Atlanta Botanical Garden Celebrates Nature Through Haiku Festival

Month-long celebration of Japanese art form includes poetry competition, workshops, and family-friendly activities.

Apr. 18, 2026 at 2:00pm

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An abstract, impressionistic photograph of a Japanese maple tree in the Atlanta Botanical Garden, with soft, blurred pools of warm light and color creating a dreamlike, atmospheric scene.The Atlanta Botanical Garden's annual Haiku Festival celebrates the connection between art, nature, and Japanese culture through a month-long series of workshops, performances, and family-friendly activities.Atlanta Today

The Atlanta Botanical Garden is hosting its annual Atlanta Haiku Festival throughout the month of April, featuring a variety of programs and activities that explore the connection between art, nature, and Japanese culture. The festival kicks off with an online haiku poetry competition in February, followed by workshops, discovery stations, chef demonstrations, and a full day of festivities on April 18th.

Why it matters

The Atlanta Haiku Festival provides a unique opportunity for the community to engage with the Japanese art form of haiku and appreciate the natural beauty of the Atlanta Botanical Garden. By highlighting the intersection of art, nature, and Japanese cultural traditions, the festival aims to foster a deeper connection between people and their environment.

The details

The Atlanta Haiku Festival features a variety of programs and activities throughout the month of April, including an online poetry competition, haiku writing workshops, ikebana lessons, and a full day of festivities on April 18th. During the festival day, guests can participate in interactive stations, a self-guided scavenger hunt, drop-in haiku workshops, chef demonstrations, and a performance by a Japanese drum group. The winning haiku from the February competition will also be read aloud.

  • The online haiku poetry competition is open for submissions from February 1 to 28.
  • The winners of the haiku competition will be announced on April 1.
  • The Atlanta Haiku Festival Day will take place on April 18, 2026.

The players

Atlanta Botanical Garden

A 30-acre public garden located in Atlanta, Georgia that features a variety of plant collections, educational programs, and cultural events.

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What’s next

The Atlanta Botanical Garden will announce the winners of the haiku poetry competition on April 1, 2026. The winning haiku will be displayed in the garden and read aloud during the festival day on April 18.

The takeaway

The Atlanta Haiku Festival provides a unique opportunity for the community to engage with the Japanese art form of haiku and appreciate the natural beauty of the Atlanta Botanical Garden. By highlighting the intersection of art, nature, and Japanese cultural traditions, the festival aims to foster a deeper connection between people and their environment.