Last updated: 29 September 2026. From delicate miniature species to spectacular hybrids, orchids are one of the world’s most diverse and fascinating plant families. Across the UK, orchid societies, specialist growers, botanical gardens and major horticultural events bring together collectors, conservation groups, growers and curious beginners throughout the year.
Whether you are looking to buy your first orchid, expand a serious collection, meet expert growers, or find small tropical plants for a humid vivarium or paludarium, this UK Orchid Shows 2026–2027 calendar brings together confirmed shows, fairs, society events and major orchid exhibitions in one place.
This page is maintained as a living UK orchid show calendar. New 2027 dates will be added as organisers confirm them rather than simply assuming that annual events will return on the same weekend.
Please check the official event page before travelling, as dates, opening times, ticket details and venues can occasionally change.
🌸 Remaining UK Orchid Shows & Events in 2026
Most of the 2026 orchid show season has already taken place, but there are still several events to come during October, November and December.
OCTOBER 2026
- Orchid Society of Great Britain Autumn Show – Wraysbury, Staines – Saturday 3 October 2026
Venue: Wraysbury Village Hall, The Green, Wraysbury, Staines, TW19 5NA.
Time: 10:00am–4:00pm.
The OSGB Autumn Show and Wraysbury Orchid Event brings together orchid enthusiasts, displays and specialist orchid interest in a friendly society setting.
Official information: Orchid Society of Great Britain events - Wessex Orchid Society Orchid & Bonsai Show – Portchester – Saturday 10 October 2026
Venue: Portchester Village Hall, 1 Assheton Court.
Time: 11:00am–4:00pm.
Entry: £3.
Hosted by Wessex Orchid Society and Solent Bonsai Society, this combined event includes orchid and bonsai displays, expert advice and opportunities to buy plants and accessories.
Official information: Wessex Orchid Society Orchid & Bonsai Show - Central Orchid Society Annual Show – Perton, near Wolverhampton – Saturday 17 October 2026
Venue: Perton Church Hall, Anders Square, Perton, Wolverhampton, WV6 7QH.
Time: 11:00am–4:00pm.
Visitors can see orchid displays, talk to experienced growers and obtain free cultural advice. Orchids and orchid-growing supplies are also expected to be available.
Official information: British Orchid Council orchid show calendar
NOVEMBER 2026
- British Orchid Council Judging Symposium – Jersey – Sunday 1 November 2026
Venue: Eric Young Orchid Foundation, Jersey.
Time: 10:00am–4:00pm.
Specialist event: this is not a conventional public orchid fair. The British Orchid Council runs its national training scheme for orchid judges and holds judging symposiums to expose trainee judges to a wide range of orchids and judging experience.
Official information: British Orchid Council events
DECEMBER 2026
- OSGB Annual Photographic Competition & Christmas Social – Twickenham – Saturday 5 December 2026
Venue: Cole Court, Twickenham.
A seasonal Orchid Society of Great Britain event centred around orchid photography, society activities and the Christmas social.
Official information: Orchid Society of Great Britain events
🆕 Confirmed UK Orchid Shows & Events for 2027
The 2027 UK orchid calendar is already beginning to take shape. The events below have been announced by organisers, venues or the British Orchid Council. More dates will be added as they are confirmed.
JANUARY 2027
- British Paphiopedilum Society Winter Meeting & AGM – Great Malvern – 23–24 January 2027
Venue: Abbey Hotel, Abbey Road, Great Malvern, Worcestershire.
A specialist weekend devoted to Paphiopedilum and slipper orchids, with talks, plants, expertise and the British Paphiopedilum Society AGM.
This is particularly relevant to established growers and anyone developing an interest in slipper orchids.
Official information: British Orchid Council events
FEBRUARY / MARCH 2027
- Kew Orchids Festival 2027 – Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, London – 2027 dates to be confirmed
Kew has confirmed that its hugely popular orchid festival will return in 2027, but dates have not yet been published.
The annual festival transforms the Princess of Wales Conservatory with large-scale tropical orchid displays and is particularly good for inspiration, photography and seeing orchids displayed in a humid tropical environment.
Official information: Kew Orchids Festival
MARCH 2027
- South West Orchid Society Annual Show – Taunton – Saturday 6 March 2027
Venue: West Monkton Village Hall, Monkton Heathfield, Taunton.
Time: 10:30am–4:00pm.
A dedicated orchid show featuring displays and the opportunity to talk directly with experienced orchid growers about cultivation and care.
Official information: British Orchid Council orchid show calendar
APRIL 2027
- Devon Orchid Society Spring Show – Exeter – Saturday 3 April 2027
Venue: America Hall, De La Rue Way, Pinhoe, Exeter.
Time: 10:00am–4:00pm.
The date and venue are confirmed, with further show details expected closer to the event.
Official information: British Orchid Council orchid show calendar
MAY 2027
- Glasgow Botanic Gardens Orchid Fair – Glasgow – 8–9 May 2027
Venue: Kibble Palace, Glasgow Botanic Gardens, 730 Great Western Road, Glasgow.
Entry: Free.
