As preparations for the 137th Rose Parade® presented by Honda hit full stride, the Pasadena Tournament of Roses® is thrilled to announce the selection of Chaz Perea, Doris Hardoon, and Cathy Hillen-Rulloda as the distinguished judges for the 2026 Float Awards. Each of these esteemed judges brings a unique perspective, whether in horticulture and sustainability, global creative leadership or innovative floral artistry. Their combined expertise will ensure that the 2026 floats are evaluated with artistry, technical mastery and alignment with the parade’s theme, “The Magic in Teamwork.”
“The 2026 Float Judges bring extraordinary depth and vision to the float judging process. Each of them has made a remarkable impact in their field, and now they bring that perspective to the Rose Parade,” said Mark Leavens, Tournament of Roses President. “We’re honored to welcome such inspiring leaders whose insights will help us celebrate the passion, precision and purpose behind every float.”
Each year, the judging panel selects 24 float awards, highlighting excellence in categories such as Float Design, Floral Presentation and Entertainment Value. The pinnacle of the awards is the coveted Sweepstakes Trophy, presented to the most beautiful entry encompassing float design, floral presentation and entertainment.
2026 Rose Parade Float Judges:
Chaz Perea Ph.D. – Landscape Manager at Dodger Stadium and horticulture professor at Mt. San Antonio College, known for leading sustainable design efforts that transformed Dodger Stadium into the first U.S. sports venue accredited as a botanic garden.
Doris Hardoon – Disney Legend and former Executive Creative Director/Producer at Walt Disney Imagineering, with a career spanning four decades shaping projects worldwide including EPCOT and Shanghai Disney Resort.
Cathy Hillen-Rulloda, AAF, AIFD, PFCI – Award-winning floral designer, educator, and Consultant at the Southern California School of Floral Design. Her work has appeared at events from the 1984 Olympics to industry showcases across North America and Asia, and she returns to the Rose Parade on the 50th anniversary of her first march down Colorado Boulevard.
For complete biographies of the 2026 Float Judges, please visit: https://tournamentofroses.com/2026-float-judges/
The 137th Rose Parade presented by Honda will officially begin at 8:00 a.m. PST, captivating millions of viewers as America’s New Year Celebration kicks off in unforgettable style.
FTD® is the official floral partner of the Tournament of Roses. The iconic American company has been a valued partner of the Rose Parade for more than 70 years. FTD® brings their exquisite floral vision to life on the antique cars used in the Rose Parade which carry the Rose Parade VIPs down Colorado Blvd., including the Grand Marshal, Tournament of Roses President, Mayor of Pasadena and the Rose Bowl Hall of Fame Inductees. FTD® is also the sponsor of the Rose Parade Float Awards.
