What Is the ARS National Convention & Rose Show?
The ARS National Convention & Rose Show is the American Rose Society's annual national gathering, combining educational programming with a judged rose show. The next edition, themed "Medley of Roses," is scheduled for October 2–5, 2026, at the Sheraton Music City Nashville Airport Hotel in Nashville, Tennessee, hosted by the ARS Nashville Rose Society. It is aimed at rose growers, exhibitors, and anyone interested in rose culture, and the main way to get details and register is through rose.org.
What happens at the event
The convention pairs a national rose show — where growers exhibit and compete — with the society's broader educational mission. Based on how ARS describes its programming, attendees can expect a mix of:
- Rose show exhibition and judging — the centerpiece competition for exhibitors.
- Educational sessions and speakers — ARS notes its educational lineup draws speakers "from around the world."
- Social and society programming — a chance to meet growers from other local societies.
The 2026 edition is hosted by a local society (Nashville), which is the standard pattern: ARS national events rotate host cities and are run with a local rose society.
Who it's for
| Audience | Why it fits |
|---|---|
| Rose exhibitors | The national rose show is the main competitive draw |
| Home growers | Educational sessions and access to experienced growers |
| Local society members | Networking across societies and regions |
| Newcomers curious about roses | A concentrated introduction to rose culture and ARS |
You don't need to be an expert exhibitor to attend — the event combines competition with general rose-growing education.
How to get details and participate
- Go to rose.org and look for the convention listing. The homepage currently features the 2026 event under the heading "2026 ARS National Convention & Rose Show" with a "Learn More" link.
- Follow the "Learn More" link for the event page, which is where schedule, registration, and hotel details would be posted.
- Check back if specifics aren't listed yet — the event is in 2026, so registration and full programming may not be published at all times.
- Contact the host society if you have questions the event page doesn't answer; the ARS Nashville Rose Society is named as host.
The site does not state registration fees, deadlines, or whether the rose show is open to non-members, so confirm those directly through the event page rather than assuming.
Related ARS resources worth knowing
If you're considering the convention, a few adjacent ARS offerings may be useful:
- Local rose societies — ARS maintains resources for finding a society in your area, which is often the easiest path to convention news and carpooling or shared lodging.
- Webinars — ARS runs monthly educational webinars; the site states these are free for ARS members.
- The Fragrant Rose e-newsletter — described as free to your inbox, with rose-growing tips.
- Free e-membership — ARS lists a free e-membership option, separate from full membership.
Note the distinction: webinars are described as free for members, while the e-newsletter and e-membership are described as free — these are not the same thing, so check which applies before counting on access.
Practical considerations
- Location: Sheraton Music City Nashville Airport Hotel, Nashville, TN — an airport hotel, which simplifies travel for out-of-town attendees.
- Dates: October 2–5, 2026 — a multi-day event, so plan for lodging across several nights if attending the full program.
- Timing: Because the event is more than a year out, treat any details beyond date, venue, and host as subject to change until ARS publishes the official event page.
For the most current information, rose.org is the authoritative source, and the event's "Learn More" link is the place to start.