The festival ran from Saturday 7 February to Sunday 8 March 2026 in the Princess of Wales Conservatory at Kew Gardens, London. It marked the 30th anniversary of the annual event and highlighted China’s biodiversity, heritage and long-standing scientific collaboration between Kew and Chinese botanists.
Displays inspired by Chinese culture
Visitors entered through a snake-inspired archway, reflecting that 2025 was the Year of the Snake in the Chinese zodiac. Inside, they passed lanterns, arches of good wishes and a moon gate before reaching the central pond. There, a large Chinese dragon wound across the water, made from lotus seed heads, orchid plants and dried leaves. Nine koi carp, crafted from ginkgo leaves and other plant material, swam through a smaller pond, symbolising luck and success. The display also featured representations of pandas and thousands of native Chinese orchids native to China’s diverse habitats.
A journey through symbolism
The festival’s path guided visitors through meaningful cultural symbols. The snake-inspired entrance acknowledged the previous year’s zodiac sign, while the exit archway bore a horse, honouring 2026 as the Year of the Horse. These details connected the botanical displays to Chinese tradition, creating a narrative experience that blended horticulture with cultural storytelling. The use of plant materials to form animals and symbols showed how creativity and botany could come together in thoughtful ways.
Native orchids and global collaboration
Surrounding the central displays were thousands of orchid species native to China, showcasing the country’s rich floral diversity. This emphasis on native plants highlighted Kew’s ongoing work with Chinese botanists to study, conserve and understand orchid species in their natural habitats. The festival served as a public reflection of decades of scientific partnership, bringing attention to both the beauty and ecological importance of these plants.
Evening access and wider access
Orchids After Hours evenings ran on selected Friday and Saturday nights in February, offering adults a chance to see the displays after dark. During these sessions, the flowers were atmospherically backlit, accompanied by live dance performances and music inspired by China, along with opportunities to sample Chinese cuisine and cocktails. Entry to the festival was included with standard admission to Kew Gardens, with a £1 entry option available for recipients of Universal Credit, Pension Credit, Legacy Benefits and asylum applicants, helping to make the event accessible to more people.
Floral dragons and koi carp
The festival’s centrepiece was a Chinese dragon made from lotus seed heads, orchid plants and dried leaves, winding across the central pond in the Princess of Wales Conservatory. This display symbolised strength and good fortune in Chinese culture. Nearby, nine koi carp were crafted from ginkgo leaves and plant material, arranged to appear as if swimming through a smaller pond. These koi represented luck and success, continuing a tradition of using botanical materials to depict meaningful animals in Chinese symbolism.
Panda displays and cultural symbols
Among the floral arrangements were sculptures of giant pandas, created using orchids and other plant materials to reflect China’s iconic wildlife. These panda displays added to the festival’s focus on representing Chinese biodiversity through horticulture. Visitors also passed through lantern-lit pathways and arches bearing traditional good wishes, including a moon gate, which is a common feature in Chinese gardens symbolising unity and harmony. The journey through the conservatory began with a snake-inspired archway, acknowledging 2025 as the Year of the Snake, and concluded with the horse-adorned archway marking 2026 as the Year of the Horse.
Scientific collaboration and conservation
The festival highlighted Kew Gardens’ long-term scientific partnership with Chinese botanists, particularly in the study and conservation of native orchid species. Thousands of orchids native to China were displayed throughout the conservatory, emphasizing the country’s floral diversity and the importance of protecting these species in their natural habitats. The event served as a public showcase of decades of joint research, combining horticultural display with scientific outreach to raise awareness about orchid conservation.
Orchids After Hours and accessibility
Orchids After Hours took place on selected Friday and Saturday evenings in February 2026, offering adult visitors an after-dark experience within the Princess of Wales Conservatory. During these sessions, the orchid displays were enhanced with atmospheric backlighting, live dance performances, and music inspired by Chinese traditions. Attendees also had the opportunity to sample Chinese cuisine and cocktails. Entry to the festival was included with standard admission to Kew Gardens, and a reduced £1 entry fee was available for recipients of Universal Credit, Pension Credit, Legacy Benefits, and asylum applicants, supporting broader access to the event.
Sources
Based on: kew.org · londonist.com. Written and checked by the Orkpedia editors.