Any U.S. public garden may apply — defined as an institution that maintains plants for public education, enjoyment, research, conservation, and higher learning, that is open to the public with resources available to all visitors. Gardens of all sizes are encouraged to apply.

There is no predetermined cap on the number of gardens selected — all strong proposals will be considered. However, residency slots are limited by the expo calendar (March 19 – September 26, 2027), so applying early gives you the best opportunity to receive your preferred dates. Earlier submissions receive priority in the scheduling process.

No. The Gardens in Residence program is specifically for U.S. public gardens as part of the U.S. exhibit’s national programming effort. However, international APGA members interested in the expo more broadly should check whether their own country has a national exhibit at GREENxEXPO 2027.

The majority of expo visitors will be Japanese speakers. Your on-site bilingual support team can assist with basic communication, but the most successful programs are designed to be visually self-evident — demonstrations, hands-on activities, and visual displays communicate far more effectively across language barriers than text-heavy or lecture-based formats. Your application’s “visual strategy” section asks you to think through exactly this.

There is no minimum or maximum — send however many people make sense for your programming. One skilled educator can be extraordinarily effective; a small team can offer depth and variety. You don’t need specific names to apply. If individuals aren’t yet confirmed, describe the roles and expertise you plan to send instead.

At this time, no monetary support can be guaranteed. APGA is actively pursuing funding assistance for participating gardens and will communicate any updates as they become available. Gardens should plan to cover their own travel, staffing, accommodation, materials, and meals when developing their proposals. Note: No APGA membership dues or organizational funds are being used to support U.S. participation in Expo 2027.

For accommodation, APGA is working to secure hotel room blocks at a fixed rate of approximately $225 USD per night for the full expo period. For flights, the closest major airports are Tokyo Narita (NRT) and Tokyo Haneda (HND); research round-trip fares from your nearest hub and build in a buffer. All meals are at your own expense — budget approximately $40–60 USD per person per day as a planning estimate.

Yes — and we strongly encourage it. Proposals that involve collaboration between multiple gardens, or between a garden and a local artist, university, cultural organization, or regional partner, are viewed especially favorably in the selection process. Partnerships allow for richer programming and demonstrate the breadth of the U.S. public garden community. If you’re interested in finding a partner garden, contact APGA — we can help make connections.

All applicants will receive a notification of acceptance no later than October 2026. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, so gardens that submit early may hear back sooner.