FAQ
Frequently asked Questions & Answers
General Information
What is the National Garden Show (BUGA) and what does it mean for Dresden?
The National Garden Show (BUGA) takes place every two years in a different city and places its main focus on people. It combines future-oriented urban development, new green spaces and innovative ideas in order to create a high standard of living and to generate sustainable added value for society, the economy and the environment. At the same time, it strengthens societal cohesion by better connecting disadvantaged urban areas and also by integrating them into the overall fabric of the city. In Dresden, as part of BUGA 2033 (the National Garden Show), areas throughout the city will be reimagined and developed over the course of almost ten years. This, in turn, will create long-term benefits for both the city and its residents. The development process will culminate in a nationally and internationally significant major event in 2033, which will take place from spring to autumn.
When will BUGA Dresden 2033 take place?
BUGA Dresden 2033 will take place from April to October 2033 and will offer visitors the chance to discover its diverse set of exhibitions, events and areas over the course of many months.
Has there ever been a BUGA in Saxony?
No, there hasn’t been a BUGA here before. Saxony is one of the few federal states in which since 1951- when the National Garden Show first began taking place- there has not yet been a BUGA or an International Garden Exhibition (IGA).
How will Dresden benefit from hosting the BUGA?
Thanks to an extensive amount of financial support spread out over a period of nearly ten years, innovative
urban development projects with long-term benefits extending far beyond 2033, the year of the event, are
going to be created in Dresden. National Garden Shows, historically speaking, have always had positive economic, ecological, social and urban planning effects that last for years and even decades. Thus, the BUGA is not just an exhibition that will be in bloom over the course of several months. It will also create sustainable, profound and visible
changes to the cityscape. Large urban areas, for instance, are going to be reimagined or developed for the very first time. Social spaces are going to be better connected and ecologically valuable areas will be newly created or, as the
case may be, further developed.What will happen when BUGA 2033 is over?
The end of the National Garden Show (BUGA) isn’t really the end – in fact, quite the opposite is the case: this is when what is most important to many people will actually begin. The areas, paths, parks and squares that were redesigned for BUGA will remain in the city and will be put into permanent use. What currently appears like it is unused or uninviting will in the future become vibrant spaces for everyone: for walking, relaxing, playing, cycling or for public art and cultural experiences amidst nature. Many of these newly created places will become an integral part of everyday life – for instance, as a park around the corner, as a new town square or as a green connection between different parts of the city. Even after the exhibition has come to an end, the added value will remain: the city will end up benefiting in the long term from all the investments, ideas, and new open spaces – often for many decades to come.
Planning
What are the main tasks of BUGA Dresden 2033 gGmbH?
It is responsible for the planning, organization, and implementation of BUGA 2033 in Dresden. This includes managing and coordinating all essential operational processes, especially regarding the following areas:
- The conceptual basis for the exhibition
- Construction and infrastructure measures
- Community involvement
- Securing funding
- Sustainable mobility and usage concepts
Who is in charge of BUGA Dresden 2033 gGmbH?
A team consisting of ten employees is working together in order to implement all the tasks associated with the event, under the leadership of Managing Director Marcel Timmroth. The organization is also headed up by the shareholder meeting and the supervisory board, which is chaired by Dresden’s Mayor Dirk Hilbert.
How has the planning for BUGA been progressing?
Based on the comprehensive feasibility study, which was completed in 2023 and approved by the city council, the conceptual basis has now been updated in order to reflect the challenges currently being faced and it will serve as the foundation for the next planning steps. If the city council goes ahead and approves this updated plan, then the city administration and BUGA Dresden 2033 gGmbH will likely launch a competition for garden and landscape architects in 2026. This, in turn, will generate concrete ideas and designs for how the core BUGA areas will look like and be used in the future. When the competition is over and it has been determined which garden and landscape architects will be participating, then the actual construction planning for the permanent BUGA facilities will start. The initial construction work will begin in 2029. Preliminary measures, especially regarding the creation of the
swimming area at Gravel Pit Leuben, are to be carried out in advance. The permanent facilities will establish the infrastructure and main access routes. Following this stage, the construction work for the exhibition areas will be put out to tender with construction scheduled to begin at the end of 2030. This will ensure that the entire project will be completed by March 2033. The time required for post-construction maintenance work as well as the time needed for planting in order to create the desired impression upon visitors must also be taken into account.
Areas
Where exactly will BUGA take place in Dresden?
The conceptual plan for BUGA is based on extensive site analyses and strategic decisions. A feasibility
study for Dresden was conducted in 2023 and it was approved by a city council resolution in December
2023.
BUGA Dresden 2033 will take place at several locations throughout the city. The following areas are
especially planned as being central core areas (approximately 100 hectares):- South Park (including the Bismarck Column/Räcknitz Park)
- the Seidnitz Racecourse
- Gravel Pit Leuben and debris hill
What are the urban development areas?
- Dresden Botanical Garden
- Hellerau Garden City
- Pillnitz
- Proschhübel
- Ostragehege Debris Hill
These locations will carry the spirit and presence of BUGA into the city and will clearly demonstrate to the public how nature and urban life can merge throughout Dresden. Even though no investment can be made at these specific sites, they still represent distinct highlights within the city and will contribute their own themes – from historical gardens to urban wilderness – thus making the overall BUGA experience more vibrant and diverse.
Which other regions will be part of BUGA 2033?
BUGA external sites will extend the exhibition beyond the core Dresden area and integrate the surrounding regions into the overall BUGA experience. They will showcase the diversity of the entire region and, furthermore, will create attractive visitor routes leading to special landscapes, gardens and projects. An official application process for selecting the external sites is planned for 2026.
Participation
How can I get involved with BUGA?
You can actively participate in the many preparatory steps of the public participation process that BUGA Dresden 2033 gGmbH will be launching in the upcoming months and years. You can also stay informed by
regularly checking this website and, beginning in 2026, also our social media channels.
Financing
How is BUGA going to be financed?
To ensure that the National Garden Show (BUGA) can be financed, a distinction has been made between the investment budget and the operating budget. The investment budget covers the costs for permanent construction measures undertaken in connection with hosting BUGA. The revenues and expenditures arising in connection with the preparation, carrying out and winding up of BUGA are included in the operating budget of BUGA Dresden 2033 gGmbH. Public investments, especially those funded by grants, will bring about a boost in urban development within the framework of BUGA because the measures will not be implemented in a piecemeal way or sequentially but rather in an integrated and focused manner. Furthermore, accompanying economic effects will contribute to an increase in regional value creation, especially since approximately two-thirds of BUGA’s contract volume is going to be implemented by companies from Dresden and the region or, as the case may be, from the Free State of Saxony.
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