Discover one of the world’s most prestigious horticultural events.
Few flower festivals are more than one hundred years old. The RHS Chelsea Flower Show takes place each year in May and is one of the world’s most prestigious horticultural events. This year’s event runs from 19 to 23 May 2026 and takes place at the Royal Hospital Chelsea in London.
The Chelsea Flower Show brings together garden designs, floral displays, exclusive shopping experiences and stellar guests. Every year, the British Royal Family attend the event to show their support. On the opening day, King Charles III and Queen Camilla are expected to attend and mark the opening of the event.
Chelsea Flower Show history
The first Chelsea Flower Show took place in 1913, and it was called the Great Spring Show. The original show took place in one tent but expanded after the First World War. During the 1930s, rock gardens were a popular feature. After the Second World War and in the 1940s, there were fewer exhibitors and stands.
In 1952, Queen Elizabeth II made her visit to the Chelsea Flower Show as a royal patron, and she went on to hold this position for 70 years. In the 1960s, the first bonsai trees made an appearance at the festival. In the 1970s, the festival became so popular that people had to be turned away. By the 2000s, the marquee was removed and replaced with a pavilion. In 2013, the event celebrated its 100th birthday and cemented its place as one of the world’s longest-running flower festivals.
Chelsea Flower Show 2026
Today, the Chelsea Flower Show is seen as the World Cup of gardening. Leading designers from around the world have created gardens for the Chelsea Flower Show 2026, and the best ones are awarded with prizes.
Show Gardens, both large and small, curve around Main Avenue and Royal Hospital Way. A stroll along this route takes visitors past some of the finest examples of garden design. Alongside inspiring planting combinations and cutting-edge landscaping, these gardens also reflect current gardening trends and highlight key issues shaping the world of horticulture.
The All About Plants Gardens will celebrate the wonder and beauty that plants bring to a space, focusing on unusual and specialist varieties rather than hard landscaping. The Balcony and Container Gardens showcase what can be achieved in smaller urban spaces. The designers address the practical challenges faced by town and city gardeners, from pollution and noise to flood management and space-saving solutions. Visitors can also pause to enjoy a picnic in Ranelagh Gardens, draw inspiration from the Houseplant Studios, and discover three striking Feature Gardens throughout the show.
This year’s Chelsea Flower Show is set to welcome more than 150,000 visitors. Past celebrity guests included Dame Judi Dench, Hannah Dodd, Joan Collins, and Trinny Woodall. The stage hosts a range of performers, and food and drink spanning from Champagne to seafood.
Chelsea Flower Show 2026 tickets are available now.
Where: Chelsea Flower Show, Royal Hospital Chelsea, Royal Hospital Road, SW3 4SR
When: 19 to 23 May 2026
Price: Tickets from £77
Contact: www.rhs.org.uk