Bord Bia Bloom 2026 medal winners

Bord Bia Bloom is a world-class, uplifting and innovative horticulture, food, and drink experience with nature and sustainable living at its heart

Bord Bia Bloom celebrated 20 years with 11 gold medals awarded to show garden designers last weekend

Horticulture

2 June 2026

The 20th annual Bord Bia Bloom is over, 11 gold medals were awarded to show gardens championing sustainability, mental health and innovative urban living.

“It’s wonderful to be back at Bloom to celebrate its 20th anniversary and to witness its evolution over those two decades as the world of garden and planting design has progressed. With the climate pressures we are faced with, we need sustainable ideas and solutions, planting that is resilient and materials that can deliver more than once,” Andrew Wilson, chief judge, said.

He added: “happily, there are gardens at Bloom 26 that reflect these concepts while providing inspirational ideas and messages that prove the value of this show which remains relevant and responsive.”

The overall large garden category award went to the ‘Recycled, Reused and Refilled Sculptural Garden’ sponsored by Repak and designed by James Purdy, while the overall medium garden category award was presented to The ‘Future in Mind’ garden, sponsored by the Mental Health Commission and designed by Joe Eustace.

Both gardens reflect this year’s powerful theme of care – for the environment, for our communities and for our health and wellbeing.

A total of 19 medals were presented across the show garden category, including the ‘Most Sustainable Garden Award’, which went to the ‘Fingal Nurturing Communities Through Nature’ garden, sponsored by Fingal County Council and designed by Áit Urbanism + Landscape.

The garden is among a number at this year’s festival demonstrating how thoughtful design and community-focused initiatives can help people in compact or high-density urban settings reconnect with nature and biodiversity.

The overall concept garden award went to ‘Shared Roots, Common Shade’, sponsored by the European Commission and designed by Oliver and Liat Schurmann. The ‘I Can Create That Garden with Q102’, designed by Carleen Osborne, received the overall small garden award, while the overall balcony garden award was presented to ‘The Birdwatcher’s Balcony Garden’ sponsored by RTÉ Radio 1 and Mooney Goes Wild and designed by Barry Kavanagh.

In the Nursery Village, a total of 17 medals were awarded to new and returning plant nurseries, recognising excellence in horticulture and plant production. Meanwhile, this year’s Postcard Gardens, which are small pop-up gardens created by community groups from across the country, received a total of 14 medals.

A full list of all medal winners can be accessed here.