Chelsea Flower Show 2021: dates for the RHS event, will there be a virtual show – and what to do if you had tickets

The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) has announced the world famous Chelsea Flower Show will be moved to September for the first time in its 108-year history.

The RHS made the decision as the Covid-19 infection rate is still high across the UK, and there was no guarantee what tier London would be in by May.

It said it had a responsibility to exhibitors, visitors, volunteers and staff to delay the flower show until later in the year, when millions more people would be vaccinated and it would be more likely that levels of infection would be substantially reduced.

Sue Biggs, RHS director general, said: “Never have so many people gardened in recent times, nor needed the benefits of gardening more, so we will do our utmost to deliver a beautiful, uplifting and different RHS Chelsea safely in September 2021.”

Here is everything you need to know about it.

What are the new dates?

The revised dates for 2021’s Chelsea Flower Show mean the event will now take place between Tuesday 21 and Sunday 26 September.

The show will keep to plans first drawn up for the original May event, meaning a longer event with fewer visitors to help reduce crowds; it will look very different from normal, but the RHS said it hoped it would celebrate the best of autumn horticulture.

The majority of gardens and designers set for the Chelsea Flower Show 2020 will be returning to the Covid-safe event in 2021, with exhibitors due to take part in the cancelled May event given the opportunity to be at the autumn show.

Sue Biggs, RHS director general, said: “Whilst we are sad to have had to delay RHS Chelsea and are sorry for the disruption this will cause, we are excited that we are still planning to bring the world’s best-loved gardening event to the nation at a time when more people are gardening than ever.”

What happens if I had tickets?

“We know that the autumn dates may not be suitable for everyone," said Biggs, “but with our fantastic industry partners we will do everything we can to support them and create a show that will be a moment in history.”

The RHS said it would be in touch with people who had purchased tickets to the show, and asked ticket holders to refrain from contacting them immediately so they could handle the situation efficiently.

For more information, head to the RHS’ website

Will a virtual Chelsea Flower Show also take place?

Last year the show was cancelled for the first time outside of wartime because of the UK’s Covid-19 lockdown, and a virtual Chelsea Flower Show took place online.

A virtual Chelsea Flower Show will take place again this year.

The virtual Chelsea Flower Show will take place during the week of Tuesday 18 – Sunday 23 May, when the physical event was due to have taken place.

Will other RHS events be affected?

It is hoped the charity’s other shows – which take place later in the year – will still go ahead as normal, but the RHS said it would continue to follow government advice and provide updates if there are changes.

The RHS previously said the positive impact of plants will be a key theme at its flower shows in 2021, after people found solace in gardening this year.

Shows at Hampton Court Palace, Tatton Park, and Malvern will focus on the theme of health and wellbeing.