Gold medal for Berit and Svitlana at the Danish Floral Art Championship 2026
Text and photos Thomas Kvist Christiansen
The Danish flower industry has a new Danish champion in modern floral art. This past weekend, 14-16 August, the Danish trade organization, Floristen Danmark, held a great Danish championship in the town hall in Odense with the participation of 13 skilled florists – 4 juniors and 9 seniors. At the same time, Danish record history was written. The new Danish champion was floral designer Berit Skjøttgaard Laursen, Flower and Design in Aarhus, who wins the coveted championship title for the third time – the first time in 2012.
The silver medal went to the gold winner from the Danish Championship in 2024, Vivian Ullitz, teacher at Blomsterskolen Vilvorde - Roskilde Technical School. The bronze medal went to Katharina Albrechtsen, Vesterport Blomster in Vejle, who back in 2018 won a gold medal at the Danish Championships.
Svitlana was the supreme junior winner
In the junior series, it was a convincing gold medal victory for Svitlana Blahovisna, Hadsten Blomster. But not only was she able to take the top podium with great pleasure, but her work at the championship was also so accomplished that she achieved the highest number of points in all three tasks.
The silver medal in the junior series went to Kristian Vestkær Pedersen from Tendency in Esbjerg, and it was Benedicte Schachtschabel from Årstidens Blomster in Helsinge who won the bronze medal.
Berit Skjøttgaard Laursen working on task 2 - a flower work
inspired by the priest's pipe collar.
The 13 florists had to create four works during the championship:
1: A bouquet where living materials merge with LEGO flowers and living material.
2: A flower work inspired by the priest's pipe collar.
3: A bridal bouquet for a modern Viking wedding.
4: A flower work in a (bonfire) dish with an interpretation of the flames' dance in the dark.
Svitlana Blahovisna working on the LEGO bouquet.
The creative work of the florists was a real draw. Thousands of guests visited the town hall and saw creativity unfold on the florists' stands, and at the time of the decision, when gold, silver and bronze were to be distributed, a large audience had turned up.
It was the audience who voted on who would win task 1, the LEGO bouquet. The best bouquet was the one created by bronze medalist Katharina Albrechtsen.
The main sponsors of the Danish championship were Proflora, Nordiq and Smithers-Oasis.