Biggest RHS Shows innovations for a generation to reach new audiences and inspire more to people to get gardening
Some of the biggest and most exciting changes for a generation are being made to RHS Flower Shows, which will celebrate the best of UK horticulture, design and talent, take the world-class Shows to stunning new locations around the country, and work with more communities and schools.
In the future, well-loved RHS Shows will tour to new locations to promote gardening to as many people as possible. The changes will be a catalyst for new content for an exciting visitor experience.
Whilst RHS Chelsea Flower Show as the world’s greatest and most famous gardening event will stay as it is, RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival will become a biennial event in two years with a new Show taking place in 2026 in the historic grounds of Badminton Estate, in Gloucestershire, returning to Hampton Court Palace in 2027. The RHS Shows will remain at Hampton Court Palace for 2024 and 2025.
After 2024, its 25th anniversary, RHS Flower Show Tatton Park will return to the site every three years, with a 2025 RHS Show happening at Wentworth Woodhouse, one of the grandest stately homes in the country in Sheffield, and 2026 RHS Show taking place on the Sandringham Estate, the private country retreat of Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla.
The first RHS Urban Show took place in Manchester earlier this month and there will be another Urban Show announced for a new location next year shortly. The RHS Urban Show diversifies from the traditional RHS Shows model with more focus on gardening for small spaces and community involvement. RHS Malvern Spring Festival will remain the same.
The changes will enable the RHS to deliver world class horticulture to the doorsteps of members who may not have an RHS Garden near them and creating Shows in fixed venue sites means better sustainability opportunities too.
RHS Director General Clare Matterson said: “Our RHS Shows are without a doubt the best horticultural events in the world, however we must not and should not stand still. We owe it to the horticultural world, our invaluable RHS members, our visitors and our nation of gardeners to look at how and what we can do to create new content, work with new contributors and find ways to generate interest and inspiration both within our current much loved British events and in new locations with new Shows to work with new populations and people.
“These are some of the biggest changes we’ve made to our Shows in a generation and we’re delighted to be extending our reach and making the RHS more accessible and welcoming to more people.
“We want to inspire current and new audiences with world class horticulture and provide access to the UK’s best plants people to help even more people garden and grow.”
RHS Director of Shows, Commercial and Innovation, Helena Pettit finished: “We have been working with our existing partners over the last few years to ensure that we can continue to deliver the amazing RHS Shows in the iconic sites, whilst innovating in new sites and having the ability to grow the number of communities, schools, designers, nurseries and all stakeholders that the RHS collaborates with.
“We’re excited about the opportunities these new partnerships in new locations will offer and will be able to get really creative with ideas and content for our visitors. At the same time we are delighted that we can continue to work with Historic Royal Palaces and Tatton Park to deliver these much loved events.
“We look forward to working with current friends and new to innovate and create the best horticultural events in the world.”
For more information, interviews and images please contact the Hayley Monckton or the RHS Press Office, pressoffice@rhs.org.uk
About the RHS
Since our formation in 1804, the RHS has grown into the UK’s leading gardening charity, touching the lives of millions of people. Perhaps the secret to our longevity is that we’ve never stood still. In the last decade alone we’ve taken on the largest hands-on project the RHS has ever tackled by opening RHS Garden Bridgewater in Salford, Greater Manchester, and invested in the science that underpins all our work by building RHS Hilltop – The Home of Gardening Science.
We have committed to being net positive for nature and people by 2030. We are also committed to being truly inclusive and to reflect all the communities of the UK.
Across our five RHS gardens we welcome more than three million visitors each year to enjoy over 34,000 different cultivated plants. Events such as the world famous RHS Chelsea Flower Show, other national shows, our schools and community work, and partnerships such as Britain in Bloom, all spread the shared joy of gardening to wide-reaching audiences.
Throughout it all we’ve held true to our charitable core – to encourage and improve the science, art and practice of horticulture –to share the love of gardening and the positive benefits it brings. For more information visit www.rhs.org.uk.
RHS Registered Charity No. 222879/SC038262