Kew Gardens Orchid Festival 7 Feb – 8 Mar 2026
Fed up with the cold winter weather? Then why not inject some colour into your lives with a visit to Kew Gardens Orchid Festival, which celebrates its 30th birthday in 2026.
The Kew Gardens Orchid Festival is one of London’s most enchanting annual horticultural events, a dazzling celebration of colour, biodiversity, culture and botanical artistry that transforms the Princess of Wales Conservatory at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, each February and March. In 2026, the festival runs from Sat 7 Feb–Sun 8 Mar, offering visitors a vibrant burst of floral beauty in the depths of winter.
For its 30th anniversary, the Orchid Festival’s theme celebrates the remarkable biodiversity and cultural heritage of China. The glasshouse is filled with thousands of orchids displayed alongside large-scale plant sculptures and installations inspired by Chinese landscapes, traditions and symbolism. Highlights include a majestic dragon formed from lotus seed heads, orchids and foliage, winding across the central water feature, and nine koi carp crafted from Ginkgo leaves swimming through a smaller pond, both designs embodying themes of luck, success and prosperity.
Visitors are invited to wander through themed zones that blend horticulture with artistic storytelling, surrounded by lanterns, symbolic animals and imaginative plant art that brings the rich plant life of one of the world’s most biodiverse countries to life. In doing so, the festival not only delights the senses, but also highlights Kew’s global scientific and conservation work and the importance of protecting plant biodiversity worldwide.
Entry to the Orchid Festival is included with your standard Kew Gardens admission, but you must book a separate timed entry slot for the orchid display itself. Tickets can be reserved in advance through the Kew website and there are also quiet sessions available for visitors seeking a calmer experience during quieter periods.
For the night owls among you, Orchids After Hours takes place on selected Friday and Saturday nights in February, when the conservatory remains open after dark. These sessions allow guests to enjoy the illuminated displays with live music, performances, food and cocktails – an atmospheric twist on the daytime festival.
www.kew.org/ Kew, Richmond, London TW9 3AE
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