Rules for the FELAB BRASIL 2026 New Talents Competition – Brazilian selection process

1. Limited spaces available: 40 participants
2. Who can participate:
   All Brazilian men and women over the age of 18, whether residing in Brazil or not.
   Registered for the 15th FELAB Brazil Congress 2026.
   Note: Applications will be validated by the FELAB Brazil 2026 New Talents Competition Committee.
3. Who will not be able to participate:
   Candidates whose main source of income is bonsai;
   People who give workshops, lectures, or paid classes;
   Who has already won professional categories in national exhibitions.
4. Materials that will be used:
   Juniperus pre-bonsai specimens from the same batch and with a similar degree of difficulty will be used for this project.
5. Prize draw:
   The plants will be drawn by lot among the participants before the start of the contest.
6. The competition's layout:
   At the end of the competition (after judging), participants will have the right to keep the plant they created.
7. Work materials:
   Participants must use their own tools, as well as wires and other utensils. Borrowing from other competitors is permitted, but not mandatory.
8. During the competition:
   Conversations between participants and with people who are not participating in the contest will NOT be allowed.
9. Contest duration:
   Competitors must style the pre-bonsai within the allotted time of 3 hours. The judges will evaluate the following: plant design, wiring, branch placement, choice of foreground, and plant positioning (angulation).
10. Date and time of the contest:
    November 6, 2026 (Friday)
    From 9:30 AM to 1:30 PM
11. Awards:
    The 3 best works will be ranked as 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place.
12. Judgment:
    The judging will be carried out by a jury made up of demonstrators from the event, immediately after the end of the competition.
13. Announcement of results:
    The results of the contest will be announced and the winners awarded on Saturday evening during the Confraternization Dinner.
14. Awards:
    The top 3 finishers will receive a trophy or medal, in addition to the plant they worked on and Ryuga Tools for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place.
    Note: The first-place winner will represent Brazil in the FELAB New Talent Competition, which will take place on Saturday.
15. The inscription:
    Registration will be done through the link provided by the contest organizers, and the registration fee is R$160.00 (one hundred and sixty reais).

Registration - click here!

15. Observation: Situations not foreseen in these regulations will be decided by the organizers of the FELAB Brazil 2026 New Talent Competition.