The World Beard and Moustache Championships (WBMC) represent the pinnacle of competitive facial hair styling, a unique and vibrant spectacle where dedication meets artistry. This biennial event, overseen by the World Beard and Moustache Association (WBMA), brings together hundreds of participants from across the globe to showcase their creatively grown and meticulously groomed beards and moustaches. Far from a simple contest of length, the championships are a highly formalized sport with specific categories, strict rules, and an infectious spirit of camaraderie. What began as a small European gathering has exploded into an international phenomenon, inspiring a passionate community and raising funds for charitable causes.
This article delves into the intricacies of this remarkable competition, exploring its history, structure, and the rules that govern the world’s most prestigious stage for facial hair.
1. The History and Evolution of the Championships
The modern era of competitive bearding, while claiming some contested earlier roots, is widely recognized to have begun in 1990. The first official World Beard and Moustache Championships were held in the small village of Höfen an der Enz, Germany, hosted by the First Höfener Beard Club. This seminal event laid the foundation for what would become a global tradition. The same club hosted the second championships in 1995 in the nearby city of Pforzheim, cementing Germany’s central role in the competition’s early years.
Following these initial events, the championships began to rotate every two years among various Northern European countries, fostering a growing international community. The competition traveled to Trondheim, Norway in 1997, followed by Ystad, Sweden in 1999, and returned to Germany in 2001. A pivotal moment in the history of the WBMC occurred in 2003 when the championships were held outside of Europe for the first time, in Carson City, Nevada, USA. This event introduced the competition to a wider American audience and marked the beginning of a fierce rivalry between European and American beardsmen. The United States solidified its status as a facial hair superpower in 2009 when, competing on home soil in Anchorage, Alaska, American participants won twelve out of eighteen categories, dethroning the long-dominant German teams.
Since 2007, the WBMA has officially mandated that the World Beard and Moustache Championships be held every two years, on odd-numbered years. The event has continued to grow in scale and spectacle, setting a record in 2017 when the Austin Facial Hair Club hosted 738 competitors from 33 countries. More recently, the 2023 championships were held in Burghausen, Germany, and the most recent event took place in July 2025 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, hosted by the Mad Viking Pennsylvania Beard Club. The future of the competition is already mapped out, with the 2027 championships scheduled for Blackpool, England, hosted by the Sandgrown Beardsmen.
2. The Governing Body and Event Framework
The World Beard and Moustache Association (WBMA) is the official governing body that oversees the championships. This association is responsible for awarding the contest to host clubs, setting the rules, and voting on the addition of new categories. Any established beard club may apply for membership to the WBMA and submit a proposal to host an upcoming championship.
The process for selecting a host city is democratic. During the biennial WBMA meeting at each championships, member clubs listen to proposals from future host candidates and then vote to decide the host and location for the event four years into the future . The championships often alternate between the United States and Europe, a practice that helps maintain the event’s international character.
A notable aspect of the WBMC is its philanthropic spirit. Host clubs frequently use the event as a platform to raise money for charitable causes. For instance, the 2009 championships in Anchorage distributed over $16,000 to local charities, the 2017 event in Austin supported organizations like LiveStrong and OutYouth , and the 2025 Pittsburgh event raised funds for the Pittsburgh Children’s Hospital.
3. Who Can Participate in The World Beard and Moustache Championships?
The World Beard and Moustache Championships are notably inclusive, with a few basic requirements:
- Age Requirement: The competition is open to any male aged 21 or older .
- Facial Hair: Participants must have the ability to grow and style facial hair fitting into one of the official categories.
- Application Process: Applications to participate are usually open to the public in the months leading up to the competition. Contestants are responsible for their own travel and arrangements . Many local beard clubs raise funds throughout the year to help send representatives to the world event.
- Ladies’ Categories (Whiskerina): In a creative and inclusive expansion, the championships now officially include categories for women. Often called “Whiskerina” or “craft beard” categories, these allow women to create their own beards and moustaches from various materials and compete in classes such as Creative Moustache, Realistic Beard, and Realistic Freestyle Beard. These categories were first introduced in the 2017 championships in Austin.
Articles You May like
4. The Categories of Competition
The championships are organized into several major brackets, which are then broken down into specific, meticulously defined subcategories. This structure ensures that a vast array of facial hair styles can be judged fairly against similar creations.
Table: Major Competition Brackets at the WBMC
| Bracket | Description | Key Subcategories |
|---|---|---|
| Moustache | Hair grown only on the upper lip | Natural, English, Dali, Imperial, Hungarian, Freestyle |
| Partial Beard | Facial hair that does not cover the entire face | Natural Goatee, Musketeer, Imperial, Sideburns Freestyle, Alaskan Whaler |
| Full Beard | Hair covering the entire lower face | Verdi, Garibaldi, Natural, Natural with Styled Moustache, Freestyle |
| Ladies’ Categories | Crafted beards and moustaches for women | Creative Moustache, Realistic Beard, Realistic Freestyle Beard |
Each subcategory has very specific criteria regarding length, styling, and the use of aids. For example:
- The Natural Moustache category forbids the use of styling aids and limits length to a maximum of 1.5 cm beyond the end of the upper lip .
- The English Moustache is defined as slender, with extremely long hairs pulled to the side .
- The Freestyle categories are often the most creative and visually stunning, allowing participants free rein to sculpt their facial hair into elaborate forms, such as the snowshoe-shaped beard that won the Freestyle Full Beard category in 2009 . However, even freestyle categories have some rules; for instance, hair growing more than 1.5 cm past the corner of the mouth must be shaved in the Freestyle Moustache category.
5. Judging, Prizes, and the Spirit of the Event
The competition is decided by a panel of judges, which has included celebrity moustache-wearers like Nick Cave and Billy Childish in the past . Judges are equipped with rulers to ensure all entries meet the strict length and placement requirements for their category . During the judging, each competitor is scored by the panel, typically on a scale from 1 to 10 . For example, Lewis Aylmer’s winning performance in the 2025 Under 15cm Full Beard with Styled Moustache category earned him a score of 65.5 out of a possible 70 from seven judges .
While the tangible prizes have varied—from engraved gold pans in Anchorage to trophies in more recent years—the true reward for most competitors is the honor and prestige of winning a world title . The top three competitors in each category receive awards, and there is often a “Best in Show” recipient chosen by the judges and sometimes with input from the crowd .
Beyond the competition, the WBMC is a celebration of community. Participants often wear costumes that complement their facial hair style, adding to the festive and creative atmosphere . For many, the event is about camaraderie and self-confidence. As 2025 champion Lewis Aylmer reflected, being part of this community helped him deal with anxiety and build confidence, making him “feel part of something” . This spirit of friendship and mutual support is a hallmark of the global bearding community.
Conclusion – The World Beard and Moustache Championships
The World Beard and Moustache Championships are more than just a contest; they are a vibrant cultural event that transforms a common aspect of male grooming into an extraordinary form of self-expression and artistic skill. From its humble beginnings in a German village to its current status as a massive international gathering, the WBMC has cultivated a unique community bound by creativity, dedication, and a shared sense of fun. It is a world where meticulous care meets theatrical flair, and where a once-bullied schoolboy can become a world champion. The championships demonstrate that passion can turn the most ordinary things—like facial hair—into a canvas for extraordinary artistry. As the community looks forward to the next competition in Blackpool in 2027, the legacy of creativity and camaraderie continues to grow.
Have you ever considered growing and styling your facial hair for competition? Which category do you find the most impressive or creative? Share your thoughts and your favorite beard styles in the comments below.
Discover more from Big Beard
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.