This February, Valencia will host Spain’s most important floral competition. Thousands of fresh flowers will be arranged by the country’s best florists in the Spanish Cup of Floral Art (AEFI).
From February 27 to March 1, 2026, Valencia will host this competition, in which the winner will earn a direct pass to represent Spain at the most prestigious European and world events in the sector.
The event, organized by the Spanish Association of Florists, will bring together the elite of the profession at the La Petxina Sports and Cultural Complex, where they will have to demonstrate their technique by reinterpreting Valencian icons, from Calatrava’s architecture to popular gastronomy, including Sorolla and a tribute to the towns affected by the October 2024 storm.
In fact, although Valencia will host the bulk of the events, the florists will travel to Aldaia to create a temporary garden space inspired by Blasco Ibáñez’s work “Cañas y barro” ( Reeds and Mud ) to highlight the town’s resilience after the floods.
On Saturday, February 28, the public will be able to enjoy free access to see the masters at work live at La Petxina. There will be competitions such as “L’esmorsaret entre pa i borreguet,” in which participants must design a table setting for three diners that elevates the ritual of the Valencian lunch to an art form.
Also, “Luz, flor y vanguardia” (Light, Flower and Avant-garde) will seek to capture the essence of the City of Arts and Sciences, with complex structures and daring volumes.
Sunday, the day of the grand finale, will be a paid event, with tickets available on the AEFI website. It will feature “La ruta de la seda” (The Silk Road), a tribute to the Holy Chalice, and “Pomell d’imaginació” (Bouquet of Imagination), in which participants must improvise a bouquet inspired by the offering and the traditional Fallas bouquet.
Complete program for the 2026 Spanish Floral Art Cup
Spanish Floral Art Cup (AEFI)
Friday, February 27: Reception and preparations
- 9:00 a.m.: Arrival of participants at the La Petxina Sports Complex (Paseo de la Petxina, 42, Valencia).
- 10:00 a.m.: Official welcome, explanation of the competition rules, and distribution of the materials needed for tests 2, 3, and 4.
- 11:00 a.m.: Start of preparation tasks.
- 2:00 p.m.: Lunch break for competition staff at a designated restaurant.
- 3:00 p.m.: Resumption of preparatory work.
- 8:00 p.m.: End of the preparation day.
- 9:00 p.m.: Welcome cocktail at La Petxina, with a tour of the facilities to see the first structures together with congress participants, judges, and suppliers.
Saturday, February 28: Start of the competition (free admission)
- 9:00 a.m.: New delivery of materials for the day.
- 9:30 a.m.: Technical preparation of structures and materials.
- 11:00 a.m.: Test One – “Reeds and Mud”: Composition of living plants inspired by the work of Blasco Ibáñez and the local landscape. It takes place in a garden in Aldaia as a tribute after the DANA.
- 12:30 p.m.: End of the first task.
- 1:30 p.m.: Lunch for the competition team.
- 3:00 p.m.: Preparation of materials for the afternoon.
- 3:30 p.m.: Test Two – “L’esmorsaret entre pa i borreguet”: Design of a table for three diners inspired by the traditional Valencian lunch.
- 5:00 p.m.: End of the test and cleaning of the premises.
- 5:30 p.m.: Preparation for the next challenge.
- 6:00 p.m.: Test Three – “Light, flowers, and avant-garde”: Creation of large dimensions based on the City of Arts and Sciences.
- 7:30 p.m.: End of the challenge and tidying up of the space.
- 9:00 p.m.: Official dinner for competition staff.
Sunday, March 1: Grand finale and closing ceremony (Admission with ticket)
- 9:45 a.m.: Opening and start of the grand finale on the venue stage.
- 10:00 a.m.: Preparation of final structures.
- 10:30 a.m.: Test Four – “Valencia: Custodian of the Holy Chalice”: Creation of a bridal composition for the Chapel of the Holy Grail.
- 12:00 p.m.: End of the test and cleanup.
- 12:30 p.m.: Logistical preparation for task number 4.
- 1:00 p.m.: Free time for attendees and visit to the Mascletà in the Town Hall Square.
- 3:30 p.m.: Test Five – “The Silk Road”: Creation of a hand bouquet using preserved flowers.
- 4:30 p.m.: End of the challenge and cleanup.
- 5:00 p.m.: Test Six – “Pomell d’imaginació”: The final challenge consists of a surprise task.
- 6:30 p.m.: Completion of the work on the track.
- 7:00 p.m.: Special floral exhibition: “Azul Brutal” by Alex Molina.
- 8:15 p.m.: Announcement of winners and awards ceremony for the Spanish Cup.
- 9:30 p.m.: Closing gala dinner at the Hotel Novotel Valencia Lavant, with awards presented to members with 25, 50, and 75 years of service.