Gnomes return to Chelsea; Blanchett, May decorate

The Royal Horticultural Society has brought garden gnomes back to the Chelsea Flower Show for 2026, ending the event’s long-running ban on the ornaments for only the second time in its history. Celebrities including Cate Blanchett, Queen guitarist Sir Brian May and Dame Mary Berry have decorated the figures, which will be shown at the London event and then sold in an online auction, the RHS said. The auction opens on Friday, May 15, and runs through Sunday, May 24, with proceeds going to the RHS Campaign for School Gardening. RHS Chelsea Flower Show runs from May 19 to May 23 at the Royal Hospital Chelsea in London. ### Why are gnomes back at Chelsea this year? The RHS said the 2026 move is a charity fundraiser tied to its work with schools. The society said funds from the auction will support its Campaign for School Gardening, which it said helps pupils learn through gardening and supports wellbeing, skills and environmental awareness. For the Chelsea show, the RHS described the return as a one-off lifting of the ban rather than a permanent rule change. (rhs.org.uk) The organization said this is only the second time in the show’s history that gnomes have been allowed back in. ### Which celebrities decorated the gnomes? Cate Blanchett and Sir Brian May are among the best-known names attached to the display, according to the RHS and reports published on May 14. (rhs.org.uk) The RHS also named Dame Mary Berry among the celebrity contributors. Other participants cited in coverage of the launch included Alan Titchmarsh, Tom Allen, Dame Joanna Lumley and Bill Bailey. The Telegraph reported on May 14 that the decorated figures were being lined up among the show’s floral displays ahead of the event. AOL and other outlets said the ornaments would appear on the show floor before being offered to bidders online. ### Where will visitors see them at the show? RHS Chelsea Flower Show takes place on the grounds of the Royal Hospital Chelsea on the banks of the River Thames in London, according to the event page. (rhs.org.uk) The RHS said the celebrity-decorated gnomes will be on display at the 2026 show, alongside the gardens, floral exhibits and shopping areas that make up the annual event. (telegraph.co.uk) The RHS has billed the 2026 edition as another year of “horticultural excellence and exceptional displays of floral art,” while its highlights page points visitors to show gardens and exhibits across Main Avenue and Royal Hospital Way. The organization did not, in the material reviewed, specify a separate permanent gnome zone, saying instead that the figures would be on display at the show. (rhs.org.uk) ### What else is in the 2026 Chelsea show? The RHS said the 2026 Chelsea event will feature show gardens, floral displays and other installations across the site. AOL’s May 14 report said the gnomes will appear in a wider show that also includes exhibits addressing climate change and wildlife decline. RHS material released ahead of the event also points to garden design displays and exhibitor installations as central parts of the show. (rhs.org.uk) The organization said Chelsea aims to inspire, educate and excite visitors about horticulture. ### How can people bid, and when does the show open? The RHS said the online auction for the celebrity-decorated gnomes begins on Friday, May 15, and closes on Sunday, May 24. (rhs.org.uk) The society said the figures will be available to bid on online after going on display at the show. Press preview for RHS Chelsea is scheduled for May 18, according to the RHS media page, before the public show opens on May 19. (rhs.org.uk) The event then runs through May 23 in London, while bidding on the gnomes continues until May 24. (rhs.org.uk 1) (rhs.org.uk 2)