Designing a show garden for the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) provides both the seasoned, as well as the aspiring, garden designer with a platform to showcase their design talents to a passionate audience, building towards future collaborations, commissions, and employment opportunities.
To foster creativity, innovation, and celebrate plants, the RHS are looking for original, bold and brilliant ideas for 2026. Applications are now open for:
- Show gardens and Blooming Borders at the RHS Malvern Spring Festival 2026, which runs from the 7 – 10th of May 2026. New to RHS Malvern, the Blooming Borders planting design category offers opportunities for garden designers, plants people, horticulturists and landscapers to kick-start, or further, their careers in the horticultural industry while gaining exposure and experience of exhibiting at an RHS Show. Application deadline, Friday 29th of August 2025.
- Young Designer, Artisan Gardens and Show Gardens at the inaugural RHS Badminton Flower Show 2026 in Gloucestershire, which runs from the 8th – 12th of July 2026. The Young Designer category is open to those aged 30 years and under, offering new and upcoming talent the chance to kick-start their gardening careers. The Artisan Gardens is a new category for 2026 and aims to highlight and celebrate beautiful country gardens, artisan makers and crafts people. Both categories come with a £15,000 grant for all successful applicants. Application deadline, Monday 13th of October 2025.
- Grow Forwards, Creative Coastal and Show Gardens at the inaugural RHS Sandringham Flower Show 2026 in Norfolk, which runs from the 21st – 26th of July 2026. Grow Forwards is a brand new category for the RHS and looks to apply the latest in horticultural design research and development, empowering visitors to understand how and why garden design can both mitigate against climate change and improve landscapes. The Creative Coastal Gardens category aims to champion resilience and innovation in coastal gardening, celebrating the unique conditions of seaside environments. Application deadline, Friday 31st of October 2025.
Note, if deadlines have passed, interested applicants are still encouraged to get in touch with the RHS.
