Back

Nurturing Nature and the Power of the Flower – the Garden Highlights of RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2026

Returning to the Royal Hospital Chelsea grounds on 19-23 May 2026, the world-famous RHS Chelsea Flower Show will debut a full lineup of spectacular gardens, plants and inspiration for gardeners across the globe.

Renowned garden designers will connect to charitable and cultural causes, curating a stunning set of gardens to inspire and enthral.

The 13 gardens announced today by The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) highlight themes of improving biodiversity in urban spaces and welcoming local wildlife through carefully selected pollinator-friendly plants; gardens that build calming, sensitive spaces through the use of symbolic planting and structures to create resilience and finally the incorporation of iconic and historical British structures that will contrast with several gardens adopting Japanese gardening ideologies into their designs.
 
Helena Pettit, RHS Director of Shows, said: “This year our amazing RHS Chelsea Flower Show gardens demonstrate the transformative benefits of gardens and gardening. They take a re-energised and uplifting approach to creating special places that highlight hope and resilience and where everyone can feel the restorative power of plants and wildlife. There is a focus on individual empowerment and personal choice to benefit nature and our world and a host of inspirational gardening ideas to ignite the excitement of all those who love gardening.”
 
Celebrating hope and the power of young adults building brighter and more positive futures is The Eden Project: Bring Me Sunshine Garden by Harry Holding and Alex Michaelis. A pioneering solar powered structure will provide shelter to young people developing practical skills in horticulture and green industries. Planting reflects the setting of Morecombe Bay with salt-tolerant plants embodying the Eden Project’s mission to inspire positive action for the planet. Also looking to nurture young people is The Children’s Society Garden by Patrick Clarke. The garden hopes to regenerate optimism in a younger generation, with the design drawing inspiration from the Japanese concept of ‘wabi-sabi’ - the recrafting of discarded materials to create a garden where both teenagers and plants can develop a resilient network.
 
Set in a nostalgic Japanese courtyard, the Tokonoma Garden – Samumaya no Niwa, designed by Kazuyuki Ishihara and Paul Noritaka Tange, is a seasonally inspired garden that invites visitors to reflect, connect, and appreciate traditional beauty. The Garden is designed to evoke the view from a small tea room and celebrates harmony, family bonds, and community spirit.
 
Presenting exciting elements from the upcoming Clore Garden at Tate Britain, The Tate Britain Garden by Tom Stuart-Smith presents a bold vision of how art, nature and community interact. Offering a sneak preview of the garden ahead of its Autumn 2026 opening, the museum garden will provide an inviting new green space for Londoners to be inspired by art amidst a biodiverse haven of plants.
 
RHS Chelsea will be celebrating further British landmarks with The Boodles Garden by Catherine MacDonald, inspired by much-loved features found within the four Historic Royal Palaces, including The Tower of London and Hampton Court Palace. The garden reflects a popular romantic, gardenesque style of planting, using cultivated species with a strong emphasis on ‘jewel’ colours.
 
Arit Anderson returns as a designer to RHS Chelsea Flower Show with the Parkinson’s UK – A Garden for Every Parkinson’s Journey. A place of harmony for those living with and assisting those with Parkinson’s. The garden features joyful, jewel-toned perennials and annuals to uplift and energise. Similarly highlighting those living with chronic illnesses, the Asthma + Lung UK Breathing Space Garden by Angus Thompson is set on a tranquil woodland edge and will provide a supporting ‘breathing space’ to recover and reconnect. Pine trees, known for their natural antioxidant and immune-boosting qualities, anchor a sheltered space for breath-supporting therapies. The Lady Garden Foundation ‘Silent No More’ Garden by Darren Hawkes is honouring those diagnosed with one of five gynaecological cancers. Designed to encourage conversations and promote discussion around women’s cancers, a meandering path will guide visitors through richly planted borders containing shifting tones of colour weaving between five sculptures.
 
The Campaign to Protect Rural England: On the Edge designed by RHS Chelsea veteran Sarah Eberle, shines a light on the overlooked countryside at the edge of our towns and cities. Set on undeveloped land looked after by a community on the urban fringe, the garden showcases nature's resilience with a fallen mature tree that still supports life and highlights the importance of ‘edgelands’ connecting people to nature. Linking gardens with urban living is the Addleshaw Goddard: Flourish in the City garden by Joe and Laura Carey. Pocket-sized oases stitch cities together and London’s status as the first National Park City serve as a base for the garden. Homage is paid to London’s oyster trade though the garden’s structure and form.
 
Using the idea of ‘making more from less’ The Killik & Co. 'A Seed In Time' Garden by Baz Grainger delivers a modern and resilient garden that incorporates heritage crafts encouraging sustainability and wildlife into gardens to maximise long-term enjoyment. The garden captures rainwater, supports biodiversity, and responds sensitively to climate unpredictability.
 
