Plant lovers heading to the Algarve this autumn have a date worth circling: the Mediterranean Garden Fair, run by volunteer group MGAP, is back at the FATACIL site in Lagoa with a record-strength line-up of 23 nurseries and growers. The 2026 theme — 'create a landscape that cares' — sums up where the event has been heading for years: gardens that cope with drought, work with native species and skip the invasive plants altogether.
The fair has come a long way since its first edition in 2009, when around 350 people showed up. In 2025 it drew 2,400 visitors across two days, and MGAP — a not-for-profit educational organisation run entirely by volunteers — uses the event as its main fundraiser and teaching platform for sustainable Mediterranean gardening.
Several new growers join this year, and they're a good reason to come even if you've been before. Aguaflora is a small specialist water plant nursery with a range of water lilies rarely offered to the public, plus plants for freshwater ponds and lakes. Susan Finlay grows tough plants suited to Mediterranean climate zones, Marca ADL specialises in native species including native trees, and Sementes à Espreita focuses on lawn replacement plants — increasingly relevant as water restrictions bite. Familiar favourites Jardim Seco return from Tavira with a large display of drought-resistant plants and a dedicated tree section.
The MGAP stand will sell bulbs, including hard-to-find natives for naturalising such as Paperwhite Narcissus, Scilla peruviana and bluebells, and the on-site bookshop stocks gardening and wildflower titles with new releases for the event. Free talks and demonstrations run both days, covering beautiful but sustainable gardening. Practical perks add up too: a Felco stand offering free tool sharpening, a plant crèche so you can drop your purchases and keep browsing, food and drink options with seating, and a family-friendly feel. New this year are ceramic and resin garden ornaments, recycled wood nesting boxes and a display of geodesic domes as outdoor structures.
One rule worth noting before you shop: invasive plants are banned from the fair entirely, and MGAP points visitors to invasoras.pt to check what to avoid. Anyone joining MGAP at the event gets membership valid through to December 2027, and members get free advice from experienced Mediterranean gardeners — handy whether you're tending an established plot or starting an edible garden from scratch.
For travellers, this is a genuinely local event rather than a tourist attraction, which is exactly its charm. It pairs well with an autumn Algarve trip: the coast is quieter, the weather mild, and the FATACIL site is easy to reach with direct access from the EN125 and ample free parking. If you want specific plants, the full exhibitor list is on the MGAP website (mgaportugal.org) and pre-orders are possible — a smart move for anything rare, like those water lilies.
