September 9, 2026 | Sarasota, FL – Marie Selby Botanical Gardens officially launches its season with a year-long calendar of special exhibitions, programs, and dynamic events. As Selby Gardens advances its mission to offer bayfront sanctuaries that connect people with air plants of the world, native nature, and the rich history of the region, it invites guests to explore the beauty and significance of its gardens, both today and for generations to come.
Jennifer Rominiecki, President and CEO of Selby Gardens, said, “We are delighted to welcome visitors from our local community, across the nation, and around the world to the 2026–2027 season at our Downtown Sarasota and Historic Spanish Point campuses, where a year of inspiring exhibitions, programs, and experiences awaits.”
Rominiecki added, “Marie Selby’s extraordinary vision has flourished into an internationally recognized botanical institution encompassing two bayfront campuses and a world-renowned research center. This season reflects our commitment to serving as The Living Museum®, bringing together exceptional horticultural displays, compelling exhibitions, and immersive experiences that celebrate the connections among plants, people, and place.”
For more information about exhibitions, events, sponsorships, ticket sales, and membership, visit selby.org
SEASON HIGHLIGHTS
EXHIBITIONS
The Orchid Show 2026: Christian Sampson
Presented by Better-Gro
With support from Carole Crosby and Larry Wickless
On view October 10 – December 6, 2026
Downtown Sarasota campus
The Orchid Show at Selby Gardens’ Downtown Sarasota campus is a much-anticipated annual event. This year’s show will feature a creative collaboration between the team at Selby Gardens and artist Christian Sampson, known for creating playful installations of color, light, and form using glass, acrylic, and dichroic film. A selection of Christian’s site-specific works will be exhibited in the Richard and Ellen Sandor Museum of Botany & the Arts. A number of these works draw inspiration from Selby Gardens’ outstanding orchid collection, which is the finest scientifically documented collection of its type in the world. Additional works by Christian will be sited in the gardens and in the Display Conservatory, where they will enrich a stunning display of living orchids and other epiphytes, or air plants.
New Feet Within My Garden Go: The Poetry of Emily Dickinson
Sponsored by A. Hamilton and Edith T. Gardener Fund at Gulf Coast Community Foundation
Presenting Sponsor of the Patti Smith Residency: Marianne & Bill McComb
November 21, 2026 – August 29, 2027
Historic Spanish Point campus
Following the success of the most recent exhibition at the Historic Spanish Point campus, featuring A Child’s Garden of Verses by Robert Louis Stevenson, Selby Gardens will continue the literary theme by presenting a new exhibition featuring the poetry of Emily Dickinson. A selection of Dickinson’s best-known, nature-inspired poems will be sited throughout the Historic Spanish Point campus. Accompanying the poems will be illustrations by artist Abby Wright and photographs of pages from Dickinson’s own herbarium, featuring her personal collection of pressed plants. The poems will also be narrated by Selby Gardens’ Artist in Residence, Patti Smith, who provided the inspiration for this multi-sensory experience.
Jean & Alfred Goldstein Exhibition Series
On view February 7 – May 30, 2027
Downtown Sarasota campus
Details to be announced
Molly Hatch: Lotus & Lily
Summer 2027
Downtown Sarasota campus
Molly Hatch is a renowned artist and designer best known for her monumental installations of hand-painted ceramic plates. Selby Gardens is honored to collaborate with Molly on the next summer exhibition at the Downtown Sarasota campus. This exhibition will feature exciting new works by Molly that draw inspiration from Selby Gardens’ botanical research and collections. The works are particularly focused on lotuses and waterlilies, which thrive as living plants at Selby Gardens and feature in its preserved and library collections. The works will be split between the Richard and Ellen Sandor Museum of Botany & the Arts and the Marcy and Michael Klein & Stone Foundations Lily Pond Garden. The latter will feature Rise, Molly’s largest and most ambitious work to date, which will suspend above the water and integrate with living plant material.
PERFORMANCE
An Evening with Patti Smith Dedicated to Emily Dickinson
Presenting Sponsor of the Patti Smith Residency: Marianne & Bill McComb
October 13, 2026
Historic Spanish Point campus
Writer, performer, visual artist, and Selby Gardens’ Artist in Residence returns to the Historic Spanish Point campus in connection with the upcoming exhibition New Feet Within My Garden Go: The Poetry of Emily Dickinson.
Details and ticket information to be announced.
SEASONAL LIGHT SHOWS
Lights at Spooky Point
Sponsored by Community Foundation of Sarasota County and Koski Family Foundation
On view October 1 – 31, 2026
Historic Spanish Point campus
A Halloween Tradition, Lights at Spooky Point returns to the Historic Spanish Point campus for a fifth season and brings fantastically fun creations and unique Halloween lights at every bend of an eerily lit path through the wooded campus and past several historic structures. This classic Halloween experience is designed for all ages. Visit selby.org for ticket information.
