The contest is part of the BBC Gardeners’ World Spring Fair, set to take place at Beaulieu in the New Forest from Friday, May 1 to Sunday, May 3.
Garden designers, amateur gardeners, students, school gardening clubs, charities, and community groups are all welcome to apply.
The Beautiful Borders are 9m² plots that provide a platform for gardening enthusiasts to showcase their creativity.
The theme for the 2026 competition is “Once Upon a Time,” encouraging participants to create a border that tells a personal story through plants, colour, and design.
Lucy Tremlett, event director at Immediate Live, said: “Gardens are great places for storytelling, and we can’t wait to see how this year’s entrants bring the Once Upon a Time theme to life.”
Support is provided throughout the process by the BBC Gardeners’ World events team, with on-site assessments, medals, awards, and feedback for all entrants.
The top awards are Best Beautiful Border, Best Interpretation of the Theme and Best BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Subscriber Border, with a People’s Choice award for visitors’ favourite design.
The winners of this year’s “best in show” Beautiful Border were Briony and Jonathan Dakic, who created a floral interpretation of the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party.
Entries close on Friday, January 23, 2026.
Tickets for the event are on sale now.
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