Beauty Competitions 2027

Beauty competitions are where skill meets the spotlight. Stylists, barbers, nail artists, lash artists, makeup artists and massage therapists put their technique to the test against the clock and in front of expert judges, and many come away with titles, medals and a name that clients remember.

The 2027 competition calendar covers every specialism. Hairdressers aim for the OMC HairWorld World Cup, usually held in Paris each October, and the Alternative Hair Show in Madrid. Nail artists can compete at Nailympia events in Sicily and San Antonio, at Japan Nail Expo in Tokyo and at the Nailpro championships across Europe and Brazil. Massage therapists have the Intercontinental Massage Championship in Athens, the World Championship Massage in Copenhagen and the American Massage Championships in Las Vegas. Barbers can battle at the HEBS Barber Games in New Jersey and Battle of the Champions near Chicago, and lash artists can enter Champ Lash Feerie in Barcelona and NYC Lash Elite. For students and young professionals, the WorldSkills and SkillsUSA championships are a step towards the international stage, with WorldSkills Aichi 2028 in Japan on the horizon.

Every beauty competition for 2027 is listed below with dates, venues and who can take part, so you can pick your next challenge.

Planning your competition year

Competitions run all year, but many are tied to large trade shows, so they cluster in spring and autumn. Choose one or two main targets, then use smaller local or online events to practise and get feedback from judges before the big day.

Choosing the right competition

• For first timers: online contests such as the OSCARS Online Global Lash, Brow and PMU Competition let you compete from your own studio.
• For national titles: events such as the WorldSkills national finals and SkillsUSA NLSC build towards international selection.
• For world titles: the OMC HairWorld World Cup, the World Championship Massage and Nailympia attract competitors from many countries.
• For barbers: battles and games at barber expos offer fast paced, crowd friendly formats.

Competing abroad

Read the rules and category briefs carefully, check what kit and models you need to bring and allow time to rest after travel. Register early, as places in popular categories can be limited, and arrive with time to set up and settle in before your heat.