The RHS Badminton Flower Show runs from 8 to 12 July 2026 on the Badminton Estate in Gloucestershire, marking the debut of a new location after replacing this year’s RHS Hampton Court Palace show, which has become a biennial event. The 2026 edition features a diverse array of designer show gardens, floral displays, and expert talks, including the largest ever RHS feature garden and a tribute to BBC Radio 4’s long-running drama The Archers.
Major Gardens and Milestones
The star attraction is The Julia Rausing Garden by Tom Stuart-Smith, measuring 2,400 square metres, making it the largest feature garden ever produced by the RHS. The garden, inspired by Badminton’s countryside, honors philanthropist Julia Rausing, who raised over £400 million for charitable causes before her death in 2024. It showcases a wildflower meadow and woodland-edge plantings, with collaboration from singer Will Young and plantsman Jamie Butterworth.
Another highlight is The Archers 75th Anniversary Garden by Jo Thompson, designed to immerse visitors in Ambridge’s fictional Bridge Farm. Fans can spot easter eggs like Pat’s strawberries for jam-making and Tony’s sweet pea seed packets. Thompson’s garden is one of several high-profile installations drawing attention to the show’s return.
Charitable Themes and Awards
Several gardens emphasize charitable causes. Finding Hope by Rick Ford and Pip Probert, sponsored by the suicide prevention charity CALM, features 16 reflective squares representing daily suicide losses. Macmillan Cancer Support’s The Nascent Shade Garden by Elle Arnett won Best Construction Award, using sculptural birch trees to mirror its mission of addressing disparities in cancer care.
The Cricket Pavilion Garden by Stephen Moody (sponsored by Alitex for Young at Heart) earned a Gold medal and Best Show Garden, celebrating 150 years of English cricket bat manufacturing with willow sculptures and a nod to Old Heathfield’s community activities. A Space For Her by Sophie Sturgeon, sponsored by Ground Control Ltd, offers a sanctuary for young women with engraved timber posts bearing affirmations from participants.
The Split Hazel Basketry Garden by Henry T Pope, awarded Best Construction Award for its craftsmanship, highlights the endangered art of hazel basketry with coppiced trees and a hazel hurdle fence. Other notable winners include Silo: All that comes in remains by Abigail Stoyle (Environmental Innovation Award) and Honing Heritage by Nick Leitch (Highly Commended in Environmental Innovation).
The RHS Badminton Flower Show also features gardens celebrating sensory experiences and regional heritage. Perfume Pavilions by Nicholsons Garden Design immerses visitors in fragranced plantings like lavender, honeysuckle, and daphne, housed within a Cotswolds-inspired setting. Two greenhouses highlight scented foliage such as geraniums, connecting visitors to the origins of botanical aromatherapy.
Oregon’s The Productive Garden by Sadie May Stowell mirrors the Willamette Valley’s agricultural splendor with fruit trees, flowing water, and pollinator-friendly blooms. Its palette of blue, white, and pale yellow features lupins, lavender, and sunflowers, emphasizing sustainable farming practices.
Community and Conservation Initiatives
The University of Sheffield: The Invisible Balance Garden by Enya Jacobson explores symbiotic relationships between plants and soil microbes, highlighting ecological interconnectedness.
The show also features Electuary by Joshua Fenton, which merges beekeeping traditions with herbal remedies. Visitors encounter hawthorn, dandelions, and borage, nodding to ancient healing practices while emphasizing modern ecological wisdom.