Run in conjunction with the Scottish Orchid Society, this long-running event is dedicated exclusively to orchids and provides an opportunity to see and buy orchids in the spectacular surroundings of the Kibble Palace.
Official information: British Orchid Council events - RHS Chelsea Flower Show – London – 18–22 May 2027
Venue: Royal Hospital Chelsea, London.
Chelsea is not a dedicated orchid show, but orchids, specialist growers and tropical planting regularly feature within the wider horticultural displays.
It is included here primarily for collectors interested in horticultural inspiration and exceptional plant displays rather than as a specialist orchid-buying event.
Official information: RHS Chelsea Flower Show
JUNE 2027
- UK International Orchid Show at BBC Gardeners’ World Live – Warwickshire – 17–20 June 2027
Venue: Packington Estate, Meriden, Warwickshire.
Important venue change: BBC Gardeners’ World Live is moving away from the NEC Birmingham for 2027, so the UK International Orchid Show moves with it to Packington Estate near Coventry.
This remains one of the major UK events for orchid displays, specialist growers, plant sales and orchid enthusiasts.
Official information: British Orchid Council orchid show calendar
SEPTEMBER 2027
- Durham Orchid Show – Durham – Sunday 5 September 2027
Venue: Josephine Butler College, South Road, Durham.
Time: 10:00am–4:00pm.
Entry: Free.
Organised by the North East of England Orchid Society in association with Durham University and Durham Botanic Garden, with orchid displays and activities aimed at experienced growers, beginners and families.
Official information: British Orchid Council events
📚 Earlier UK Orchid Events in 2026
These events have already taken place, but I keep the major dates here for reference. Many are annual events and may return in 2027, although I will only add future dates to the main calendar once they are confirmed.
- 7 February–8 March – Kew Orchids Festival – Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, London
- 13–15 March – RHS Orchid Show – RHS Garden Wisley, Surrey
- 25–29 March – 24th World Orchid Conference – Dresden, Germany
- 11 April – Orchid Society of Great Britain Spring Orchid Show – Squire’s Garden Centre, Shepperton
- 19–23 May – RHS Chelsea Flower Show – London
- 6 June – OSGB AGM & World Orchid Conference Reports – Twickenham / Zoom
- 18–21 June – UK International Orchid Show – BBC Gardeners’ World Live, NEC Birmingham
- 4 July – OSGB 75th Anniversary Orchid Event – Twickenham
- 25 July – OSGB Orchid Pests & Diseases Meeting – Twickenham / Zoom
- 12 September – OSGB Orchids for Everyone – Twickenham
- 13 September – East Midlands Orchid Society Annual Show – Bottesford, Nottinghamshire
- 20 September – Devon Orchid Society Autumn Show – Burnham Nurseries, Devon
- 26 September – Bournemouth Orchid Society Autumn Show – Wimborne, Dorset
🌿 Spotlight on the Main UK Orchid Events
Kew Orchids Festival
Kew’s annual orchid festival is one of the best-known orchid events in the UK. The Princess of Wales Conservatory is transformed with tropical displays, themed planting, conservation messages and thousands of orchids.
It is not normally a specialist orchid sales event, but it is particularly useful for inspiration, photography and seeing orchids growing within a large humid tropical environment. Kew has confirmed that the festival will return in 2027, with dates still to be announced.
UK International Orchid Show
The UK International Orchid Show is one of the most important dates for UK orchid enthusiasts, bringing together displays, growers, judging and specialist orchid interest as part of BBC Gardeners’ World Live.
For 2027 there is an important change: Gardeners’ World Live is moving from the NEC Birmingham to Packington Estate near Meriden in Warwickshire, and the UK International Orchid Show will move with it.
Orchid Society of Great Britain Events
The Orchid Society of Great Britain runs meetings, talks, shows and specialist events throughout the year. These are especially useful if you want to move beyond commonly available orchids and learn more about species orchids, miniature orchids, mounting, humidity, feeding, pests, diseases and propagation.
Local Orchid Society Shows
Do not overlook the smaller regional orchid society shows. They can be some of the best events for actually talking to experienced growers, getting practical cultivation advice and finding interesting plants without the crowds associated with the largest horticultural events.
Who Are UK Orchid Shows Best For?
Beginners
Regional orchid society shows are particularly useful for beginners because you can see healthy plants in person and talk directly to people who grow them. Rather than simply buying an attractive flowering orchid, you can find out whether it will actually suit the temperature, light and humidity available in your home.
Serious orchid collectors
The UK International Orchid Show, specialist society meetings and British Orchid Council events are particularly useful for collectors interested in unusual species, specialist growers, orchid judging and more advanced cultivation.
Families and photographers
Kew Orchids Festival is one of the strongest choices for a visual day out. Its large-scale displays make it particularly suitable for photography, families and people who enjoy tropical plants without necessarily being dedicated orchid collectors.
Vivarium and paludarium keepers
Orchid events can be extremely useful for people building planted vivariums and paludariums. Look particularly for miniature epiphytic species and pay attention to how growers mount orchids, expose their roots, provide airflow and balance moisture with drying periods.
