David Moran, Chair, National Cherry Blossom Festival board of directors (dnyuz.com)

What’s next

Construction for the sea wall project in the southern Tidal Basin is finished, but the work zone will remain closed to visitors for now. Officials say a recent sewage spill in the Potomac River should not affect festival celebrations.

The takeaway

The annual National Cherry Blossom Festival is a beloved tradition in Washington, D.C., celebrating the historic friendship between the U.S. and Japan. Despite some changes, such as the removal of the iconic 'Stumpy' tree, the festival continues to draw millions of visitors each year to witness the stunning spring blooms.