The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) is set to take some of its largest shows on the road in an effort to reach new audiences and suppliers.
In the future, several RHS Shows will tour to new locations around the country, working with more communities and schools. The RHS says these changes will be a “catalyst for new content.”
The RHS Hampton Court Palace Festival will become a biennial event in two years, with a new show taking place in 2026 in the historic grounds of Badminton Estate, Gloucestershire and returning to Hampton Court Palace in 2027- The show will remain at Hampton Court for 2024 and 2025.
Visitors enjoying the RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival 2023.
© RHS / Sarah Cuttle
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, Sheffield.
With the 2026 show set to take place on the Sandringham Estate, a private country retreat of Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla.
Following from the first RHS Urban Show, which took place in Manchester earlier this month, another Urban Show is set to be announced for a new location next year.
The RHS Chelsea Flower Show and RHS Malvern Spring Festival will continue to be held at their original locations.
RHS director general, Clare Matterson, says: “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.”
Helena Pettit, RHS director of shows, commercial and innovation, adds that these moves will afford the society the ability to “grow the number of communities, schools, designers, nurseries and all stakeholders that the RHS collaborates with.”
How very disappointing that the show will not be held in Cheshire every year. We always look forward to it.