First Lady Announces 2026 Spring Garden Tours

White House: Briefings & Statements

Published March 20th, 2026

Detected March 20th, 2026

Summary

The White House announced the 2026 Spring Garden Tours, scheduled for April 18-19, 2026. The event is free and open to the public, but requires timed tickets distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. The notice also details prohibited items and permitted items for attendees.

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What changed

The Office of the First Lady has announced the dates and details for the 2026 Spring Garden Tours at the White House. The event will take place on Saturday, April 18, 2026, and Sunday, April 19, 2026, offering public access to the White House gardens. Free, timed tickets will be distributed daily by the National Park Service on a first-come, first-served basis, requiring attendees to arrive early.

Compliance officers should note the extensive list of prohibited items, including firearms, explosives, and certain electronic devices, as well as specific size restrictions for bags. While most items needed for medical purposes are permitted, they must be identified to Secret Service personnel. The notice also provides information on event cancellation due to inclement weather and directs visitors to the White House website for further details on accessing the campus. No specific compliance deadline is mentioned, as this is an informational notice about a public event.

What to do next

Review the list of prohibited and permitted items for the 2026 Spring Garden Tours.
Advise potential attendees on ticket distribution procedures and required documentation.
Monitor the White House website for any updates or potential cancellations due to weather.

Source document (simplified)

Office of the First Lady

First Lady Melania Trump Announces 2026 Spring Garden Tours

The White House

March 20, 2026

This spring, the White House will open its historic gardens and grounds to visitors during the 2026 Spring Garden Tours. The grounds will be open Saturday, April 18, 2026, from 10:00 AM to 4:30 PM, and Sunday, April 19, 2026, from 10:00 AM to 2:30 PM.

Visitors will have the opportunity to explore the beauty of the South Lawn of the White House as well as the Rose Garden and the White House Kitchen Garden. Each spring, the gardens of President’s Park come into full bloom, offering vibrant color and a reflection of the natural beauty of the United States.

This event is free and open to the public. A ticket is required for all attendees, including small children. The National Park Service will distribute free, timed tickets at a tent outside the White House Visitor Center each day of the tours beginning at 8:30 AM. The White House Visitor Center is located at 1450 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC, 20004, near the intersection of 15th Street and E Street Northwest.

Tickets will be distributed—one ticket per person—on a first-come, first-served basis.

Please note the following items are not allowed on the White House grounds:

Aerosols
Ammunition
Animals other than service/guide animals
Backpacks and bags exceeding size restrictions (18” x 13” x 7”)
Bicycles and scooters
Drones and other unmanned aircraft systems
E-cigarettes
Electronic tablets
Explosives
Firearms
Glass, thermal, or metal containers
Laser pointers
Lighters
Mace/pepper spray
Metal water bottles
Packages
Rangefinders
Selfie sticks
Signs and flags of any kind
Structures
Supports for signs and placards
Toy guns
Umbrellas with metal tips
Weapons of any kind
Wearable technology capable of photo or video
Any other items determined to be potential safety hazard The Secret Service reserves the right to prohibit any other personal items. However, strollers, wheelchairs, umbrellas (no metal tips), and cameras are permitted. All items needed for medical purposes will be permitted on the tour (such as wheelchairs, electric scooters, glucose tablets, and EpiPens). Please identify and explain all items needed for medical purposes to Secret Service personnel upon arrival. In the event of inclement weather, the event may be canceled. Please call the 24-hour information line at (202) 456-7040 to check on the status of the event. For more information, including what visitors will need to access the White House campus, please visit www.WhiteHouse.gov/Visit.