For more than a century, the Philadelphia Flower Show has defined spring in the city—and 2026 will continue that legacy.
The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society recently announced details for this year’s showcase, which holds the theme ‘Rooted: Origins of American Gardening.’ The experience is set to take over the Pennsylvania Convention Center from Feb. 28 to March 8 this year, and will bring with it unique exhibitors, fresh experiences and special programming.
"Rooted: Origins of American Gardening reflects the heart of PHS’s mission connecting people and plants to transform lives and communities,” says Matt Rader, PHS President. “Every plant and garden tells a story. The Flower Show celebrates those stories while serving as a fundraiser to support PHS’s year-round work in the Philadelphia region to create green spaces, expand access to fresh food, and foster neighborhood resilience and community health.
"Just as gardens grow from strong roots, so does the impact we can have together in our community."
This go-around, the PHS has decided to upgrade the show’s layout into five sections: See, Shop, Make, Learn and Play.
The ‘See’ portion will be chock full of floral, landscape, and botanical artistry, with larger-than-life exhibits around every corner. This particular section of the show will kick off right when you walk in with the entrance garden, dubbed 'The Forest Floor.' This showcase draws on global influences that have shaped American gardening traditions over generations, taking inspiration from the calm of a Japanese Zen garden and the misty, magical ambiance of a Scottish forest.
The ‘See’ section will also feature the ‘American Landscape Showcase’ and ‘First Bloom – Rooted in Memory’ exhibits. With the former, Philadelphians can wander through four gardens, each crafted by a world-renowned designer to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary. With the latter, designers will share the origin moments that sparked their passion for flowers through botanical showcases.
The 2026 Philadelphia Flower Show will also hold local educational exhibitors (created and designed by students) and dozens of other floral and landscape designers. Visitors can also find competitions in categories like exceptional plants, floral artistry, and botanical craftsmanship.
The ‘Shop’ portion of the Show is another annual fixture that brings many visitors in. As a release notes, this year, the Show’s Marketplace will move to a street-level venue below the main exhibit halls, creating a dedicated shopping area where patrons can easily browse and discover unique finds.
While there, guests can explore a curated selection of vendors featuring live plants, florals, garden tools, decorative wares, jewelry, and home accents, all designed for an engaging and seamless shopping experience. The Makers Market will also feature 39 regional artisans selling handmade jewelry, décor, apparel and artwork. Shoppers can additionally hit the PHS Shop (located in the main exhibit hall) for memorabilia, or head to the Bloom Bar to make your own floral crown.
The ‘Make’ portion of the experience comes in through the Flower Show’s crafting hub, Artisan Row. The popular section has expanded this year, with three new creative experiences being added to the Convention Center’s concourse level. This year’s lineup will feature 7 artisans teaching guests how to create fresh floral crowns, floral candles, custom scents, fresh and dried bouquets, terrariums, hand-painted vases, floral handbags, custom hats, tote bags and more. Another new addition this year comes in the form of Potting Parties, led by designer Tu Bloom, the Official Botanical Artist of the Grammy Awards.
With ‘Learn’, visitors looking to deepen their gardening knowledge will find expert insight throughout the Flower Show through lectures, one-on-one advice and behind-the-scenes tours. Different experiences in this section range from the Know to Grow speaker series featuring horticultural experts, to the Plant People Place featuring gardening advice and professional insight, to the Early Morning Tours of the Show itself.
And finally, with ‘Play’, plant-curious patrons can join in on immersive attractions, family-friendly programming, signature parties and after-hours events throughout the duration of the Flower Show. Stand-out dates include the Flower Show Preview Party (Feb. 29), Family Frolic (March 1), Fido Friday (March 6), Flowers After Hours (March 7) and more.
Tickets for the 2026 PHS Philadelphia Flower Show, 'Rooted: Origins of American Gardening', are on sale now. The release also notes that there are two ways to experience the Flower Show: By becoming a PHS Member (which gets you exclusive perks like free or discounted tickets, early access on Members’ Preview Day or weekend preview hours, lounge access and year-round savings), or by opting for a single or multi-day ticket (prices range from $20-$100 depending on desired date and options.)
Either way, locals will get to experience first-hand the 197-year-old tradition that started right here in Philadelphia.
“The 2026 Philadelphia Flower Show celebrates the rich stories, bold creativity, and enduring inspiration that gardens bring to our lives,” finishes Seth Pearsoll, VP and Creative Director of the Philadelphia Flower Show. “Every element is designed to inspire so visitors will find themselves marveling at the creativity and discovering something new around every corner."
For more information on the 2026 Philadelphia Flower Show at the Pennsylvania Convention Center (1101 Arch St.), visit phsonline.org
