Creativa 2026 Opens in Dortmund with Floral and Crafting Wonders

Paper flowers, ceramic blooms, dried arrangements, lacework, or real blossoms—since Wednesday, the Creativa 2026 fair in Dortmund has it all. This year, the spotlight is on gardening and floristry, and with Easter just around the corner, the Westfalenhallen is filled with decorative bunnies of every kind.

Julia Kuzaj from Unna has plenty of time for crafts these days—she's on maternity leave. For the past ten years, she and her mother have made the annual pilgrimage to Creativa. She loves this year's theme, though she admits she doesn't have a green thumb. Instead, she's joining a workshop to arrange dried flowers.

Crafting as Stress Relief

For over 40 years, the fair has showcased creative trends, and technology is increasingly taking center stage. A Chinese exhibitor is presenting 3D printers, while plotting and embroidery machines draw crowds. Yet traditional crafts like sewing, knitting, and lace-making still attract plenty of visitors.

Angelika Bauer of Westfalenhallen GmbH notes a growing interest in crafting. "More and more, we hear that after a stressful workday, people turn to creative hobbies as a way to slow down and unwind," she says.

Cake & Bake: Sweet and Savory Delights

This weekend, one of the halls will be entirely dedicated to pastries, cakes, tarts, and bread. International pastry chefs and TV cooks will craft edible works of art, with a highlight being a sculpted cake tribute to Queen Máxima of the Netherlands.

Creativa runs through Sunday, open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.