Thousands of gardening enthusiasts descended on the Nambour Showgrounds this weekend for the 2026 Queensland Garden Show, reinforcing the event’s reputation as one of Australia’s premier gardening events.

Chief Executive Officer of Greenlife Industry Queensland Colin Fruk said the strong attendance reflected the enduring popularity of the Show and the passion Queenslanders have for gardening.

“The Queensland Garden Show continues to bring together an incredible community of people who share a love of gardening, from experienced horticulturists through to those just discovering the joy of growing plants at home,” Mr Fruk said.

“It was fantastic to see so many people supporting our growers, nurseries and exhibitors, enjoying the speaker program and heading home with carloads of plants and a wealth of practical advice.

“The enthusiasm across the three days was outstanding and it’s a credit to everyone who helps make the Show such a special event each year.”

The Show is expected to deliver more than $10 million to the Sunshine Coast economy this year, with visitors supporting local accommodation providers, hospitality venues, retailers and tourism operators throughout the region.

“The Queensland Garden Show continues to be a major economic driver for the Sunshine Coast, with more than 60 per cent of visitors travelling from outside the region, including from across Queensland and interstate,” Mr Fruk said.

“The Show provides a great opportunity for growers and nurseries to engage directly with those buying their plants – it’s a real calendar milestone for our industry and they spend all year planning and growing to meet the demand across the event.”

This year also saw the introduction of a Local’s Day on Sunday, giving Sunshine Coast Council residents a 20 per cent discount on entry.

“The Queensland Garden Show has called the Sunshine Coast home for more than four decades, so it was wonderful to give something back to the local community that has supported the event for so many years.”

Across the weekend, visitors explored more than 360 exhibitors and displays, including more than 60,000 plants on sale each day, and enjoyed Australia’s largest gardening speaker program featuring more than 90 free presentations and demonstrations from some of the country’s leading horticultural experts.

Among this year’s headline speakers were Graham Ross OAM, Sophie Thomson, Jerry Coleby-Williams, Kate Wall, Phil Dudman and first-time Queensland Garden Show presenter Tammy Huynh, who all delivered practical advice and inspiration for visitors, as well as hands-on demonstrations across five stages.

The Show also continued its popular coffee cup refill initiative, with visitors invited to reuse their biodegradable takeaway coffee cups by filling them with a complimentary plant to take home.

Mr Fruk thanked the exhibitors, volunteers, sponsors and visitors who contributed to another successful event.

“The Queensland Garden Show continues to grow because of the incredible support it receives from our Garden Show community.

“The record crowds ‒ especially on locals day ‒ prove that there is demand for the event within the gardening community, so with ongoing support from our government partners and sponsors, we are already turning our mind to running an even more successful event next year.”

For more information, visit www.qldgardenshow.com.au.