Eric Lin wins 2026 Gateway to the Americas Cup in Orlando

The 2026 Gateway to the Americas Cup brought floral designers from around the world to Orlando on June 5-6, where Eric Lin of Taiwan won the overall championship. Organizers also named Brazil as the 2028 host nation and said full results and coverage will follow online.

Why it matters: - The competition spotlights top floral design talent from multiple countries and gives winners an international platform. - The event also serves as a professional development venue, with judging feedback designed to help designers improve for future contests. - Organizers announced Brazil will host the next Gateway to the Americas Cup in 2028, extending the event’s international reach.

What happened: - The 2026 Gateway to the Americas Cup took place in Orlando, Florida, on June 5-6. - The competition ran alongside the FSFA International Convention. - Eric Lin of Taiwan won first place overall. - Aleksandra Flak of Poland placed second overall. - Anna Dementieva of Ukraine placed third overall. - Jenny Ingrum of the USA was named the 2026 Americas Champion.

The details: - Competitors faced five design events that tested artistry, technical skill, interpretation, and creativity. - Lin won three of the five individual challenges on the way to the overall title. - Individual challenge winners were Eric Lin for Task 1, Surprise Design: Inspired By Nature. - Eric Lin also won Task 2, Bridal Wreath Bouquet. - Anna Dementieva won Task 3, Cocktails: Intimate Table for Two. - Aleksandra Flak won Task 4, Floral Fashion. - Eric Lin won Task 5, Surprise Design! - The competition highlighted bridal work, tablescape design, floral fashion, surprise challenges, and nature-inspired creations. - Gus and Deborah De La Flor, founders and organizers of the Gateway to the Americas Cup, said the event gives floral artists from around the world a platform to share their creativity and talents with an international audience. - The organizers said the 2026 sponsors included FTD, Details Flowers Software, OASIS Floral Products, Gardens America, Jet Fresh Flower Distributors, FernTrust, Accent Decor, Floralife, FloristWare, and FSFA International. - Supporting sponsors included Alexandra Farms, Galleria Farms, Flora & More, Giftwares Co., Choice Farms, Tessa Corp., Teleflora, FloristCentric, De La Flor Inc., and National Orchids. - The judging panel included Hitomi Gilliam AIFD, CFD; Ken Senter AIFD; and Sandy Schroeck AIFD, PFCI. - Heather de Kok received special recognition for her contributions to the competition. - The volunteer team recognized by the organizers included Dana Williams, Michael Grimes III, Ivan and Claudia Moreno, Marisol Choy, Tanus Saab, Ralph Giordano, and Minsook Song. - Competitors receive detailed feedback through the FloristWare Floral Scoring System.

Between the lines: - Eric Lin’s three challenge wins made the overall result decisive and underscored consistent performance across formats. - The event’s emphasis on judging feedback suggests the competition is positioned as both a showcase and a training tool for floral professionals. - Naming Brazil as the 2028 host signals continued geographic rotation and growth for the competition.

What’s next: - Additional competition results, photographs, designer profiles, event highlights, and behind-the-scenes coverage will be published on the official Gateway to the Americas Cup website in the coming days. - The next Gateway to the Americas Cup will be held in Brazil in 2028. - The organization plans to welcome the international floral community to Brazil for the next edition.