2026 Border Garden Competition
One of the most exciting opportunities for emerging garden designers has returned to the Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show (MIFGS), and we’re delighted to support it once again. Applications for the 2026 LCGD Border Garden Competition are now open, offering aspiring designers the chance to create a show-quality planting border and have their work seen by more than 100,000 visitors.
About the Competition
Held at the heritage-listed Royal Exhibition Building and Carlton Gardens, the Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show is the largest horticultural event in the Southern Hemisphere. As part of the Show’s commitment to developing emerging talent, the Border Garden Competition provides a platform for early-career, student and independent designers to demonstrate creativity, horticultural skill, and planting design expertise.
The 2026 competition marks the fifth edition of the Border Gardens and continues to celebrate small-space gardening, an increasingly significant part of contemporary Australian lifestyles.
LCGD Melbourne is proud to support this initiative, encouraging new designers to showcase what’s possible when planting design, horticulture and creativity come together.
Why Enter?
With only 16 finalist places available, being selected offers meaningful exposure and industry opportunities, including:
Presentation of your work at Australia’s premier garden show
The chance to meet potential clients and collaborators
Recognition among industry leaders
An opportunity to experiment, be creative and begin your show-garden journey
Finalists will also benefit from the Show’s extensive media attention and the prestige that comes with exhibiting on such a high-profile platform.
What You’ll Design
The brief invites entrants to create a 2.4m x 2.4m planting border, with complete freedom to shape a unique planting concept. Designers are encouraged to express their own style and consider themes such as:
wildlife-friendly planting
waterwise gardens for warmer climates
playful or immersive urban planting
seasonal combinations suited to late-March conditions
This is your chance to demonstrate your planting style, spatial sensitivity, layering, and technical understanding of plants.
Creative Direction: “Kaleidoscope”
For 2026, MIFGS introduces a Show-wide creative direction titled Kaleidoscope, a celebration of colour, transformation and shifting perspectives. While optional, aligning with the theme may offer enhanced promotional opportunities.
Designers may interpret the theme visually, conceptually or experientially, through colour gradients, mirrored or reflective materials, contrasting textures, or planting stories that evolve with movement.
What the Show Provides
Competitors will be supplied with:
A 2.4m x 2.4m raised Shapescaper corten-steel border (0.2m high)
Hessian ground covering
Mulch
Display board with designer name
All other materials, plants and styling elements are chosen, sourced and installed by the designer.
Submission Requirements
Applications are open to all designers who can demonstrate:
Strong horticultural understanding
Ability to design aesthetically and spatially
Creative flair
Interest in planting design
To apply, submit a single A3 PDF including:
Outline drawing + elevation
Mood board showing intended plant palette
Optional plant list
This is a concept-only submission. Finalists will receive further details, including access to Evergreen Connect for plant sourcing support.
Key Dates
Applications close: Friday 19 December, 5pm
Notification of results: Tuesday 22 December
Build days: Saturday 21 March – Sunday 22 March
Judging: Tuesday 24 March
Winners announced: Wednesday 25 March
Bump-out: Sunday 29 March – Monday 30 March
Full bump-in/out details are provided in the MIFGS Exhibitor Manual.
Awards
Three awards will be presented:
1st Place – Border Garden Winner
2nd Place
3rd Place
Winners receive trophies, public recognition and long-lasting industry visibility.
How to Enter
Submit your one-page concept as a PDF to:
info@lcgd.com.au
We strongly encourage LCGD students, graduates and emerging designers to apply. This is a unique and career-defining opportunity to showcase your planting design skills at Australia’s most celebrated horticultural event.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
This competition has launched the careers of many emerging designers and we would love to see LCGD talent represented strongly in 2026.
Submit your design concept before 19 December to info@lcgd.com.au
