NEWSLETTER
Including a Garden-Wide Takeover from Internationally Acclaimed Artist KAWS
Bronx, NY—Following the recent public opening of Van Gogh's Flowers, which welcomed record-breaking visitor numbers during its inaugural weekend, the New York Botanical Garden (NYBG) today announced its next two summer art exhibitions, Flower Power, featuring photography, sculpture, and installations celebrating flowers as a cultural symbol of peace and love, in 2026; and, KAWS, a garden-wide takeover featuring large-scale sculptures and installations by the internationally renowned artist, in 2027.
Reflecting NYBG's work at the intersection of ecology, design, and the arts, and building on its history of collaborating with contemporary artists, these exhibitions accent the Garden's annual slate of programs that welcome visitors to explore the joy and beauty of its living collections. Another upcoming exhibition highlight will be the return of NYBG's popular Holiday Train Show® this November, a New York City winter holiday tradition now in its 34th year.
In Spring 2026, NYBG will collaborate with multidisciplinary artist Mr. Flower Fantastic, who will reconceive the 23rd edition of The Orchid Show as a dazzling floral dreamscape tribute to N.Y.C.
"NYBG is proud to support the work of leading contemporary artists like KAWS and Mr. Flower Fantastic, offering the Garden as a canvas and our living collections as inspiration from which to create new, interdisciplinary work," said Jennifer Bernstein, CEO and The William C. Steere Sr. President of the New York Botanical Garden. "Our exhibitions illuminate the rich intersection of art and nature, offering visitors new, creative ways to immerse themselves in beautiful botanical experiences, to deepen their appreciation for visual art and design, and to explore the wonders of nature."
With programming in place for the next two years, NYBG is launching a new Two-Year Membership, offering members two full years of unlimited visits to the Garden and free admission to its must-see exhibitions. The Two-Year Membership also provides early access to ticket presales, exclusive NYBG merchandise offers, and helps support the Garden’s vital work in plant science and conservation. For more information on membership to NYBG, visit www.nybg.org.
Additional details on upcoming exhibition highlights, listed in chronological order, follows below.
EXHIBITION HIGHLIGHTS 2025–2027
Holiday Train Show
November 15, 2025–January 11, 2026
After more than three decades, the Holiday Train Show continues to delight as New York City’s favorite winter tradition and a can’t-miss adventure. The timeless magic of rail travel fills NYBG with seasonal cheer as model trains travel over famous bridges and through familiar City settings, bringing nearly 200 twinkling landmark replicas—including new surprises for 2025/2026—to life under the glass of the warm and welcoming Enid A. Haupt Conservatory. Get up close to see these miniature masterpieces, each one meticulously crafted from plant parts like palm fronds, pinecones, and cinnamon sticks. Outside, explore a glowing mountain-scape brimming with even more trains and picture-perfect moments. Journey through the exhibition with friends and loved ones after dark and see the show in a charming new light on select evenings during Holiday Train Nights. Whether young or old, the Holiday Train Show has sparked wonder in generations of visitors—and it’s the City’s best way to celebrate the season with all your loved ones.
The Orchid Show: Mr. Flower Fantastic's Concrete Jungle
February 7–April 26, 2026
Step into a dazzling floral dreamscape at The Orchid Show: Mr. Flower Fantastic's Concrete Jungle. A visionary designer and New York native, Mr. Flower Fantastic transforms NYBG's Enid A. Haupt Conservatory into a breathtaking orchid tribute to the spirit, style, and skyline of our beloved metropolis, N.Y.C. Known for blending floristry with pop art, street culture, and fine art, as evidenced by collaborations with brands like Louis Vuitton, Adidas, and Netflix, his installations at NYBG will be as monumental and awe-inspiring as the Big Apple itself.
Also known as “MFF,” Mr. Flower Fantastic is celebrated for his unique designs that blend floristry, sculpture, and pop culture. The artist chooses to remain anonymous and often wears a mask and gloves to protect himself from his flower allergy and to focus attention on the universal gift of flowers rather than himself.
Flower Power
May 23–October 18, 2026
Immerse yourself in a groovy and colorful flower show at Flower Power, a joyous celebration of the enduring symbolism of flowers as icons of peace and love. The exhibition combines vibrant monumental installations and botanical tableaus alongside photography, posters, paintings, and drawings, to highlight the ways in which, during the rise of "hippie culture" in the 1960s, flowers took on resonance as creative and enduring symbols that advanced closer relationships with the natural world. On view in NYBG's galleries and throughout NYBG's grounds, the exhibition invites visitors to “come together” and embrace flowers as meaningful symbols in our own lives.
KAWS
May 22–October 24, 2027
Both iconic and iconoclastic, KAWS takes over NYBG with bold interventions that put the artist’s work front and center against the living canvas of the Garden, creating unexpected moments for long-time fans and new viewers alike. Set out to find awe-inspiring scenes both inside our galleries and across our 250 acres, and experience KAWS’ boundary-defying work within the beauty and complexity of the natural world.
KAWS is internationally renowned for his hard-edge paintings, larger-than-life sculptures, and distinctive cast of characters, such as COMPANION, that have become iconic symbols of his work. His whimsical and often monumental creations explore themes of consumerism, isolation, and the complexities of human relationships.
About the New York Botanical Garden
The New York Botanical Garden (NYBG) has been a connective hub among people, plants, and the shared planet since 1891. For nearly 135 years, NYBG has been rooted in the cultural fabric of New York City, in the heart of the Bronx, its greenest borough. NYBG has invited millions of visitors to make the Garden a part of their lives, exploring the joy, beauty, and respite of nature. NYBG’s 250 acres are home to renowned exhibitions, immersive botanical experiences, art and music, and events with some of the most influential figures in plant and fungal science, horticulture, and the humanities. NYBG is also a steward of globally significant research collections, from the LuEsther T. Mertz Library collection to the plant and fungal specimens in the William and Lynda Steere Herbarium, the largest such collection in the Western Hemisphere.
The plant people of NYBG—dedicated horticulturists, enthusiastic educators, and scientific adventurers—are committed to helping nature thrive so that humanity can thrive. They believe in their ability to make things better, teaching tens of thousands of kids and families each year about the importance of safeguarding the environment and healthy eating. Expert scientists work across the city, the nation, and the globe to document the plants and fungi of the world—and find actionable, nature-based solutions to the planet’s dual climate and biodiversity crises. With eyes always looking forward, they train the next generation of botanists, gardeners, landscape designers, and environmental stewards, ensuring a green future for all. At NYBG, it’s nature—or nowhere.
###
Exhibitions in the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory are made possible by the Estate of Enid A. Haupt.
The New York Botanical Garden is located at 2900 Southern Boulevard, Bronx, New York 10458. For more information, visit nybg.org.
The New York Botanical Garden is located on property owned in full by the City of New York, and its operation is made possible in part by public funds provided through the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs. A portion of the Garden’s general operating funds is provided by The New York City Council and The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation. The Bronx Borough President and Bronx elected representatives in the City Council and State Legislature provide leadership funding.
Media Contact: Nick Leshi, nleshi@nybg.org
Image: Flower Power Rendering