The Orchid Show is next week!
The 78th Santa Barbara International Orchid Show “Orchid Escape” will be held at Earl Warren Showgrounds Friday-Sunday, March 20-22, 2026, 9:00 am-5:00 pm. Complete information on the show is on their website SBIOS.
Note: The March 11, 2026, the OSSB monthly meeting and AOS Judging are Cancelled.
Want to see the orchids at their freshest before the doors open? Here’s how:
OSSB Display Setup: Wed, March 18, 9:00 am-1:00 pm. Bring your orchids in for the Society Display. Assist Display Designer Phil Watt with installing the display. From lights to theme props, and of course orchids of all descriptions, you get to experience setting up an orchid display and insider access to the exhibit hall.
Phil Watt asks members to bring plants and lights. We need plants!! Do you have something in bloom? Clean it up and bring it in. He will be at the show starting at 9:00 am to receive plants. The earlier the better so that he has an idea of where to place them in the display. The cutoff time is 1:00 pm, to allow time to write the labels and place them.
Ribbon Judging: Thurs, March 19, arrive before 9:00 am. Be an Orchid Judge during the Ribbon Judging session. A team effort, ribbon judging lets you get to know the details of exhibits and the orchids on display as you hunt down the judging entries for your expert evaluation guided by an American Orchid Society (AOS) Judge. Your team’s experienced judge will explain what to look for in the best orchids. Registration to sign up for lunch was BEFORE WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 28, BUT, you can register now without the lunch. Register online: https://sborchidshow.com/register-to-judge/. Lunch is available for ribbon judges for $10.
OSSB Sales Booth: Fri, Sat and Sun, March 20, 21 and 22, 9:00 am-5:00 pm, JOIN US to staff the Society sales booth in the Sales hall. We really need everyone in the Society to help cover all 3 days for a couple of hours minimum. For some, while shows are nice, Shopping is the real thrill. We will have plants donated by members. Bring your divisions and spare plants to the sales booth before 9:00 am on Friday for this once-a-year fund-raising opportunity!
Register Plants: Got something fantastic to display? Orchids need to sign up too. Register your plants for judging via online here https://www.sborchidshow.com/plant-registration until 10:00 pm on Tues, March 17 or in person at the show before 6:00 pm on Wed, March 5. See the Exhibitor Guide on the show website to fill in the plant registration forms.
Volunteer for the Show: Be sure to check out the SBIOS Volunteers page and sign up to donate a few hours to make this show one of the best in the world.
Special Evening Events this year (ticketed separately), full details and tickets SBIOS:
Thursday, March 19 is Orchid Serenity – Yoga and Soundbath, $45-$50
Friday, March 20 is Orchids After Dark Opening Night Celebration, $35
Saturday, March 21 is Orchid Escape Dinner, $198.35 four course dinner, $246.28 for dinner plus wine.