The Spanish Cup of Floral Art will take place in Valencia

From 27 February to 1 March 2026, Valencia will host the Spanish Cup of Floral Art (AEFI), a prestigious competition that brings together the country’s most accomplished florists. The winner will earn the right to represent Spain at the European and global competitions in floral design.

The main venue will be the La Petxina Sports and Cultural Complex, where most of the event will unfold. Participants will also travel to the nearby town of Aldaia to create a temporary garden installation as part of the competition.

This year’s Spanish Cup has been closely woven into Valencian culture. Competitors will interpret themes deeply connected to the region’s identity through floral art: the architecture of Santiago Calatrava, the City of Arts and Sciences, the artistic legacy of Joaquín Sorolla, the Silk Road and even the Holy Grail.

The tournament will officially open on 27 February at 10 am at La Petxina. During the day, florists will prepare their materials for the upcoming competitive tasks. At 9 pm, a welcome cocktail reception for participants and judges is included, followed by a guided tour of the venue to view the first completed works.

28 February is set to be the most important day for visitors. Entry to the venue will be free, allowing the public to watch the competitors at work live. The first contest of the day will take place in Aldaia, beginning at 11 am, titled “Reed and Mud”. Participants will create a composition using living plants, inspired by the works of Vicente Blasco Ibáñez and the surrounding local landscape.

Later in the afternoon, at 3.30 pm, the competition “Breakfast Between Bread and Lamb” will take place. Florists will design a table setting for three people, transforming the traditional Valencian mid-day snack, almuerzo, into an artistic installation.

The third contest, “Light, Flower and Avant-Garde”, will begin at 6 pm. The task is to produce a large-scale floral composition inspired by the architecture of the City of Arts and Sciences, translating its bold, futuristic lines into living botanical form.

The final will take place on 1 March. On this day, entry for spectators will be only with tickets available via this link. At 10.30 am, participants will begin work on a wedding composition designed for the Chapel of the Holy Grail.

After a short break, spectators will witness fireworks launched from Plaza del Ayuntamiento. At 3.30 pm, the fifth competition, titled “The Silk Road”, will begin. This challenge involves the creation of bouquets using dried flowers, inspired by historical trade routes and cultural exchange.

The final test of the tournament will be “The Bouquet of Imagination”. This is a surprise assignment,  details of which will be revealed to participants only moments before the start — a challenging test of creativity and composure under pressure.

At 7 pm, a special floral exhibition “Cruel Blue” by Alex Molina will take place, followed by the official awards ceremony at 8.15 pm. The tournament will close with a dinner at the Novotel Valencia Lavant.