Last Updated on March 8, 2026 by Adrienne
The Chicago Botanic Garden’s Orchid Show, a showcase of this beautiful flower that includes more than 10,000 blooms, is back in town from now until March 22, 2026 with daily hours from 10 am to 4 pm. The theme for the 2026 show is “Feelin’ Groovy,” an ode to the 60s and 70s. Members receive complimentary tickets and can purchase additional tickets for $10/adult. Non-member tickets are $16/adult. I’d recommend allowing 1-2 hours to see all the orchid displays and walk around the garden a bit if it’s not too chilly.
The orchid displays start before you even enter the show, with orchids in hanging baskets in the hallway outside the exhibit hall. As you make your way into the show, the orchids are integrated into architectural elements like doorway arches.
The highlight of the show for me was the conservatories, where there are thousands of orchid blooms. There are lots of hanging baskets in here, which were so pretty against the glass ceilings of the conservatory.
I loved the variety in the colors and shapes of the orchids. The Chicago Botanic Garden has done such a great job cultivating and displaying these flowers for this show.
I highly recommend a visit to the Chicago Botanic Garden’s orchid show if you like flowers. Even though we went on a weekend and it was a bit crowded, we still had plenty of space to commune with the orchids. According to the Botanic Garden, weekdays should be less crowded, so if avoiding crowds is a priority I’d recommend going then.
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Disappointing compared to past years. The “Magnified” part of it was too gimmicky. The big arched displays were too high to really appreciate the blooms.