WBF Finland & Nordic Awards 2026 - Results and Review
A Celebration of Creativity, Talent and International Body Art in Helsinki
From October 16–18, 2026, Helsinki once again became a meeting point for international bodypainting and make-up artistry as the World Bodypainting Festival (WBF Finland) returned to the I Love Me Expo at Messukeskus Helsinki.
Three inspiring days brought together talented artists, models, industry professionals and beauty enthusiasts for a celebration of creativity, artistic expression and technical excellence.
The event began with a day of Masterclasses on October 16, offering opportunities for learning, inspiration and professional exchange. The following two days were dedicated to the competitions, featuring the World Championship in Creative Make-Up alongside four Nordic Awards in Bodypainting, Fashion Editorial Make-Up, Facepainting and Red Carpet Make-Up.
With five competition categories and a wide range of creative themes, WBF Finland 2026 once again demonstrated the diversity and artistic potential of body and make-up artistry.
WBF Finland 2026 – Celebrating Creativity and Talent!
What an incredible showcase of creativity, passion and talent! WBF Finland 2026 brought together outstanding artists from across Europe, transforming the competition stage into a world of colour, imagination and artistic expression.
In the World Award Creative Make-Up, the theme “Electric Runway Statement” inspired bold and futuristic creations. Roosa Leino (Finland) claimed the World Champion title, followed by Julia Kervinen (Finland) in second place and Manuela Porcelli (Germany) in third.
The Nordic Award Bodypainting – Open Category took creativity to the extreme with “Dangerous Hobbies”. Nadja Hluchovsky (Austria) impressed the jury and secured first place, ahead of Heleni Post (Estonia) and Elias Erävalo (Finland).
Dark, dramatic and full of imagination! The Nordic Award Fashion Editorial Make-Up explored “Darkest Desires”, with Roosa Leino (Finland) celebrating another victory. Sabine Bolognini (Germany) took second place, followed by Lorena Di Muzio (Italy) in third.
Emotions came to life in the Nordic Award Facepainting under the theme “Masks of Emotions”. Nadja Hluchovsky (Austria) earned her second first-place title of the event, with Heleni Post (Estonia) finishing second and Lilaine Daguman (Norway) third.
And finally, glamour took the spotlight in the Nordic Award Red Carpet Make-Up, inspired by “Trends from the 2020s to Today”. Johanna Moilanen (Finland) took home the gold, followed by Meri Leiviskä (Finland) in second and Lorena Di Muzio (Italy) in third.
Two artists, two victories each! A special congratulations to Roosa Leino from Finland and Nadja Hluchovsky from Austria, who both celebrated an outstanding double win at this year's event!
But WBF Finland is about more than awards. It's about bringing artists together, sharing inspiration, pushing creative boundaries and celebrating the incredible diversity of bodypainting and make-up artistry. The World Bodypainting Association would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all artists, models, jury members, instructors, organisers, partners and supporters who helped make WBF Finland 2026 such a memorable experience. Congratulations to all winners and participants – you made Helsinki shine!
Want to see the incredible artwork behind the results? Explore the complete rankings, winning creations and photo galleries on the official festival website: Discover all winners, results and photos of WBF Finland 2026
Photos: Tobias Spranger & Balaoiu Andreea