Udon Thani, a north-eastern province in Thailand, will host the International Horticultural Expo in 2026, billed as the first global event to be held in the Greater Mekong Subregion.
Themed Diversity of Life: Connecting Water, Plants, and People for Sustainable Living, driven by the ‘3S’ food and farming policy and BCG economic model of the government and SDGs of the United Nations.
The International Association of Horticultural Producers (AIPH) chose Udon Thani, citing the site’s unique wetland area and the special connection between water, natural resources, and the people living in it.
Slated to run from November 1, 2026, to March 14, 2027, the International Horticultural Expo 2026 plans to attract 3.6 million visitors, and is expected to cost the Thai government 2,500 million baht in investment.
Chalermchai Sree-on, minister of agriculture and cooperatives, who was head of the Thai delegation, said that Thailand is committed to contributing to the global food security through the ‘3S’ farming and food policy, and the event will help shed light and ignite collaboration on sustainability issues.
Sayam Sirimongkol, Udon Thani’s governor, reaffirmed the city’s readiness to host the Expo, adding that the province’s status as the gateway to the Greater Mekong Subregion will guarantee a diverse display of cultures and floras befitting the theme.
This is not the first time Thailand will be hosting the horticultural expo, as Chiang Mai province has hosted two prior editions.
Chiruit Isarangkun Na Ayuthaya, president of Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau also highlighted the government’s development strategy and national agenda to promote the Bio-Circular-Green Economy Model that seeks to drive socio-economic growth while minimising and even reversing the negative impacts on the environment.
