The Estepona Orchid House, second prize at the world reference event for orchid lovers

The German city of Dresden became the world capital of orchids from March 26 to 29, 2026, hosting the 24th World Orchid Conference 2026, the largest international event in the sector. In this key setting, the Estepona Orchidarium achieved significant recognition by winning the second prize in the world championship, solidifying its position as one of the most important sites in Europe dedicated to these species.

The Estepona team was led by its technical director, Manuel Lucas García, along with team members Anatoli Minzatu and Sergiy Onyshchuk. Additionally, the delegation was part of the joint booth of the European Orchid Council, "from where visibility was given both to the Orchidarium itself and to the botanical richness of the province of Málaga," according to sources from the delegation.

Besides the institutional presence, the Congress featured competition entries of specimens cultivated at the Estepona facilities, as well as plants provided by collaborator María José Muñoz. Notably, both Muñoz and Manuel Lucas were part of the international jury responsible for evaluating the best orchids from around the world.

As the secretary-general of the European Orchid Council, Lucas participated in scientific meetings with international experts to promote conservation projects; he moderated specialized debates such as the one dedicated to the Bulbophyllum genus; he chaired both the board of directors and the assembly of members of the European body and participated in initiatives aimed at improving the exchange of knowledge among researchers.

Post-congress visit to the orchidarium

In Dresden, around 500 specialists and more than 50,000 visitors gathered at its parallel exhibition, and among the activities planned within the world congress were conferences, scientific activities, botanical art exhibitions, and social gatherings, including the traditional Orchid Night and the gala dinner where the awards were presented.

The recognition of the Estepona Orchidarium was further enhanced by the selection of the city as one of the four international routes for Congress participants, routes that will take place from March 30 to April 6 and position the botanical museum as a reference in conservation, cultivation, and research.

The program for these days, as reported by the Estepona Orchidarium itself, includes the observation of about 30 species of wild orchids and numerous natural hybrids, guided by renowned specialists such as Manuel Becerra, José Antonio Díaz, and Damián Quintana.