LONDON — The Royal Horticultural Society Chelsea Flower Show concluded its five-day public run on Saturday at the Royal Hospital Chelsea, with tens of thousands of visitors descending on the grounds for the final day before the traditional 'sell-off' of plants and displays. The 2026 edition, held under bright late-May skies, drew what organisers described as near-record attendance, with international visitors from Japan, the United States, and Australia making up a significant share of ticket holders.

The RHS announced its prestigious Best in Show award on Saturday morning, with horticultural press and lifestyle editors from publications including Gardens Illustrated, House & Garden, and the Financial Times Weekend gathering to cover the ceremony. This year's show gardens placed heavy emphasis on climate-resilient planting schemes, rewilding aesthetics, and the use of native British flora — themes that judges said reflected growing public concern about biodiversity and sustainable gardening practices.

Designer Sarah Price, known for her work on the 2012 Olympic Park planting, was among the prominent figures whose exhibit drew sustained crowds throughout the week. Several show gardens incorporated reclaimed materials and drought-tolerant Mediterranean planting palettes, a trend that has accelerated sharply since the dry summers of the mid-2020s. The RHS noted that searches for 'gravel garden' and 'rain garden' designs on its website surged more than 40 percent in the week preceding the show.

The lifestyle dimension of Chelsea extended well beyond horticulture, with fashion coverage focusing on the signature floral prints and wide-brimmed hats worn by visitors and celebrities alike. Broadcasters including BBC Two aired live coverage throughout the week, with Saturday's finale programme expected to draw several million viewers. Social media platforms saw Chelsea-related content trend in the United Kingdom and Ireland across multiple days, with short-form video of garden walkthroughs accumulating millions of views.

As gates closed on Saturday afternoon, the annual plant sell-off began — a beloved tradition in which exhibitors auction remaining stock to eager visitors, sometimes at deeply discounted prices. The moment has become a lifestyle event in its own right, covered annually by broadsheet and tabloid press alike. RHS chief executive Clare Matterson said the 2026 show had 'demonstrated the extraordinary power of gardens to connect people to nature and to each other,' and confirmed that planning for the 2027 edition was already underway.