From tulip festivals to landmark anniversaries, garden events are set to bloom across Sussex in 2026.
A packed calendar of horticultural celebrations will include floral festivals, heritage milestones and major planting displays from Arundel Castle to Wakehurst.
As well as their beauty, this year’s programmes are underpinned by a renewed focus on nature recovery, habitat restoration and biodiversity.
Jo Williams from Experience Sussex said: “2026 is a standout year for Sussex.
“Our gardens are looking better than ever and are part of a wider story of nature recovery and landscape care.
“From large-scale planting to gardens of the future, there is a real sense of renewal.
“For visitors, it is a chance to experience Sussex at its most vibrant and meaningful and discover a landscape being carefully nurtured for generations to come.”
At Nymans, near Haywards Heath, a major exhibition celebrating the centenary of Winnie-the-Pooh explores the role of the Sussex landscape in inspiring the beloved stories.
The exhibition runs until May 31, 2026 and complements the garden’s rare plant collections and sweeping views across the Sussex Weald.
Bring the Med to your patio with You Garden’s Sicilian Lemon Tree
Bring the Med to your patio with You Garden’s Sicilian Lemon Tree
Open garden event to showcase eco-friendly growing methods
Open garden event to showcase eco-friendly growing methods
Young people create advert for Wakehurst gardens
Young people create advert for Wakehurst gardens
Borde Hill will mark 30 years of its Rose Garden in June, with hundreds of varieties in full bloom.
Created by five generations of the Stephenson Clarke family, the gardens are one of Sussex’s most historic horticultural sites.
Arundel Castle will once again host the Tulip Festival in April and the Allium Extravaganza in May, part of a display featuring 1.4 million bulbs planted over 12 years.
Wakehurst, Kew’s wild botanic garden, will host a Henry Moore sculpture exhibition from June to September.
The gardens will be filled with daffodils, magnolias and bluebells across 500 acres of spring colour.
For full details and visitor information, go to experiencesussex.com.
Other highlights include Pashley Manor’s spring tulip festival, Leonardslee’s sculpture trail and roaming wallabies, Sheffield Park’s climate-resilient planting,
High Beeches’ bluebell woods and Chichester Cathedral’s Festival of Flowers in June.
With world-class gardens, a full events calendar, and a growing emphasis on sustainability, Sussex is positioned as a premier garden destination for day trips and short breaks alike.