🌱 Orchids, Terrariums and Bioactive Vivariums
Many orchids are not suitable for closed terrariums or dart frog vivariums, but some smaller, humidity-loving orchids can work beautifully in the right setup. The key is matching the plant to the environment rather than buying purely on appearance.
In a tropical vivarium, think carefully about airflow, temperature, light, mounting position and how quickly the roots dry. Constantly wet roots can cause problems, especially for epiphytic orchids that naturally grow attached to trees rather than buried in compost.
Miniature does not necessarily mean easy. Some tiny orchid species have very precise temperature and airflow requirements, so always ask the grower about the plant’s natural conditions before buying it for a vivarium.
If you are building a planted enclosure, you may also find these Frogfather guides useful: how to grow tropical moss in a vivarium, why bromeliads fail in vivariums, and automated paludarium systems.
🔎 What to Look For When Buying Orchids at a Show
- Healthy roots: avoid plants with large amounts of mushy, black or collapsing root material.
- Firm leaves: leaves should generally feel appropriately firm rather than severely limp or dehydrated.
- Clear identification: properly labelled plants are much easier to research and care for correctly.
- Adult size: find out how large the plant will eventually become rather than judging it only by its current size.
- Temperature requirements: ask whether the orchid is a cool, intermediate or warm-growing species.
- Humidity and airflow: high humidity does not necessarily mean stagnant or permanently wet conditions.
- Mounting requirements: many small epiphytic orchids grow particularly well mounted on cork, bark or wood.
- Pest checks: inspect leaves, stems, roots and flower spikes for scale, mealybug, mites and other unwanted hitchhikers.
- Ask the grower: one of the greatest advantages of buying at a specialist show is having the person who grew the plant standing in front of you.
Tips for First-Time Orchid Show Visitors
- Check the official event page before travelling. Dates, venues and opening times can change.
- Take photographs of plant labels. This makes researching care requirements much easier later.
- Ask growers about their conditions. Find out about temperature, watering, light and winter care.
- Do not buy purely because a plant is flowering. Make sure you can provide suitable conditions once the flowers have faded.
- Bring a suitable box or bag. Flowers, leaves and roots can easily be damaged in a crowded show.
- Protect plants from temperature extremes. Never leave newly purchased orchids in a very hot or cold car.
- Quarantine new plants. Keep them separate from your established collection until you are satisfied that they are pest-free.
Useful Frogfather Links for Orchid, Terrarium and Vivarium Keepers
- Vivarium plants
- Bioactive vivarium plant bundle
- Paint-on tropical moss starter
- Bioactive vivariums
- How to grow tropical moss in a vivarium
- Why bromeliads fail in vivariums
- UK rare & tropical plant events guide
- UK reptile and exotic shows guide
❓ UK Orchid Shows 2026–2027 – FAQ
When is the next UK orchid show?
As of the latest update on 29 September 2026, the next listed event is the Orchid Society of Great Britain Autumn Show at Wraysbury on Saturday 3 October 2026. It is followed by the Wessex Orchid Society Orchid & Bonsai Show on 10 October and the Central Orchid Society Annual Show on 17 October.
What UK orchid shows are confirmed for 2027?
Confirmed 2027 events already include the South West Orchid Society Annual Show, Devon Orchid Society Spring Show, Glasgow Botanic Gardens Orchid Fair, UK International Orchid Show and Durham Orchid Show. Further dates will be added as societies and organisers publish their 2027 calendars.
When is Kew Orchids Festival 2027?
Kew has confirmed that its orchid festival will return in 2027, but the dates have not yet been announced. This page will be updated when Kew publishes the confirmed dates.
Can I buy orchids at orchid shows?
Yes. Many dedicated orchid shows include specialist growers and plant sales, although this varies by event. Society shows are particularly useful because you can often buy plants while also speaking directly to experienced growers about their care.
Are orchid shows suitable for beginners?
Yes. Orchid shows can be one of the best places to start because you can see healthy plants in person, ask questions and learn which orchids are realistic for the conditions you can provide.
Can orchids grow in a dart frog vivarium?
Some smaller orchids can grow very well in tropical vivariums, but species must be chosen carefully. They need suitable airflow, light, temperature, humidity and mounting. Many epiphytic orchids dislike having their roots permanently saturated even though they may enjoy high atmospheric humidity.
Should I quarantine orchids before adding them to a vivarium?
Yes. New orchids can carry pests, fertiliser residues, compost additives or unwanted hitchhikers. Quarantine plants and prepare them appropriately before introducing them to a bioactive vivarium or established plant collection.
How often is this orchid show calendar updated?
I update this page as new events and confirmed dates become available. Rather than adding estimated dates based on previous years, future events are added once there is reliable information from the organiser, venue, orchid society or another official source.
📣 Know About a UK Orchid Show I’ve Missed?
If you organise a UK orchid show, orchid fair, orchid society event or specialist orchid exhibition that isn’t listed here, please get in touch.
If possible, send the event name, confirmed date, venue, postcode and an official organiser or ticket link. I’ll check the details and add suitable events to the calendar.
Bookmark this page and check back periodically as more 2027 UK orchid show dates are announced.
