Floral Trends from IPM Essen 2026
Floral Trends 2026 from IPM Essen — by Julia
The horticultural fair IPM Essen 2026 was full of inspiration and creativity. As someone who worked for many years as a textile and pattern forecaster for the Deutsche Mode Institut in Düsseldorf, I always love discovering how fashion and floral design connect. This year, I explored the halls of @ipmessen to spot the newest floral trends that will shape the world of floristry and design in 2026.
Here are my three key floral trend highlights for the coming year:
Trend 1: Retro Vibes
The return of the retro aesthetic brings warmth and positivity into floral design. We’re seeing a strong color palette of yellow, orange, and brown tones, echoed in pottery and vase designs. Flowers like mimosa, Iceland poppies, and exotic blooms add playful texture and vibrancy. The overall feeling is bright, cozy, and nostalgic — inspired by the 1960s and 1970s.
Trend 2: Contrasting Colors
Bold and surprising color contrasts are becoming essential in contemporary floral design. Creative pairings and unexpected color harmonies express confidence and individuality. This trend celebrates artistic freedom and the joy of experimenting with color — a key theme across both fashion and floristry right now.
Trend 3: Constructed Floral Pieces
This is my personal favorite and a trend also predicted by @blooms_medien. It focuses on constructed floral art — sculptural pieces built with twigs, branches, sticks, and wire that form artistic frameworks for flowers. These are not commercial arrangements; they are conceptual, handcrafted artworks that allow space for emotion, play, and imagination.
Such constructed floral pieces require time, detailed planning, and a deep understanding of form. They invite us to pause, to dream, and to escape from our daily routines.
In my Career Course 2026 this March, we will explore this exact trend in depth — learning how to design and build structured, expressive floral installations. There are only two places left, and I can’t wait to guide my students through this creative process.
Creativity thrives in experimentation — and now, more than ever, we need design that feels colorful, joyful, and hopeful.
With love,
Julia