Lights in Bloom®
Presented by Community Foundation of Sarasota County
On view December 5, 2026 – January 2, 2027
Downtown Sarasota campus
Lights in Bloom® features more than two million lights illuminating the gardens and walkways of our Downtown Sarasota campus and is a fun holiday tradition that offers photo opportunities, activities, and entertainment. This award-winning holiday light show returns to Selby Gardens this December. Visit selby.org for ticket information
EVENTS
Spooktacular
Spooktacular is part of the Ann Winslow Donelly and Norbert P. Donelly Family and Community Engagement Series. The event is also sponsored by: Koski Family Foundation
October 25, 2026 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Downtown Sarasota campus
A family-friendly, Halloween-inspired event including traditional Halloween happenings like trick-or-treating, arts and crafts, fun and educational activities, as well as more frightening (but not too scary) options for older children including storytelling. Children and families are encouraged to dress in costume and bring their own trick-or-treat bags to collect their goodies. Food and beverage available for purchase. Selby Spooktacular is free for Selby Gardens’ members and included with general admission. To become a member, visit selby.org
Lunch in the Gardens Series
Series Chairs: Jean Weidner Goldstein, Teri A Hansen, and Margaret Wise
Series Sponsor: Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation
Chaired by leading community philanthropists, our Lunch in the Gardens series features engaging speakers with interactive elements during a delightful lunch in the unforgettable bayfront setting of our Downtown Sarasota campus. Proceeds support Selby Gardens’ community education programs, international research, conservation, and beautiful world-class horticulture displays. Tickets and sponsorship information available at selby.org
Fall 2026 Lunch in the Gardens
October 29, 2026
Co-Chairs: Ariane Dart and Katie Hollingsworth
Downtown Sarasota campus
Celebrating The Orchid Show 2026: Christian Sampson
Special Guest: Christian Sampson
Spring 2027 Lunch in the Gardens
April 14, 2027
Co-Chairs: Nikki Sedacca and Montana Taplinger
Downtown Sarasota campus
Celebrating the 2027 Jean & Alfred Goldstein Exhibition Series (to be announced)
Cocktails at the Cottage
November 19, 2026
Co-Chairs: Nora Johnson and Pauline Wamsler
Historic Spanish Point campus
Benefiting the Historic Spanish Point campus with an exclusive preview of the exhibition
New Feet Within My Garden Go: The Poetry of Emily Dickinson
Details and ticket information to be announced.
New Year’s Eve Gala
December 31, 2026
Downtown Sarasota campus
Selby Gardens presents Sarasota’s most sophisticated black-tie New Year’s Eve experience at our Downtown Sarasota campus. Enjoy private access to our award-winning Lights in Bloom® holiday light show, passed hors d’oeuvres, a seated four-course dinner, dancing, as well as a performance by The Sarasota Ballet’s Margaret Barbieri Conservatory. The countdown to the new year culminates with a champagne toast and a perfect view of the fireworks overlooking Sarasota Bay.
Details and ticket information to be announced.
The Orchid Ball 2027
February 6, 2027
Co-Chairs: Liebe Gamble & Ashley Kozel
Downtown Sarasota campus
This elegant evening celebrates the soon-to-be-announced 2027 Jean & Alfred Goldstein exhibition throughout the grounds of Selby Gardens’ Downtown Sarasota campus. Proceeds benefit Selby Gardens’ community education programs, international research and beautiful world-class horticulture displays, while enabling thousands of underserved children and their families to connect with our bayfront sanctuaries.
Details and ticket information to be announced.
Garden to Plate Wine Dinner
March 5, 2027
Co-Chairs: Elizabeth Moore and Audrey Robbins
Downtown Sarasota Campus
A casually elegant outdoor Garden-to-Plate dining experience. Enjoy fine wines selected by Michael Klauber, complementing a multi-course dinner personally designed by Phil Mancini of Michael’s on East.
Details and ticket information to be announced.
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About Marie Selby Botanical Gardens
Marie Selby Botanical Gardens provides 45 acres of bayfront sanctuaries connecting people with air plants of the world, native nature, and our regional history. Established by forward-thinking women of their time, Selby Gardens is composed of the 15-acre Downtown Sarasota campus and the 30-acre Historic Spanish Point campus in the Osprey area of Sarasota County, Florida. The Downtown Sarasota campus on Sarasota Bay is the only botanical garden in the world dedicated to the display and study of epiphytic orchids, bromeliads, gesneriads and ferns, and other tropical plants. There is a significant focus on botany, horticulture, education, historical preservation, and the environment. Selby Gardens’ Downtown Sarasota campus is the world’s first net positive energy botanical garden complex, generating more energy than it consumes. The Historic Spanish Point campus is located less than 10 miles south along Little Sarasota Bay. One of the largest preserves showcasing native Florida plants and active archaeology that is interpreted for and open to the public, it celebrates an archaeological record that encompasses approximately 5,000 years of Florida history. Marie Selby Botanical Gardens is a Smithsonian Affiliate and is also accredited by the American Alliance of Museums. Selby Gardens was selected for Time magazine’s annual list of the world’s greatest places 2024. For more information visit selby.org.