The Festival of Flowers is a biennial event usually held on the first week of June in Chichester in West Sussex in England. This summer’s event, which celebrates its 30th year, took place from the 3rd until the 6th of June. The main Festival of Flowers was open from 9.30am – 5.00pm every day, with last entry 4.15pm as is the traditional custom of this event which also includes a special ticket Preview Evening. The ticket timing allows the public to view the amazing flora in the daylight and with the tinted hues of the fantastic handmade old leaded light windows.
This four day spring celebration was themed ‘Nature’s Embrace’ and the popular show sold lots of tickets which benefitted the ongoing preservation and works to repair the roof at the architecturally and historically special medieval cathedral in Chichester.
“Lead designer Caroline Daines, founder of Nordic Twigs…conceived this years 2026 Festival theme, Natures Embrace, which has shaped more than 60 floral installations throughout the Cathedrals historic spaces.” reported the local online newspaper Chichester Living. (1)
The florists and designers were a mix of students and professional teams each undertaking to decorate particular parts of the stunning ecclesiastical building with beautiful floral displays.
An added bonus was the artisan art, craft and gift market which was set up in a marquee in the courtyard of the Cloisters, just next to the monumental church.
Sculptures by Philip Jackson were incorporated with the fresh and pretty botanical exhibits that included roses, lilies, forget-me-nots, alliums, peonies, irises, sunflowers, carnations, daisies and foxgloves.
Wildflowers such as primroses and celandines featured in a wonderful pathway up to the alter and the use of many English and locally sourced flowers reflects a trend for celebrating sustainable planting and environmentally conscious consumer purchasing.
It was a treat to see so many English blooms used and the creative pieces expertly dotted throughout the voluminous religious interior spaces collaged together dozens of naturally exquisite stems into wonderful three-dimensional pictures. These decorations were breathtakingly gorgeous to anyone who enjoys colour and the joy of sitting in springtime gardens in the United Kingdom.
There was an international flavour to the gorgeous Caribbean stem arrangement collection which accompanied the artwork painted in 1961 by Grayham Sutherland in the Chapel of Saint Mary Magdalen.
Photo by A.Howse
The vibrant window designed by Marc Chagall inspired by Psalm 150 “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord” was highlighted and given visual contrast with blue and purple tumbling flowers and carefully chosen leafy stems gushing down from the glowing red stained glass treasure .
The mostly senior citizens that attended on the Thursday we visited particularly appreciated the summer park picnic interpretations of the ‘nature’s embrace’ brief, with thoughtful warm weather planting around the transepts and complete with tempting strawberries and outdoor chairs ready for a cream tea. Many older visitors physically struggled a little with the shear scale of viewing the ambitious floral festival exhibition that extended across the monumental Nave and beyond.
The visual finale featured a rainbow patchwork of plants and buds that brought the High Alter tapestry, created by John Piper in 1966, to voluminous life with a bright and dramatic installation championing the elements.
Clouds of blue and purple bouquets embellished delicate blowing fabric kites. These windy toys flew amongst the sky in the abstract kaleidoscope textile, creating celestial layered images adorning the enormous ceremonial wall hanging. The Holy Spirit and Mother Nature’s powers (depending on your life essence preferences) radiated forth towards the visitors, in shades of crimson and golden petals from the sunburst dried grass arrangement, perched at the centre of the intricate and colourful mid-century artwork.
Chichester, West Sussex, England. Photo by A.Howse
Chichester Cathedral’s Facebook page described how “It takes just three days to transform the Cathedral, but over a year to make it possible. Behind the scenes, the Festival of Flowers is an extraordinary effort of planning, collaboration and care. Over 50,000 blooms, more than 60 installations, and hundreds of volunteers come together in just 48 hours, turning empty spaces into a spectacular celebration of creativity. Florists, students, makers and volunteers work side by side, building, arranging and shaping each display before the doors open.” (2)
This much loved West Sussex seasonal attraction brings the ancient church to life in a way that many people from all over the world and different faiths can easily appreciate. It is an opportunity to raise much needed money to keep the cathedral maintained and open and free (donations encouraged) for everyone. There are many historic carvings and sculptures as well as Roman mosaic floors and fantastic stonework and stained glass windows to be found in the cathedral. (3)
Businesses and florists in and around the city of Chichester promoted the natural show with extra window displays and hanging floral decorations in the weeks before and after the Festival of Flowers.
The cathedral’s botanic celebration also ‘kick-starts’ the cultural art, music, theatre, culinary and literary extravaganza that is the Chichester Festival, which lasts throughout the summer season every year.
The only improvement to this event which involves a huge volunteer effort from dozens of people to prepare, would be the ticket price at £21 per person or £25 at the door. Evening preview tickets are £60. Therefore some local adults and older teenagers find it too expensive to participate. These folk who reside nearby in the expensive Hampshire and Sussex areas are often the ones who are unable to travel to see other cultural attractions further afield, due to the constraints of the cost of living crisis. It could be a nice idea to have a particular session where those with local postcode identification could have a look around the festival at a subsidised cost.
However, a silver lining is that the Festival of Flowers is free for under 16 years aged children. There is an excellent and reasonably priced Cloisters restaurant café adjacent to the very old architectural landmark that serves a good selection of lunches and snacks, as well as a wide range of hot and cold drinks, in an accessible facility that even has a walled outdoor area ideal for refreshing visitors of all ages.
The Cloisters craft market accompanying the show is free for anyone to enter, have a look and purchase gifts and treats. The Bishop’s Palace Gardens is a hidden gem in Chichester and is located behind the sacred spires, chapels and covered corridors of the Cathedral. This pretty green park outlined by the old city walls is perfect for enjoying a packed lunch and a stroll around the nicely kept bushes and flowerbeds further enhancing a good day out.
Children and adults will enjoy relaxing on The Bishop’s Palace Gardens parkland and these separate indoor and outdoor spaces together can combine to offer a reasonably priced full day out (compared to many other English and south coast attractions) that is suitable for many people and families looking to have a staycation holiday or some quality time together.
The next Festival of Flowers is due to be held at the beginning of June 2028. The Festival of Flowers 2028 ‘The Preview Evening’ will take place on Tuesday 6 June, with the Festival running from the 7th to the 10th June 2028.
“Chichester Cathedral’s Festival of Flowers is a biennial event organised by Chichester Cathedral Restoration and Development Trust (charity no. 1156729). The Festival has raised over £1.4 million for the Cathedral since its inception in 1996.” Explains the Festival of Flower website in June 2026. (2)
(1) ‘VIP Preview Evening tickets for Chichester Cathedral’s Festival of Flowers go on sale’ Chichester Living, 28 August 2026 ‘VIP Preview Evening tickets for Chichester Cathedral’s Festival of Flowers go on sale’ Chichester Living
(2) Chichester Cathedral Facebook page, 2 June 2026 Chichester Cathedral Facebook page Festival of Flowers 2026
(3) Chichester Cathedral website and visiting information, 21 August 2026 Chichester Cathedral website and visiting information
(4) Chichester Festival of Flowers 2026 official website, 21 August 202 Chichester Festival of Flowers 2026