The Horticultural Trades Association has announced its 2026 calendar of events, with returning industry-wide flagship events, regular webinars and member-focused regional events, building on last year’s success.
The Garden Press Event kicks off the start of the physical events programme on 17 February at the Business Design Centre in London. Now in its twentieth year, this must-attend diary date for press and media professionals, in collaboration with GIMA, attracts hundreds of members of the garden press and media each year.
The first round of regional events will focus on catering and will be held on various dates in February and March. Catering remains one of the strongest growth areas for garden centres. It now accounts for around 17% of total turnover (on average) and has grown year-on-year for the past three years.
The HTA regional catering events (Southeast, Southwest, Midlands and North England) will bring together garden centre, café, and restaurant teams to explore the latest trends, expert insights, and opportunities in this rapidly growing sector. Customer demand for catering at garden centres is also rising. UK adults make around 148 million visits to garden centre cafés each year, with 56% having visited one in the last 12 months.
The programme of events continues into June, with the return of the HTA’s National Plant Show to NAEC Stoneleigh. More regional events are scheduled for the Summer and into Autumn, and Horticulture, the Conference returns to the Barbican Centre in London on 24 September.
The popular Association of Professional Landscapers (APL) Cluster Meetings will also be continuing across various regions in 2026 – full details on the website here: hta.org.uk/apl/events/clusters/apl-cluster-meetings
Elia Johnston, Director of Membership and Marketing at the Horticultural Trades Association (HTA), commented: “Our team works hard to create a programme of events that not only benefits our members but also offers them a chance to connect and engage with their peers while sharing their experiences and knowledge of the industry. In 2025, our events programme attracted over 4,765 visitors.
“Last year, we successfully ran 37 regional events across the UK, enabling hundreds of members to attend events close to home and engage with similar businesses in their area. The feedback we received was invaluable in shaping our 2026 programme, with catering clearly identified as a growing area of interest, which is now embedded across our regional activity.
“We know our events programme offers unparalleled opportunities to build connections and exchange best practices. It also highlights the HTA’s commitment to supporting our members and providing them with the tools and information to thrive.”
For more information about the HTA’s programme of events, or to register interest in attending, visit: hta.org.uk/current-events.
