Entertainment
Bloom 2026: Everything You Need to Know!
Bord Bia Bloom, Ireland’s favourite flowers, food and family festival, is back in the Phoenix Park, Dublin, from Thursday 28 May to Monday 1 June 2026. Whether you are a long-standing fan of Bord Bia Bloom or celebrating the festival for the first time, we want to give you the inside track on all things Bloom 2026!
What is Bord Bia Bloom?
Now in its 20th year, Bord Bia Bloom has become one of Ireland’s most celebrated festivals of gardening, food and sustainable living. Spanning a 70-acre site in the Phoenix Park, Dublin, it showcases the very best of Irish horticulture, food and drink, alongside vibrant show gardens, inspiring talks and hands-on workshops. Bloom is not just a great day out, but a feast for the senses and a chance to learn, grow and be inspired – whether you’re a seasoned gardener, a curious foodie, or simply looking for something special to kick-start your summer.
What gardens are on display?
This year’s gardens include 20 magnificent Show Gardens, 14 Postcard Gardens, supported by Tirlán CountryLife, and the OPW Victorian Walled Kitchen Garden.
Show Gardens
The Show Gardens are the heart and soul of Bord Bia Bloom. They bring some of the most talented designers from Ireland and overseas together to create spectacular gardens that not only illustrate how to make the most of your outdoor spaces but also shine a spotlight on some of the most important issues of our times. With 20 gardens on show this year, you’ll find lots of inspiration for your own outdoor areas, no matter how big or how small.
Postcard Gardens, supported by Tirlán CountryLife
Every year Bloom features a number of small but perfectly formed postcard gardens. They demonstrate that size doesn’t matter when it comes to wonderful outdoor spaces! These gardens are created by amateur gardeners from community groups, schools and training groups from around Ireland. These showpieces represent their club, locality or a special person from their area.
Dream Gardens
Easy Steps to Dream Gardens is a new initiative designed to help you plant your own show garden at home. Bord Bia has worked with several Bloom award-winning show garden designers to create garden designs that are suited to a range of different aspects. Each garden design comes with an easy-to-follow planting plan and detailed planting list.
Read more about this year’s Celebrity Dream Garden, inspired by Brendan Courtney
What food options are available?
Whether you’re looking for a casual bite or a three-course feast, there’s plenty to tempt you at Bloom. All meat dishes are made using Bord Bia Quality Assured meat, supporting Irish farmers, families and communities.
For a special dining experience, book A Taste of Bloom, returning to the Garden View Restaurant after a successful launch last year. Chef Neven Maguire has curated a three-course menu showcasing top-quality ingredients from Quality Assured producers.
Many of these ingredients can be found in the Food Village, where you can meet producers and purchase items to enjoy at home.
Tickets are available HERE and include festival entry, lunch in the Garden View Restaurant overlooking the Show Gardens, and a chance to meet Neven during your visit.
Visitors can also explore the Bloom Inn, featuring products from 30 distilleries and breweries.
The Dunnes Stores Quality Kitchen Stage returns with over 30 live cookery demonstrations across five days, featuring Eva Pau (making her Bloom debut), Donal Skehan with guests Rupa Dewan and Sham Hanifa, and favourites including Neven Maguire, Catherine Fulvio, Shane Smith and Aisling Larkin.
Can I shop at the event?
Yes, while there’s much to inspire and entertain you at Bord Bia Bloom, there’s plenty to tempt you too!
Located in the Botanical Hub, the Nursery Village, in association with SmartFence, is brimming with a selection of floral and foliage delights from top Irish and international nurseries, with a wide array of plants available to purchase.
The Plant Emporium organised in conjunction with Arboretum, Bord Bia and the Kildare Growers Association, offers a wide selection of plants from Irish nurseries, including many featured in the Show Gardens. If you buy more plants than you can carry, fear not. You can store them safely in the two Plant Crèches, next to the Organiser’s Office, while you explore the festival.
The Food Village includes the popular Food Hall, sponsored by Love Irish Food, where over 80 of Ireland’s leading food producers showcase their produce. Visitors can meet producers, sample products, and purchase items to take home.
In the Indoor Shopping Pavilion, over 100 exhibitors offer a wide range of products and services, from home furnishings to holiday getaways.
The Outdoor Retail Area, set among the trees near the Show Gardens, features an extensive collection of exhibitors supplying garden products and equipment – from lawnmowers and conservatories to polydomes and garden essentials.
A treasured feature of Bord Bia Bloom, the DCCI Irish Craft Village brings together talented Irish craftspeople in a charming village setting.
Botanical and Floral Art in Bloom is an open submission exhibition, now in its 12th year, running until the end of June in the Phoenix Park Visitor Centre, where visitors can browse and purchase the artworks on display.
Should I bring the whole family?
Yes, absolutely! There is plenty of fun for families and children of all ages to get excited about at Bord Bia Bloom! Head to the Budding Bloomers Children’s Area, sponsored by the Road Safety Authority, for a joyous mix of educational and entertaining activities and performances; visit the Phoenix Park’s large playground behind the Show Gardens; and find a host of child-friendly demos, exhibits, and treats across the 70-acre site.
Don’t forget, children, aged 16 and under, can visit Bord Bia Bloom for free! (Up to two children per adult, additional child tickets are priced at €5.)
How can I get there?
There are so many ways to get to Bloom. Every effort has been made to help visitors choose sustainable ways to travel to the event. If you are travelling by public transport, you can take a number of Dublin Bus services to the park entrance. Or enjoy the buzz on board the free shuttle bus service from Parkgate Street to the festival.
Did you know that you can cycle right up to the event site? Once you arrive, you can lock your bike in the Bike Parks, sponsored by Healthy Ireland and supported by Dublin Cycling Campaign.
If you need to drive to Bloom you can park your car in Bloom Parking. Want to take away hassle of finding a parking space on the day? You can guarantee a car park space online now. So, all you just have to focus on is having a great day. You can book your parking ticket HERE.
For more information on how to get to the event click HERE.
Is Bord Bia Bloom accessible to everyone?
Yes, there will be disabled car parking in both car parks close to the entrances. Also, accompanying carers will be admitted free of charge. There will be wheelchair-accessible shuttle buses to the site from Heuston Station. The site will be tracked to help those with less mobility move around the festival and enjoy all it has to offer. For more information on accessibility click HERE.
What efforts have been made to improve sustainability at the event?
At Bord Bia Bloom, sustainability isn’t just a goal, it’s at the heart of everything they do. The festival are committed to reducing their impact on the environment and empowering visitors to make sustainable choices at the festival and at home.
Bord Bia were proud that their ongoing work in this area was recognised in 2025 when Bloom became the first event in Ireland to receive the ISO 20121: 2024 Event Sustainability Management Systems certification.
There are many sustainability initiatives running at Bloom 2026 so here are a few key points:
Bord Bia provide a free shuttle bus service. They are providing a secure cycle parking to decrease the carbon footprint associated with travel to the event.
There is a ban on single use plastics at the festival with vendors using compostable containers, cans or glass bottles.
There are several water refill stations on the site.
A large proportion of Bloom signage is stored throughout the year and then reused to avoid waste.
Where can I buy tickets?
Tickets are available here. Bord Bia are advising those planning to attend the event to book early in order to secure tickets for preferred dates and to avoid disappointment on the day.
To stay up to date with Bord Bia 2026 news. Sign up to the Bloom Ezine at bordbiabloom.com. Follow Bord Bia Bloom on social media – @BordBiaBloom on Instagram and Facebook ,and follow @bord.bia on Tik Tok.
