Perth, March 27: Australia’s top garden and floral designers have been recognised at the 2026 Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show, with this year’s awards highlighting creativity, sustainability and contemporary landscape design.
The annual event, held at Carlton Gardens and the Royal Exhibition Building, has opened to the public following the announcement of winners across multiple competition categories, showcasing work from both established designers and emerging talent.
Show director Trent Cornish said the quality of entries this year reflected the growing strength of the horticulture and landscape design industry.
“This year’s entries have truly raised the bar. From breathtaking show gardens to bold, boundary-pushing floral installations, our designers have demonstrated exceptional craftsmanship and creativity, setting a new benchmark for the industry. Equally impressive is the elevated quality of plants and flowers on display, bringing remarkable depth and vibrancy to every space.
“We can’t wait for the public to step into this living showcase of world-class design and immerse themselves in the beauty on display throughout this year’s Show.”
The top honour in the Show Garden Competition, the City of Melbourne Award of Excellence for Best in Show, went to We the Wild, designed by Matt York of Ratio.
The garden, inspired by Victoria’s southern coastline, impressed judges with its focus on biodiversity and the use of natural planting to create a sense of wild landscape within a compact space.
York also received the Horticultural Media Association Award for Best Use of Plant Life, while Joel Barnett’s je ne sais quoi garden won the Mark Bence Construction Award, with both designs also earning Gold medals in the competition.
Awards were also presented across boutique, balcony and border garden categories, as well as the Challenger Achievable Gardens competition, which highlights new and emerging designers. Student competitions and floral installation categories recognised young creatives and training institutes contributing to the next generation of horticulture and floral design.
Organisers said the show continues to attract strong public interest, with visitors expected throughout the week to view award-winning gardens, floral displays and design installations from across Australia.
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