Stellar line-up of special guests announced for RHS Malvern SpringFestival 2026
RHS Malvern Spring Festival returns with star-studded 2026 line-up
RHS Malvern Spring Festival, a trailblazing four-day celebration of horticultural innovation and seasonal inspiration, returns to Three Counties Showground from 7–10 May 2026 with an outstanding line-up of expert horticulturalists, TV gardening personalities and special guest speakers.
TV presenter and broadcaster Nicki Chapman, host of BBC’s Escape to the Country and RHS Chelsea Flower Show coverage, returns to host the Festival Theatre across all four days.
Joining Nicki on stage across the four days will be some of horticulture’s most well-known and much-loved personalities, including one of the UK’s favourite gardeners, Alan Titchmarsh CBE.
In addition to being a passionate gardener, Alan is a successful writer and television presenter, best known for BBC’s Ground Force, BBC’s Gardeners’ World and ITV’s Love Your Garden. He will share his insights and experience of gardening throughout the changing seasons on Friday 8 May.
Joining Alan in conversation on Friday 8 May will be culinary icon Mary Berry DBE to discuss her new book My Gardening Life (2026).
While Mary is widely recognised for her numerous cookery programmes, including The Great British Bake Off, and for authoring more than 80 cookery books, she is also an enthusiastic gardener, RHS ambassador and regular presenter for BBC’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show programmes.
Describing gardening as the second great love of her life, Mary will join Alan Titchmarsh to share her passion for growing plants and visiting gardens, and to reflect on the important role that connecting with nature and celebrating the seasons has played in her life. This exclusive appearance offers a rare opportunity to see two of the UK’s most beloved personalities live on stage together.
Mary Berry joins RHS Malvern Spring Festival in partnership with DK, the nation’s leading publisher of gardening books.
On Saturday 9 May, host Nicki Chapman will be joined by another of the UK’s best-known gardeners, Monty Don OBE. Best known for presenting BBC’s Gardeners’ World since 2003, Monty has been writing and broadcasting about horticulture, outdoor living and travel for over 20 years. He will share insights and anecdotes from life at Longmeadow, his Herefordshire garden, which has served as the filming location for Gardeners’ World since 2011.
Other familiar faces from BBC’s Gardeners’ World joining the 2026 line-up include Frances Tophill (Thursday 7 May), Sue Kent (Thursday 7 May) and Adam Frost (Sunday 10 May). Frances will share her experience of creating productive gardens that are useful, edible and beautiful. Sue Kent will be in conversation with Nicki Chapman about her vegetable garden and her latest book, Garden Notes with Sue Kent (2023).
Adam Frost will offer practical advice for spring planting and creating spaces that promote wellbeing.
Multi-award-winning garden designer Jamie Langlands will return to RHS Malvern Spring Festival in 2026 as a special guest on the Festival Theatre stage.
Having created award-winning show and feature gardens at previous festivals, Jamie will share his journey as an RHS designer and offer guidance on designing with nature and planting for beauty and resilience.
This year’s newly designed Kitchen Theatre, created by Jon Wheatley of Stonebarn Landscapes, will combine culinary creativity with horticultural brilliance in celebration of the 2026 theme, Grow Your World. This immersive feature garden and interactive demonstration stage will explore the rich tapestry of global food cultures through plants that are as beautiful as they are delicious. Vibrant planting schemes inspired by Asia and the Americas will sit alongside familiar English herbs and vegetables, drawing connections between gardens, kitchens and continents.
The Kitchen Theatre: Grow Your World will be hosted by food and gardening writer Mark Diacono, who will welcome special guests including culinary icon Raymond Blanc OBE, renowned for retaining two Michelin stars for 41 consecutive years at Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons. He will be joined on stage by August Bernstein, Garden Presenter and Head Tutor at The Raymond Blanc Gardening School. Also appearing will be multi-award-winning RHS gold medallist and organic grower Jekka McVicar, who will share expert advice on growing and using herbs throughout the seasons.
Chefs from leading regional restaurants including PIT Kitchen, The Dewdrop Inn, The Danesbury and Eckington Manor will also showcase their culinary talent live on stage.
The Festival of Houseplants, which debuted at RHS Malvern Spring Festival in 2024, returns with a line-up of expert horticulturalists and influential indoor plant specialists. Hosted by Michael Perry (Mr Plant Geek), the theatre will feature Adam Cretien (Earth Champion), Alina Hibbert and Tess Colbey, alongside returning favourites Martin and Jill Fish with their popular Potting Shed sessions. Floral designer Jonathan Moseley will once again deliver engaging demonstrations across multiple stages throughout the weekend.
In addition to its extensive programme of celebrity and special guest speakers, RHS Malvern Spring Festival will debut the very first RHS-judged gardens of the year, including a brand-new Blooming Borders category and Floral Tablescaping category, alongside the Indoor Gardens category and the much-loved outdoor Show Gardens. More than 70 of the UK’s leading nurseries will fill the vast Floral Marquee, complemented by extensive shopping, food and drink, and family-friendly activities across the four-day event.
RHS Malvern Spring Festival 2026 promises an inspiring celebration of horticultural excellence at the start of the gardening calendar.
For further information and for the full line up details, see www.rhsmalvern.co.uk
Tickets for the RHS Malvern Spring Festival 2026 start from just £16 for a taster ticket (under 16sfree of charge) and can be bought now from www.rhsmalvern.co.uk