A Blooming Great Week at the 2026 Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show

Landscaping Victoria made a strong impact at MIFGS 2026, celebrating member excellence through the Boutique Gardens, connecting with thousands of consumers, distributing 10,000 copies of The Best, and strengthening industry relationships to support ongoing advocacy efforts.

Lauren Bianchi | 16 Apr 2026 | 4-5 min read

There’s something special about the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show. Each year, Carlton Gardens transforms into a living, breathing showcase of what’s possible in outdoor spaces, where creativity, craftsmanship, and horticulture come together in full colour.

For Landscaping Victoria, MIFGS 2026 was more than just a presence. It was an opportunity to connect with the public, with our members, and with the broader industry, while continuing to champion the value of professional landscaping.

Celebrating Creativity: The Boutique Gardens

The Boutique Gardens competition once again proved that great design doesn’t need a large footprint to make an impact. This year’s finalists delivered thoughtful, refined spaces that pushed creative boundaries while remaining grounded in real-world application.

A highlight of the competition was the opportunity for each finalist to present their garden to the judges, sharing the thinking behind their design, material selections and the challenges faced during the build. It offered a deeper understanding of each space and the intent behind it.

Taking out top honours was Timeless Outdoors with Reverie, a calm, immersive garden that balanced restraint and imagination, leaving a lasting impression on the judges.

Rubira by Design, led by Emily Rubira, was awarded runner-up for Native Whispers, a beautifully resolved space that celebrated native planting with elegance and clarity.

This year’s finalist lineup also showcased an exceptional breadth of talent and perspective:

• Centred Landscapes with White, a refined and considered space that embraces simplicity and tonal restraint.
• Luxescape Design with Longevity, exploring enduring materials and thoughtful spatial planning.
• Olivera Garden Designs with Re-Learn, Re-Grow, a garden centred around renewal, adaptability, and connection to the landscape.

Together, the 2026 Boutique Gardens reflected the depth of creativity within our membership, each garden offering its own interpretation of how outdoor spaces can be both functional and inspiring.

Our Members Across the Show

Beyond the Boutique Gardens, Landscaping Victoria members played a significant role across the broader show, contributing their expertise to a range of standout spaces.

Coastal Elements Landscaping brought Reverie to life with precision and care, while Kaspar Projects constructed Longevity, translating design into a beautifully resolved built form.

A special congratulations to Joel Barnett from InStyle Gardens, whose Welcome Garden je ne sais quoi was awarded a Gold Medal, along with the prestigious Mark Bence Award for Best Construction in the Show Garden Competition, a remarkable achievement that speaks to both craftsmanship and execution.

Once again, Semken Landscaping made an impressive contribution across multiple gardens, including Native Whispers and show gardens Love Blooms Here, Echoes of the Ancient Silk Road, and A Creation With a Conscience, showcasing both versatility and scale.

Avoca Landscape Construction delivered the build of Where We Gather, while HyQual Landscapes, in collaboration with Ayus Botanical, brought innovation to the forefront with their Balcony Garden Sustainable Sky.

Together, these contributions highlight the breadth of talent within Landscaping Victoria’s membership, from intricate balcony gardens to large-scale show gardens and everything in between.

Connecting with the Public

This year marked a subtle but important shift in how Landscaping Victoria engaged at the show.

Rather than large-scale consultation spaces, our focus turned to meaningful conversations, helping visitors better understand the value of working with a qualified, professional landscaper.

Across the week, we spoke with thousands of attendees at all stages of their landscaping journey. From those just starting to gather ideas to homeowners ready to begin, the conversations were consistent: people want confidence, clarity, and trusted professionals to bring their vision to life.

To support this, we distributed 10,000 copies of The Best, Landscaping Victoria’s consumer magazine, placing inspiration, expert insight, and real project examples directly into visitors' hands.

Importantly, every touchpoint was designed to guide people toward a single next step.

Through The Best, our on-site conversations, and even the QR codes featured on our iconic buckets, visitors were encouraged to explore Landscaping Victoria’s Find a Professional tool, an easy way to connect with vetted, trusted landscapers.

It’s a simple step, but a powerful one, helping turn inspiration from the show into real projects, delivered by the right professionals.

Strengthening Industry Connections

MIFGS also provided a valuable touchpoint for the industry itself.

Throughout the week, we met with members, future members and key stakeholders, strengthening relationships and opening conversations about the future of landscaping in Victoria. The show created space for meaningful networking, with countless conversations taking place across the gardens, stands and shared spaces.

Importantly, it also enabled a series of productive meetings that support Landscaping Victoria’s ongoing advocacy efforts, ensuring our members' voices are represented in broader industry discussions and future planning.

It was a reminder that while the gardens may take centre stage, it’s the people behind them, designers, builders, suppliers and collaborators, who drive the industry forward.

A Collective Effort

Behind the scenes, bringing the Boutique Gardens and LV presence to life is a true team effort.

A sincere thank you to Gardens at Night for once again illuminating the gardens and extending the experience into the evening, to Stilla for providing our cedar studio space throughout the week, and to Coolabah Turf and Garden City Plastics for helping us get thousands of the ever-popular recycled PP5 LV plastic buckets into the hands of show attendees. 

Their support, alongside the work of our members and partners, helps elevate the experience for both industry and public audiences alike.

Looking Ahead

MIFGS continues to be one of the most important moments on the calendar, not just for showcasing great work, but for shaping how the public understands landscaping.

For Landscaping Victoria, it’s a chance to advocate for the industry, celebrate our members, and reinforce the message that great outdoor spaces start with the right professionals.

And if this year was anything to go by, the momentum across our industry is only building.