Southport Flower Show Reveals World-Famous Special Guests 2026

Key Points

• The Southport Flower Show 2026 takes place from Thursday 20 to Sunday 23 August at Victoria Park, Southport (PR8 1RX).
• It has been announced that there is an extensive list of special guest appearances covering the world of gardening, TV, cooking, sport and kids’ entertainment.
• Adam Frost, Arit Anderson and Joe Swift (presenters of BBC Gardeners’ World); Anton Du Beke (Strictly Come Dancing); TV chefs Phil Vickery, Briony May Williams and Candice Brown; children entertainers Andy Day and Justin Fletcher have already been confirmed.
• Also confirmed are Iolo Williams and Megan McCubbin (Springwatch), Su Pollard, Rob Rinder, Mr Motivator, Lee Burkhill (Garden Ninja) and Kevin Duala who will be serving as the official compere.
• The LFC Foundation will provide a fun packed schedule along with chances for photos with the UEFA Champions League trophy.
• Opening hours are from 10am until 6pm Thursday to Saturday and from 10am until 5pm on Sunday. Ticket prices start from about £27-£32.

Southport (Liverpool standard) August 12, 2026 — Organisers have confirmed an extensive line-up of special guests for the 2026 edition of the UK’s largest independent flower show, due to take place at Victoria Park from Thursday 20 to Sunday 23 August.

As reported by multiple outlets including the Liverpool Echo and The Guide Liverpool, the guest list covers horticulture experts, television personalities, chefs, entertainers and sports figures. Among the headline names are BBC Gardeners’ World presenters Adam Frost (Thursday), Arit Anderson (Friday) and Joe Swift (Saturday and Sunday), alongside garden designer and TV presenter Lee Burkhill, known as the Garden Ninja.

Strictly Come Dancing professional dancer and judge Anton Du Beke is scheduled to appear on Saturday 22 August, marking a return to the show after previously attending in 2014, according to the official Southport Flower Show announcement. Children’s entertainment will be led by CBeebies presenter Andy Day and Justin Fletcher (Mr Tumble), who are set to appear in the Celebrity Theatre.

Cookery demonstrations will feature TV chef Phil Vickery (Friday), Great British Bake Off winner Candice Brown (Saturday), and Briony May Williams, who is also hosting the cookery theatre and appearing on Thursday. The official compere for 2026 is Kevin Duala, an Aria Gold Award-winning broadcaster with more than 30 years of experience, as noted by event guides and local coverage.

Further confirmed guests include Springwatch favourites Iolo Williams and Megan McCubbin; actress and entertainer Su Pollard (Friday); TV personality and former MasterChef contestant Rob Rinder; fitness icon Mr Motivator; and Wigan-based gardening advocate Dave The Plantman.

When and where is Southport Flower Show 2026 taking place?

Southport Flower Show 2026 will be held at its traditional venue, Victoria Park in the centre of Southport, with the postcode PR8 1RX. The event runs for four consecutive days: Thursday 20, Friday 21, Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 August 2026.

Opening hours are 10am to 6pm from Thursday to Saturday, with a slightly earlier close at 5pm on Sunday. Organisers expect more than 50,000 visitors across the four days, according to local reporting.

What attractions and activities are planned for visitors?

Beyond the celebrity appearances, the show features extensive floral displays, show gardens and the Grand Floral Marquee, where husband-and-wife team Martin and Jill Fish will host “The Potting Shed” across all four days, offering gardening advice and seasonal growing tips.

The cookery theatre will host live demonstrations by the confirmed chefs, while a food village will feature more than 50 independent gourmet producers, as outlined in event guides. A shopping village with over 350 exhibitors will offer garden and homewares, crafts, jewellery and food and drink, alongside charity stands including the RSPB and Dogs Trust.

Family-oriented activities include the Children’s Trail, scarecrow hunts, alpaca encounters, children’s yoga, tennis skills sessions and creative doodling areas. Live music will be provided via the new Buskers Corner Stage, supported by Moonlight Events, while other entertainment includes birds of prey demonstrations from SMJ Falconry, dog displays from the West Lancs Dog Display Team and equine shows from Talent of the Horse.

A new wellbeing zone, The Lakeside Reset, will offer yoga, soundbaths, meditation, writing for wellbeing and family-friendly “Wiggle and Wind Down” sessions.

How is the LFC Foundation involved in Southport Flower Show 2026?

Liverpool FC’s official charity, the LFC Foundation, will attend the show with an interactive programme of sport, giveaways and its own floral display. The highlight, as reported by Explore Liverpool and the official flower show site, will be exclusive photo opportunities with the UEFA Champions League trophy, which organisers expect to be a major draw.

What are ticket prices and travel options?

Advance “early bird” tickets have been advertised from around £27–£28 plus fees, with gate prices reported at approximately £32, and late-entry tickets (after 3pm on Friday to Sunday) at £20. Children under 16 go free when accompanied by a paying adult.

Travel options include Merseyrail services to Southport, with discounted show tickets available at staffed stations, and Northern Rail services from Manchester and other northern hubs. A shuttle bus (number 27) will run every 15 minutes between Southport station and the showground on event days. Car parking is available at Princes Park and at Birkdale Common Park & Ride, with buses running to the showground every 15 minutes; parking is £10 per car per day.

Background of the development

Southport Flower Show is widely described as the UK’s largest independent flower show and in 2026 is marking its landmark 100th anniversary, according to local event guides. The event has long attracted high-profile guests from horticulture and television; past names have included Monty Don, Carol Klein, Christine Walkden, Joe Swift, David Domoney, Carol Vorderman, Anton du Beke and Suranne Jones, as noted on the official site.

The 2026 guest announcements have been rolled out over several months, beginning with Adam Frost as the first confirmed special guest in late 2025, followed by additional names including Anton Du Beke, Phil Vickery, Su Pollard and Joe Swift through to mid-2026. The inclusion of the LFC Foundation and the Champions League trophy represents a new crossover between football and the flower show, aimed at broadening appeal beyond traditional gardening audiences.

Prediction: how this development can affect local audiences and visitors

For Southport and the wider Merseyside and North West audience, the expanded celebrity line-up and the LFC Foundation’s involvement are likely to increase footfall and diversify the visitor profile. Families with children may be drawn by the CBeebies and children’s TV presenters, while football fans could be attracted specifically by the Champions League trophy experience, potentially boosting weekend attendance and spend in the town’s hospitality and retail sectors.

For local businesses, the expectation of more than 50,000 visitors over four days suggests heightened demand for accommodation, food and drink, transport and parking, which could benefit Southport’s economy if managed alongside congestion and parking pressures. For regular flower show attendees, the broader entertainment offer and new wellbeing zone may encourage longer stays and repeat visits across multiple days, especially with the four-day Patron Pass option.