The 2027 PHS Philadelphia Flower Show Returns With an Iconic New Theme

What can I expect at the Philadelphia Flower Show in 2027?

As winter comes to a close each year, the PHS Philadelphia Flower Show signals to the Greater Philadelphia Area that brighter (and warmer!) days are upon us soon.

Celebrating its 198th year in 2027, the premier event transforms the Pennsylvania Convention Center into a floral wonderland with thousands of blooms greeting visitors from the moment they step through the doors. 

Expect large-scale flowering displays to explore, along with thousands of impressive competition exhibits, and a bevy of botanical activities and family fun.

  — Photo by R. Cardillo for Pennsylvania Horticultural Society

Some of the key highlights of the 2027 show include:

• PA Public Gardens Showcase: To embody the show’s theme, organizers didn’t have to go far to find examples of iconic gardens. For the first time in Flower Show history, five of the most beloved gardens from the Keystone State gather together under the same roof to show off what makes them horticulture’s best of the best. 
• PHS Hamilton Horticourt: Each year, stunning plants and designs compete for the coveted blue ribbon awards at the annual Horticourt display. Think your skills have what it takes to win? Anyone can register their plant babies in the competition.
• Know to Grow Speaker Series: Garden enthusiasts can grow their knowledge of plant propagation, design and all things floral with the return of the free Know to Grow speaker series, where the gardening pros offer a plethora of expert ideas and advice to put into action at home.

Know to Grow Speaker Series   — Photo by M. Horell for Pennsylvania Horticultural Society

What’s new and different at the 2027 Flower Show?

In addition to the new theme, PHS has announced that 2027’s iconic Flower Show includes these new features: 

• Pennsylvania’s Top Gardens: Five of the biggest and most beloved gardens in Pennsylvania — Chanticleer, Longwood Gardens, Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Garden, Pittsburgh Botanic Garden, and The Arboretum at Penn State — come together for a Flower Show first, with each curating a garden exhibit that shows off “its distinctive horticultural vision.”
• “Fashion Forward” Entrance Garden: 2027’s entrance garden infuses dramatic color and lighting alongside fluffy, fabric flowers, sculptures and water features to make visitors feel like they’ve got a starring role in the show.
• Expanded Offerings at Artisan Row: For an extra fee, you can learn from skilled artists and take home keepsakes such as your own personal blend of tea or a flower-themed tote bag. The expanded offerings for 2027 include floral headbands (including one with “abundant” blooms), a self-sustaining terrarium, and pressed flower taper candles or a jewelry dish.

  — Photo by B. Mathias for Pennsylvania Horticultural Society

What other tours, events and experiences can I expect at the 2027 flower show?

The full list of experiences remains under wraps, but PHS has promised a return of these popular tours and experiences. 

• Early Morning Tours: Get an up-close behind-the-scenes look at show displays, gardens and competitions two hours before other guests arrive. And don’t miss special Guided Photography Tours led by experienced photographers for shutterbugs and Instagrammers. Additional purchase required.
• Butterflies Live!: Interact with hundreds of butterfly species up close as you entice them with a dollop of sugar water on a stick. Watch children squeal in delight when butterflies decide to hitch a ride, making for magical photo opps. A separate fee is required.
• Bloom Bar: The Bloom Bar returns again in 2027, where you can make your very own handcrafted floral crown for an additional fee. Or, you can pre-order a crown so it’s ready for you to don when you arrive.
• Flowers After Hours: When the lights go down, the animals come out to roam for the show’s Flowers After Hours: Stylin’ & Wildin’ celebration, encouraging all to embrace their inner wild by wearing animal-inspired attire. Tickets to the fete are required.
• Kids Cocoon: Those attending the show with littles in tow can head to the Kids Cocoon, an interactive playspace to spark children’s curiosity in plants and gardening.

  — Photo by B. Mathias for Pennsylvania Horticultural Society

How can I get tickets to the Philadelphia Flower Show?

You can buy tickets for the 2027 Philadelphia Flower Show online or at the door. Weekday ticket prices start at $45 for adults, $25 for students (ages 18 to 24 with valid ID) and $20 for children (ages 5 to 17). 

Weekend ticket prices start at $55 for adults, $30 for students (ages 18 to 24 with valid ID) and $25 for children (ages 5 to 17). If you aren’t yet sure when you’ll attend, you can purchase an anytime flex pass for $60.

Save $10 if you plan to visit the show after 4 p.m. with a Twilight ticket.

Back by popular demand: Flower Show fans can come back again and again with the Floral Fanatic Pass. For $105, pass-holders get unlimited access to the show throughout the run, plus additional perks including an exclusive Flower Show gift bag filled with goodies and premium seating at the Know to Grow lectures.

  — Photo by M. Horell for Pennsylvania Horticultural Society

What’s the history of the Philadelphia Flower Show?

As a major hub of scientific inquiry and innovation in early America, Philadelphia had a group of “gentlemen farmers” who began gathering together regularly to share their evolving plant knowledge. In 1827, 80 men founded PHS to formalize their group. 

Some of the founding members then wanted to share their horticultural knowledge with the public at large, so they began holding public exhibitions in 1829 that would eventually become known as the Philadelphia Flower Show, the first of its kind in the nation.

PHS took control of the flower show in the 1960s with the goal of better serving the public. The annual flower show remains PHS’s largest fundraiser and helps the non-profit provide horticultural training and programs as well as beautification efforts like tree planting to make Philly a cleaner and greener city.  

  — Photo by B. Mathias for Pennsylvania Horticultural Society

What’s the best way to get to the Philadelphia Flower Show?

The SEPTA L (Market-Frankford) subway line drops commuters one block south of the Pennsylvania Convention Center’s Arch Street entrances via the 11th Street or 13th Street stations. Riders on the B (Broad Street) subway line can get off at City Hall and walk two blocks east on Market Street to enter the Convention Center between 11th Street and 12th Street.

For those coming in by train from the suburbs, access the Pennsylvania Convention Center via the connected Jefferson Station. Take any SEPTA Regional Rail line to the station and follow signs for the Convention Center, then take the escalator up to the Grand Hall entrance on the second floor.

And attendees driving into Center City have plenty of parking options available in garages around the Convention Center as well.

Where can I grab a bite to eat near the Philadelphia Flower Show?

With acres of gardens and thousands of blooms to see, all that walking works up an appetite. For a quick bite on-site, visitors can grab and go at concessions booths throughout the show. In addition, the Pennsylvania Convention Center just happens to be located at the intersection of several Center City culinary treasures.

Flower Show goers can stroll right across the street to find Reading Terminal Market — voted America’s best public market in 2026 and one of the oldest and largest in the nation. Stop in for a cup of joe from Old City Coffee, a sweet treat from Beiler’s Doughnuts, or a meal from one of more than 80 booths serving both Philly staples and international cuisine. (Pro tip: To-go might be your best bet here. Crowds are very likely, especially during peak meal times.)

The Convention Center also sits at the edge of another Philadelphia foodie destination: Chinatown. Home to about 100 eateries, Chinatown showcases the diversity of Asian cuisine, with sit-down restaurants and bars like Sang Kee Peking Duck House, Dim Sum Garden, EMei and Bar-ly. (Just bring cash, as many Chinatown spots are cash-only.)

Chinatown   — Photo by S. Ramones for Visit Philadelphia

A short walk further south gets you a seat at places like The Wayward and the Hard Rock Cafe.

For more details on the exhibits, experiences and events at the 2027 PHS Philadelphia Flower Show, click the button below.