PHOTO: TOBIAS SPRANGER
Three Days of International Creativity
What an incredible three days in Helsinki! From October 16–18, 2026, the World Bodypainting Festival returned to the I Love Me Expo at Messukeskus Helsinki, bringing together talented artists, models, make-up professionals and creative minds from different countries.
For WB Production GmbH, it was a pleasure to once again bring this international event to life in cooperation with the World Bodypainting Association (WBA) and our partners in Finland. With inspiring masterclasses, five exciting competition categories and spectacular artistic creations, WBF Finland 2026 celebrated the diversity of bodypainting and make-up artistry in a truly international setting.
Behind the Scenes – Making It Happen
While the artists created their masterpieces on stage, a great deal of work had already taken place behind the scenes. As the organising team, WB Production was responsible for the overall planning, coordination and realisation of the World Bodypainting Festival Finland 2026.
From international artist communication and registrations to jury coordination, competition planning, marketing, sponsorship management and stage presentations, our team worked closely with local partners to bring all the elements together. Organising an international event means connecting people, managing countless details and making sure everything comes together at the right moment. Seeing the artists, models and visitors enjoying the atmosphere makes all that preparation worthwhile!
From Masterclasses to World-Class Competitions
The event kicked off on October 16 with a dedicated Masterclass Day, giving participants the opportunity to learn from experienced international artists and industry professionals, discover new techniques and exchange creative ideas.
Over the following two days, the competition stage came alive with extraordinary talent.
The World Award in Creative Make-Up, themed "Electric Runway Statement", combined futuristic fashion with bold artistic expression. Roosa Leino from Finland claimed the World Champion title.
The four Nordic Awards offered an equally impressive range of creativity, from dramatic bodypainting inspired by "Dangerous Hobbies" and expressive facepainting under "Masks of Emotions" to fashionable interpretations of "Darkest Desires" and glamorous red carpet looks.
A special congratulations to Roosa Leino from Finland and Nadja Hluchovsky from Austria, who each celebrated two first-place victories at this year's event!
A Great Team Makes a Great Event
An international festival like this is only possible when passionate people work together.
A heartfelt thank you goes to our local partners at the I Love Me Expo, our dedicated crew, instructors, sponsors and everyone who contributed to making WBF Finland 2026 a success.
We would also like to thank our international jury members Birgit Mörtl, Riina Laine, Linda Røhmen, Einat Dan, Jasmiina Walters, Linda Hallberg and Yasmin Heinz for sharing their expertise and supporting the artists throughout the competitions.
And of course, a huge thank you to all participating artists and models. Your passion, creativity and dedication are what make the World Bodypainting Festival so special!
More Than Just a Competition
For us at WB Production, the World Bodypainting Festival has always been about more than titles and awards.
It's about creating a platform where art connects people across borders, where new friendships begin and where artists can share their passion with an international audience.
Helsinki once again provided a wonderful setting for these creative encounters, and we're proud to have been part of bringing this colourful event to life.
Thank you, Helsinki, for another unforgettable edition of the World Bodypainting Festival!
We look forward to continuing our journey, creating inspiring events and bringing the international body art community together at exciting locations around the world.
Photos: Tobias Spranger & Balaoiu Andreea
Discover all winners, event highlights and photo galleries of WBF Finland 2026
