International horticultural exhibitions are increasingly becoming platforms for more than floral displays. They are creating opportunities to connect horticulture with green infrastructure, biodiversity, education, tourism and long-term community development.
That was a central theme of the AIPH International Horticultural Expo Conference, held Sept. 14, 2026 at Castello Svevo in Bari, Italy, as part of the 78th AIPH Annual Congress. Delegates heard updates on upcoming exhibitions around the world and how their host cities are planning lasting environmental, social and economic benefits.
AIPH Expo Conference: Preparing for a Global Audience
GREEN×EXPO 2027 Yokohama, Japan, is preparing to open March 19, 2027. Organisers reported that more than two million admission tickets had already been sold six months ahead of opening. The Expo will combine Japanese horticultural traditions with green technology, biodiversity, local planting and community participation, while organisers have also reported ISO 20121 certification for sustainable event management.
Thailand’s Udon Thani International Horticultural Expo will open Nov. 1, 2026, with a focus on wetlands, water management and biodiversity. The event will feature gardens from 20 countries and organisations, corporate gardens, academic exhibitions, horticultural competitions and cultural programming.
Plans for Expo 2031 Minnesota include five climate zones, proposed biodomes, international gardens and pollinator education, with an emphasis on creating facilities and programmes that continue serving communities after the exhibition closes.
Gardens designed to leave a legacy
Conference presentations also highlighted exhibitions where horticulture is being integrated into broader urban and environmental projects. The 2028 Ulsan International Garden Expo in South Korea plans gardens involving citizens, students, overseas participants and companies, with plant exchanges and public gardens supporting its vision of a sustainable garden city.
In Baghdad, plans for Expo 2029 Garden are part of a proposed 375-hectare development, with more than 60 per cent designated as open space. Water management, modern agriculture, green cities and innovation are central to the project, which aims to create permanent parks, gardens and educational facilities.
Expo 2027 İzmir in Türkiye is building on the restoration of land once used for construction debris. Plans include drought- and coastal-resilient planting, wetland protection and a concentrated exhibition route intended to limit the development footprint.
The conference also looked back at the 2026 Taean International Horticultural-Healing Expo in South Korea, which attracted approximately 1.83 million visitors and explored how horticulture, forestry and marine resources can contribute to wellbeing.
Building the visitor experience
Beyond gardens and landscapes, conference speakers discussed how organisers can reach wider audiences and prepare the teams needed to deliver large international events. AIPH is working with Trivandi on a learning platform for horticultural Expo organisers and their workforces, covering areas such as operations, sustainability, cultural awareness and decision-making.
Visitor engagement was another focus, with Living Hospitality Global demonstrating how planting, hospitality, retail and storytelling can work together to bring horticulture into everyday experiences. The collaboration will continue at GREEN×EXPO 2027 Yokohama through AIPH’s Garden, with concepts that connect gardens, food, hospitality and resource reuse.
As AIPH President Leonardo Capitanio noted at the conference, international Expos can take horticulture beyond the industry itself, introducing plants and gardens to millions of people while stimulating investment, tourism and trade.
For another view of horticultural innovation reaching the market, see Two Hydrangea Brands Set North American Liner Launch for 2027.
