One of Ilkley’s best-loved community events returns on Saturday 19th September 2026 as the 67th Annual Ilkley Flower Show takes place at All Saints Church, celebrating the very best in flowers, produce and crafts.
Visitors can enjoy more than 70 competition classes featuring flowers, floral art, fruit and vegetables, baking, handicrafts, photography, painting and children’s creations. The show opens to the public at 2.00pm, with the Presentation of Awards at 3.45pm, followed by the ever-popular sale of produce donated by exhibitors.
This year’s event also marks an exciting new chapter in the Flower Show’s history as the Ilkley Flower Show Society partners with the Ilkley Business Improvement District (BID) to launch Blooming Ilkley, a town-wide floral trail designed to bring businesses, residents and visitors together in celebration of one of Ilkley’s longest-running traditions. The competition will be judged by the Flower Show’s Patron, Alan Titchmarsh CBE DL VMH.
Blooming Ilkley – Bringing the Flower Show into the Heart of the Town
From 1st September, participating businesses throughout Ilkley will transform their shop windows using specially supplied wooden wheelbarrows as the centrepiece of imaginative floral displays. Together they will create a colourful floral trail encouraging residents and visitors to explore the town, support local independent businesses and celebrate the Flower Show long before the main event takes place.
Ahead of the Flower Show, the displays will be photographed and submitted to Alan Titchmarsh CBE DL VMH, who has kindly agreed to judge the competition.
Awards will be presented for Overall Winner, Sustainability and Most Innovative Display, while the public will also have the opportunity to vote for a People’s Choice Award, recognising the display that captures the hearts of the community.
Jos Mountcastle, local digital designer working with Ilkley BID, who helped develop the Flower Show’s new branding, promotional campaign and marketing materials, said:
“The Ilkley Flower Show has such a wonderful history and deserved a fresh campaign that would help it reach a wider audience while staying true to its roots. Working alongside the Flower Show Society and Ilkley BID, we’ve created a new identity, promotional materials and the Blooming Ilkley business competition to encourage the whole town to get involved.
“By bringing businesses into the celebrations we’re creating something much bigger than a one-day event – we’re showcasing everything that makes Ilkley special, encouraging people to explore our fantastic independent businesses and strengthening the connection between our community and the Flower Show.”
Celebrating Local Talent
This year’s competition features an impressive range of classes, generously sponsored by local businesses including Ideal Extraction, One Tivoli Place, Home Instead Ilkley, Annings, The Rotary Club of Ilkley Wharfedale, Abbeyfield, Prosperity Financial Planning, John Whitham Funeral Director, The Brewer, Lishman’s, Bramhope Beauty, The Unique Barber, Lee Windle and Porters.
Community Support is Helping the Flower Show Flourish
The success of this year’s Flower Show has only been possible thanks to the support of local sponsors, with David Shaw MBE, Chair of the Ilkley Business Forum, Ilkley Community Network and Ilkley Pride & Diversity, playing a key role in encouraging businesses to support the event and inviting Alan Titchmarsh to judge the new Blooming Ilkley competition.
David Shaw MBE said:
“I’d like to thank every business that has supported this year’s Flower Show, particularly our Joint Headline Sponsors, Greenholme House Care Home and Mayfield View Care Home, Care UK. Their generosity has enabled us to grow the event and introduce the new Blooming Ilkley initiative. It was wonderful that Alan Titchmarsh immediately embraced the idea of judging the competition, helping us create something that celebrates not only the Flower Show but everything that makes Ilkley such a special place.”
A Message from Alan Titchmarsh
Alan Titchmarsh CBE DL VMH said:
“I’m delighted to be Patron of the Ilkley Flower Show, not least since as a local lad back in the 1950s and 60s I enjoyed hugely going to the King’s Hall and looking at the wonderful displays of flowers, fruit and veg and even having a go at entering some of the classes myself. I never won, but it didn’t stop me gardening for a living!
“Please continue to support your local show and keep it at the heart of Ilkley’s activities. Gardening really is at the sharp end of conservation and the only way that most of us can make a positive difference to our surroundings – beautifying them at the same time as providing a sanctuary for wildlife.
“Enjoy the show and good luck if you are entering!”
Residents and visitors are encouraged to explore the Blooming Ilkley trail throughout the town from 1st September before visiting the 67th Annual Ilkley Flower Show at All Saints Church on Saturday 19th September.
ENTRY FORM & MORE INFORMATION HERE →
Visitors can enjoy more than 70 competition classes, admire the floral displays and vote for their favourite window in the People’s Choice Award.