Journey Beyond the Tracks: From Adelaide to Perth by Max Parker-Smith inspires us to imagine an epic Australian train journey across the outback, linking Adelaide and Perth. One half of the garden will recreate the Western Australian outback and the other will reflect the National Park City of Adelaide’s green urban vision.
 
Tackling issues of hunger and the positive impact of food banks, Trussell’s Together Garden by Rob Hardy is inspired by people coming together to help those on low incomes. The theme of ‘togetherness is expressed through intersecting paths and bright, colourful planting. The pea family (Fabaceae) will be used for their ability to enrich the soil and support others, reflecting compassion and solidarity.
 
Project Giving Back, the unique grant-giving charity that supports gardens for good causes at RHS Chelsea, is once again supporting several of this year’s Show Gardens.
 
RHS Chelsea Flower Show runs from 19 to 23 May 2026 at the Royal Hospital Chelsea, more information and tickets available from rhs.org.uk/chelsea
 
For further details on the gardens announced today, please visit:
https://www.rhs.org.uk/press/shows/chelsea
 
 
ENDS
 

Notes to editors

For more information, interviews and images please contact the RHS Press Office, [email protected]
 
Show garden exhibitor lists are available on the RHS Media Centre here: https://www.rhs.org.uk/press/shows/chelsea
 
Show garden images can be downloaded from this link: RHS/Iris
 
 
Show Gardens 2026
 
Parkinson’s UK – A Garden for Every Parkinson’s Journey by Arit Anderson
Sponsor: Project Giving Back supporting Parkinson’s UK
Contractor: Landscape Associates
 
The Children’s Society Garden by Patrick Clarke
Sponsor: Project Giving Back supporting The Children’s Society
Contractor: Yoreland Design Ltd
 
Lady Garden Foundation ‘Silent No More’ Garden by Darren Hawkes
Sponsor: Lady Garden Foundation
Contractor: Landscape Associates
 
The Campaign to Protect Rural England Garden: On the Edge by Sarah Eberle
Sponsor: Project Giving Back supporting Campaign to Protect Rural England
Contractor: The Outdoor Room
 
The Eden Project: Bring Me Sunshine Garden by Harry Holding and Alex Michaelis
Sponsor: Project Giving Back supporting The Eden Project
Contractor: Landscape Associates
 
The Killik & Co. 'A Seed In Time' Garden by Baz Grainger
Sponsor: Killik & Co
Contractor: Landform Consultants Ltd
 
The Tate Britain Garden by Tom Stuart-Smith
Sponsor: Project Giving Back and Clore Duffield Foundation supporting Tate
Contractor: Crocus
 
Asthma + Lung UK Breathing Space Garden by Angus Thompson
Sponsor: Project Giving Back
Contractor: Dan Flynn
 
Tokonoma Garden -SANUMAYA no NIWA- by Kazuyuki Ishihara, Paul Noritaka Tange (Tokonoma)
Sponsor: NIPPON Calmic
Contractor: Daikanyama Kadan
 
Small Show Gardens
 
Journey Beyond the Tracks: From Adelaide to Perth by Max Parker-Smith
Sponsor: Journey Beyond, the South Australian Tourism Commission & Tourism Western Australia
Contractor: Hardwood Landscapes
 
Trussell’s Together Garden by Rob Hardy
Sponsor: Project Giving Back
Contractor: Peter Gregory Landscapes
 
The Boodles Garden by Catherine MacDonald
Sponsor: Boodles
Contractor: Gadd Brothers Trees and Landscapes
 
Addleshaw Goddard: Flourish in the City by Joe Carey and Laura Carey
Sponsor: Addleshaw Goddard
Contractor: The Outdoor Room
 
 
RHS Chelsea Flower Show: 19 – 23 May 2026
18 May: Press Preview (accreditation opens from January 2026)
8am-8pm, 19 – 20 May: RHS members only
8am – 8pm, 21 – 23 May: RHS members and public
5.30pm – 10pm, 22 May: (Friday Late Event) RHS members and public
8am – 5.30pm, 23 May: RHS members and public
 
Venue: Royal Hospital Chelsea, Royal Hospital Road, London SW3 4SR
 
Ticket prices vary and RHS members receive discount prices. Book here: rhs.org.uk/chelsea
 
About the RHS

We’re the UK’s gardening charity, helping people and plants to grow.
 
Our mission is to be there on people’s lifelong journey with gardening – to bring happiness, health, stronger communities and a thriving natural world.
 
With 220 years of experience, we support gardeners of all ages with expert advice, community and schools projects, scientific research, professional qualifications, our five RHS Gardens, and events including the iconic RHS Chelsea Flower Show.
 
For more information visit www.rhs.org.uk
 
RHS Registered Charity No. 222879/SC038262
 
 

Get involved

The RHS is the UK’s gardening charity, helping people and plants to grow - nurturing a healthier, happier world, one person and one plant at a time.