Gardens Open Across Channel Islands, Early June

Tuesday 21 April 2026

The 2026 Rendez-vous aux Jardins, organised by the French Ministry of Culture and taking place Friday 5th to Sunday 7th June, is being launched in Guernsey this year.

2026 marks the 23 rd edition of the Rendez-vous aux Jardins. The theme this year, 'The Five Senses in the Garden: The View', invites visitors to discover gardens through the experience of sight and the perspectives they offer. The event showcases more than 2,800 parks and gardens across Europe, with more than 10 gardens from across the Bailiwick taking part (nine in Guernsey, two in Sark, and one event in Alderney).

Since 2003, the Rendez-vous aux Jardins has celebrated the richness and diversity of parks and gardens across France and in more than twenty participating European countries. The event is organised by the French Ministry of Culture around an annual theme chosen by the National Commission for Heritage and Architecture.

Following the broader theme "The Five Senses in the Garden" introduced in 2024, the 2026 edition focuses on the first of these senses - sight. Under the theme "The Five Senses in the Garden: The View", visitors are invited to explore how gardens are designed to frame landscapes, perspectives and visual experiences.

Deputy Sasha Kazantseva-Miller, President of the Committee for Economic Development, said:

"It's exciting to be launching this Europe-wide event right here in Guernsey. Such an occasion highlights the closer cultural and economic ties we continue to develop with our French neighbours, and provides an opportunity to showcase to the wider the continent our island's tremendous horticultural expertise and heritage."

Zoe Gosling, Lead Marketing Officer for VisitGuernsey, said:

"We are absolutely delighted to be supporting this event. This year's theme, The View, affords us an embarrassment of riches when it comes to our gardens, showcasing the very best our Islands have to offer. It demonstrates a tangible example of how working together can increase our reach, promoting Guernsey to a wider European audience, now made even more accessible thanks to a more convenient and visitor-friendly timetable for travel."

Paul Buckle, owner of the Charente private garden in the Vale, said:

"It's an absolute privilege to be taking part in this year's Rendez-vous aux Jardins and to welcome visitors into our subtropical garden. It's been an exciting year of reshaping and developing the space, especially following Storm Goretti, but the garden is now stronger than ever and we're looking forward very much to sharing our extensive collection of subtropical and tropical plants. We always enjoy chatting with visitors and hope they find plenty of inspiration and surprises as they explore and experience the diversity of nature."