Tickets for the Festival of Flowers at Chichester Cathedral, one of the South’s most eagerly awaited cultural highlights, are now on sale. This much-loved biennial Festival will return from 3 – 6 June 2026, when more than 50,000 blooms will transform the Cathedral in a spectacular four-day celebration of nature and creativity.
The 2026 Festival marks a special milestone: its 30th anniversary. Since its launch in 1996, Chichester’s Festival of Flowers has grown into one of the region’s most significant and celebrated events, attracting visitors from far and wide to experience its breathtaking displays.
“Launching ticket sales ahead of Christmas gives people the chance to gift a truly memorable experience,” comments Philippa Lane, Festival Co-ordinator. “As we celebrate the Festival’s 30th anniversary in 2026, each ticket is an invitation to be part of this milestone year. It’s the gift of a June day filled with colour and fragrance, and the perfect opportunity to enjoy not only the Festival but also Chichester’s gardens, historic streets, independent shops, eateries, and our free artisan market.”
The 2026 Festival theme – Nature’s Embrace – has been conceived by Festival Designer Caroline Daines, founder of the Nordic Twigs floral design studio. Her vision celebrates the way the natural world restores, comforts and connects us, blending colour, scent and texture in harmony with the Cathedral’s ancient stone.
“Flowers, trees and changing seasons mirror our own rhythms of wellbeing,” Caroline explains. “I wanted to celebrate both the beauty nature so generously offers and its power to nurture mind, body and spirit - while also preserving the timeless splendour of Chichester Cathedral.”
More than 100 volunteer arrangers will interpret Caroline’s creative framework, filling the Cathedral’s historic spaces with breathtaking installations. Highlights will include dramatic floral displays along the pillars of the nave and colour-filled arches, with students from Plumpton and Farnborough Colleges contributing striking designs.
Caroline, inspired by the bold seasons and natural simplicity of her Scandinavian upbringing, describes her approach as organic and unforced, allowing flowers to “speak quietly yet powerfully.”
“I want a sense of calm and connection to run through every display,” she says, “with natural textures, forms and colours symbolising nature’s generosity and resilience.”
Alongside over 60 breathtaking floral displays, visitors can enjoy the Festival’s artisan market, which offers a carefully chosen selection of local crafts and produce - an additional highlight of the Festival experience.
For those that appreciate flowers, nature and artistry, tickets for this spectacular event make a truly memorable gift.
Early bird tickets cost £18 per person until 31 December 2025 and are available to purchase at chichestercathedral.org.uk/flowerfestival. Standard online ticket prices are £21 per person and £25 on the door.
Organised by the Chichester Cathedral Restoration & Development Trust CIO (charity no. 1156729), the proceeds of the sale of tickets for the Festival of Flowers will help support the ambitions and ongoing needs of the Cathedral, which receives no regular funding from either Government or the Church of England. Over the past fourteen Festivals, the event has raised over £1.4 million towards restoration projects.
Event Details
Chichester Cathedral Festival of Flowers 2026: “Nature’s Embrace”
Dates: 3 – 6 June 2026
Location: Chichester Cathedral, West Sussex
Book online: ChichesterCathedral.org.uk or call 0333 666 3366
