The RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2026 is right around the corner, opening its gates to garden and plant enthusiasts once again.
Whether you’re wondering how to get tickets or even what to wear, we’ve got you covered. Keep reading for our ultimate bumper guide to all things Chelsea this year.
What is the Chelsea Flower Show?
The Chelsea Flower Show is the Royal Horticultural Society’s (RHS) annual horticultural showcase and one of the world’s foremost gardening shows, drawing hundreds of thousands of visitors each year, including famous faces, such as King Charles III and Dame Mary Berry.
It was first staged over a century ago, in 1931, and has since been held every year on the grounds of the Royal Hospital Chelsea in London, except for gaps during the two world wars and the pandemic.
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King Charles visiting the Chelsea Flower Show in 2025.
Every year, visitors are invited to explore a large plant pavilion and several show gardens. Dotted across the showgrounds, they are not just prime examples of garden design, but also support good causes, spotlight charities and serve as a reliable barometer for upcoming gardening and planting trends. In short, it’s an unmissable event for garden enthusiasts.
What month is the Chelsea Flower Show normally?
The Chelsea Flower Show takes place on the grounds of the Royal Hospital Chelsea in London in May each year.
What date is the Chelsea Flower Show 2026?
This year, the Chelsea Flower Show takes place from 19 to 23 May 2026.
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What are the gardens shown at the Chelsea Flower Show 2026?
Here are the large and small show gardens visitors can look forward to in 2026, before they’re relocated to the public spaces they’re destined for:
Large show gardensParkinson’s UK – A Garden for Every Parkinson’s Journey: The garden is divided into three sensory zones and serves as a calming space for people with Parkinson’s and their family and friends. Designed by Arit Anderson.Lady Garden Foundation ‘Silent No More’ Garden: This space is designed to spark curiosity and open conversations about gynaecological health. Designed by Darren Hawks.The Campaign to Protect Rural England Garden: ‘On the Edge’: The garden celebrates the overlooked, fragile spaces on the edge of cities that connect people with nature. Designed by Sarah Eberle. 
Angus Thompson / RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2026
The Campaign to Protect Rural England Garden by Angus Thompson
The Children’s Society Garden: An urban space designed to give teenagers a sense of safety, peace and connection, while supporting emotional wellbeing. Designed by Patrick Clarke. The Eden Project: Bring Me Sunshine Garden: The garden celebrates regeneration and hope and seeks to empower young adults with practical skills and pathways into green industries. Designed by Harry Holding and Alex Michaelis.The Killik & Co ‘A Seed in Time’ Garden: A family retreat that celebrates traditional crafts from Britain’s wetland heritage and addresses the challenges of a changing climate. Designed by Baz Grainger.
Baz Grainger / RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2026
The Killik & Co ’A Seed in Time’ Garden by Baz Grainger
The Tate Britain Garden: At the heart of this garden sits a sculpture by a leading British artist, which is yet to be announced. The planting choices support the gallery’s sustainability goals and boost biodiversity. Designed by Tom Stuart-Smith.The Asthma and Lung UK Breathing Space Garden: The serene woodland-edge garden serves as a restorative ‘breathing space’ for people with lung conditions. It features accessible paths, therapeutic planting and a platform for breath-focused exercises. Designed by Angus Thompson.Tokonoma Garden – Samumaya no Niwa: Designed to resemble the view from a tea room, this seasonally-inspired garden invites visitors to appreciate traditional beauty as well as community spirit. Designed byKazuyuki Ishihara and Paul Noritaka Tange.
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Small show gardensAddleshaw Goddard: Flourish in the City: This space celebrates London’s pocket-sized oases that offer sanctuary, freedom and community to its residents. Designed by Joe and Laura Carey.Journey Beyond the Tracks: From Adelaide to Perth: Inspired by the Indian Pacific train journey linking Adelaide and Perth, this space reflects the spirit of rail adventure and the storytelling of Australia’s landscapes. Designed by Max Parker-Smith.The Boodles Garden: The garden is inspired by four Historic Royal Palaces and features architectural elements, symbolic planting and historic references. Designed by Catherine MacDonald.Trussell’s Together Garden: This space is dedicated to the importance of food banks and ending hunger in the UK, while celebrating the ‘power of togetherness’. Designed by Rob Hardy & Co.Is it hard to get Chelsea Flower Show tickets?
Tickets to the Chelsea Flower Show 2026 are available now and can be purchased easily via the official ticket website. They’re easy to buy online but tend to sell out rapidly, so don’t leave it too late if you’re interested in going this year.
To purchase show tickets by phone, call the official ticket provider, AXS, at 0333 300 3015 (Mon-Fri, 9 am to 5.30 pm). For accessibility bookings (wheelchairs and disabled access), call 0344 338 8222.
Late admission tickets for Friday are already sold out, but you can still buy tickets for Thursday (£137), Friday morning (£137) and Saturday (£114).
Can you wear jeans to the Chelsea Flower Show?
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This being the country’s foremost plant and garden festival, first-time visitors might wonder about the dress code. The RHS doesn’t enforce a formal dress code, so you can wear whatever you feel most comfortable in. Whether you wear jeans or lean more formal is entirely up to you.
That said, with the event taking place in late May, when the weather is typically warm, flowing dresses with on-theme floral prints prove a popular choice every year. Previous years have also seen heavy rainfall, so it won’t hurt to pack an emergency umbrella.
What’s the best way to travel to the Chelsea Flower Show?
The closest Underground station is Sloane Square, which is on the District and Circle lines. From there, it’s a 15-minute walk through Chelsea to reach the grounds.
Where can I watch the Chelsea Flower Show 2026?
Every year, the BBC broadcasts extensive TV coverage of the showcase on BBC One and Two throughout the week of the event. The coverage includes tours of the show gardens, interviews with garden designers and hands-on tips for hobby gardeners at home, among other things.
Tip: bookmark this article, so you don’t miss out on anything. We’re updating this page frequently with the latest official information from the RHS.
Wanda Sachs is the Daily Writer for House Beautiful and Country Living, exploring the latest in interior design, home trends, property news, wellbeing and sustainable living. With a keen eye for style and a passion for storytelling, she previously served as an Associate Editor at The Berliner in Berlin, where she launched and led the magazine’s monthly style vertical, covering emerging fashion trends. Wanda holds a combined BA in English and German from Goethe University Frankfurt.
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