Hair Competitions 2027
Find all the hair competitions worldwide for 2027, with dates, venues, tickets and what is on. Compare the events and plan your visit.
- 29 Events listed
- 11 Nov Next: Cosmoprof Asia
- 15 Countries
About Hair Competitions
Hair competitions are where stylists, colourists and barbers test themselves against the best. Some are live contests on a show stage, some are judged on photographs, and others are national skills finals that can lead to a place on an international team.
At the very top, OMC HairWorld World Cup brings national teams to Paris, and WorldSkills Aichi 2028 will host the world skills finals in Nagoya. Closer to home, the 2027 calendar has WorldSkills Australia in Adelaide and SkillsUSA in Atlanta in June, both popular with students and apprentices. Live contests run at Premiere Anaheim, America's Beauty Show in Chicago and Premiere Orlando, while Europe has LOOK and beautyVISION in Poznań, Professional Beauty Ireland in Dublin and the Alternative Hair Show in Madrid. Before the year turns, the Global Talent Beauty Cup comes to Zwolle and Baltic Beauty to Riga in November. Barbers can choose from battles in Alsip, Owensboro, Secaucus and Toronto, and colourists can enter the House of Wella TrendVision Award and L'Oreal Colour Trophy.
Every hair competition is listed below with dates, venues and who can attend, so you can choose your next challenge.
Every event, in date order
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11 to 13 November 2026 · Wan Chai
Cosmoprof Asia
Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC).
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14 November 2026 · Madrid
Alternative Hair Show and International Visionary Award 2026 Madrid
IFEMA Madrid (LOOK Madrid).
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7 to 8 February 2027 · Anaheim
Premiere Anaheim 2027 Anaheim
Anaheim Convention Center North Hall.
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7 to 9 March 2027 · New York
Be+Well New York 2027 (formerly IBS)
Jacob K. Javits Convention Center.
There are 29 events on this list. Browse the full calendar to see them all.
Plan your trip
Planning a competition year
Pick one main goal, whether that is a national skills title, a colour award or a live stage win, and build your practice around its deadlines. Many stylists add a smaller regional contest first to get used to working under pressure.
Which competition suits you
- Students and apprentices: SkillsUSA, WorldSkills Australia and WorldSkills events are built around training and skills.
- Live stage work: contests at Premiere Orlando, America's Beauty Show and Professional Beauty Ireland test you in front of a crowd.
- Colour: brand led colour competitions reward technical and creative colour work.
- International teams: OMC HairWorld brings national teams together on a world stage.
Travelling to compete
Confirm the brief, timings and model rules well before you book. Pack tools in your hand luggage where your airline allows, bring spare equipment, and arrive early so you and your model are relaxed before the start.
Your questions, answered
What are the biggest hair competitions?
OMC HairWorld World Cup and the WorldSkills competitions are among the most prestigious, along with national titles such as NAHA and live contests at shows like Premiere Orlando and America's Beauty Show.
When is WorldSkills 2028?
WorldSkills Aichi 2028 takes place on 15 to 20 November 2028 at Aichi Sky Expo in Nagoya, Japan.
Are there hair competitions for students?
Yes. SkillsUSA NLSC runs 21 to 25 June 2027 in Atlanta, and WorldSkills Australia National Championships are at Adelaide Showground on 3 to 6 June 2027, both welcoming the public to watch.
Which hair competitions are coming up in 2026?
The Global Talent Beauty Cup is in Zwolle on 7 November, Baltic Beauty in Riga runs 6 to 8 November, Cosmoprof Asia is in Hong Kong on 11 to 13 November and the Alternative Hair Show is at IFEMA Madrid on 14 November 2026.
How are hair competitions judged?
Each competition sets its own brief and scoring, but judges usually look at technique, finish, creativity and how well the look matches the theme. Check the rules on each listing before you enter.
Where can I find competitions in other beauty fields?
Our Beauty Competitions 2027 page lists contests for nails, makeup, lashes and more, and Hair Shows 2027 covers every hair event.
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Running an event or heading to one?
Running a hair competition? Claim your listing so stylists and students looking for their next challenge find your categories, rules and dates first.
Ready to compete? Join the directory to be found by clients and salons, and keep up with every hair competition and opportunity in one place.