History of the World Beard and Moustache Championships

History

The World Beard and Moustache Championships is the authoritative and definitive event to determine the best representative facial hair styles in the world. It is held biennially in every odd-numbered year and overseen by the World Beard and Moustache Association. Each WBMC is open to any competitor, with no pre-qualifying at any previous competition. The day following the WBMC, the host club organizes the WBMA general meeting.

Similar to the Olympics, clubs from around the globe submit proposals to host the WBMC in 4 years time. At this meeting, WBMA member clubs listen to proposals from future WBMC host candidates and after the proposals are finished, all members will vote in person or by proxy to decide the host and location of the Championships following the next WBMC.

BEGINNINGS

The origins of international bearding are a bit muddled. One Italian group claims that it held the first championships in Northern Italy in the early 1970′s, though it seems more likely that modern competitive bearding began at a 1990 event organized and hosted by the First Höfener Beard Club (1. Höfener Bartclub) in its hometown of Höfen/Enz, Germany, a small village in the Black Forest. In 1995, the same club hosted the second World Beard and Moustache Championships in the nearby city of Pforzheim.

EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS

After 1995, local beard clubs in Northern Europe began organizing international competitions every two years. In 1997, the Norwegian Moustache Club (Den Norske Mustaschklubben), headquartered in Trondheim held the competition in its hometown. Two years later the Swedish Moustache Club (Svenska Mustaschklubben) organized the championships in Ystad, at the extreme southern end of Sweden. In 2001, the Swabian Beard and Moustache Club (Schwäbische Bart- und Schnauzerclub) celebrated its tenth anniversary by hosting the championships in its hometown of Schömberg.

Previous Sanctioned World Beard and Moustache Championships

1990 HÖFEN/ENZ, GERMANY

1995 PFORZHEIM, GERMANY

1997 TRONDHEIM, NORWAY

1999 YSTAD, SWEDEN

2001 SCHÖMBERG, GERMANY

2003 CARSON CITY, NEVADA

Bearding came to America in 2003 with the World Beard and Moustache Championships held in Carson City, Nevada as part of the annual Nevada Day Celebration. Approximately 85 European beardsmen showed their stuff to a crowd of enthused and amazed Americans along with the worldwide press. Berlin’s Karl-Heinz Hille was crowned grand champion and representatives of German beard clubs won 36 of the 57 trophies awarded. Unlike their European counterparts who were organized into local beard clubs, American beardsmen competed as "Beard Team USA."

2005 BERLIN, GERMANY

The First Berliner Beard Club (1. Berliner Bartclub) hosted the 2005 World Beard and Moustache Championships. Germany continued its domination, taking fourteen of the seventeen first-place awards. German Elmar Weisser took first place in the full beard freestyle division with a hirsute rendition of the host city’s historic Brandenburg Gate.

2007 BRIGHTON, ENGLAND

In 2007 London’s Handlebar Club, played host to the championships in the seaside town of Brighton. The championships drew a sellout crowd while hundreds of facial-hair fans stood outside begging for tickets. This time Elmar Weisser’s beard commemorated London’s Tower Bridge.

2009 ANCHORAGE, ALASKA

The United States captured twelve world championship titles out of eighteen categories plus overall at the World Beard and Moustache Championships in Anchorage, Alaska on May 23, 2009. Possessing home field advantage, the USA was able to dethrone Germany which had dominated this competition since its inception.
Hometown favorite David Traver was crowned overall champ, having styled his beard to resemble an Alaska snowshoe which earned him top honors in the freestyle full beard category. Meanwhile Germany’s Karl-Heinz Hille’s elaborate moustache earned him second. San Franciscan Jack Passion placed third with his long, red natural beard. The winners took home engraved gold pans.

2011 TRONDHEIM, NORWAY

The competition returned to Norway on May 15, 2011. This time, Germany beat out the USA by a single gold medal. The contestants helped celebrate the Seventeenth of May, Norway’s national holiday with a festive parade through the streets of Trondheim.

2013 LEINFELDEN-ECHTERDINGEN, GERMANY

In 2013, Belle-Moustache hosted the world championships in its hometown, Leinfelden-Echterdingen, near Stuttgart, Germany.

2015 LEOGANG, AUSTRIA

In 2015 the WBMC returned to Europe in the alpine village of Leogang, Austria. The East Bavarian Beard Club organized the event.

2017 AUSTIN, TEXAS

Austin Facial Hair Club host of the to-date largest WBMC welcoming guest from 33 countries, 738 competitors and 27 categories and more than 3,000 people in audience. This is also the first WBMC to officially include the “Craft” categories Creative and Realistic for those who would rather create their facial hair with a variety of crafting items. Proceeds from this event were donated to LiveStrong, OutYouth, and Farmers Assisting Returning Military.

2019 ANTWERP, BELGIUM

The 2019 WBMC was held in Antwerp in May of 2019. The event hosts Snorrenclub Antwerpen club donated proceeds from the event to the non-profit association Independent Life.

2021 AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND

Unfortunately canceled due to the Covid-19 Pandemic.

Recent World Beard and Moustache Championships

2023 BURGHAUSEN, GERMANY

The 2023 Championships were hosted by the Ostbayerischer Bart-und Schnauserclub on June 9, 10, and 11, 2023 at City Hall in the wonderful Bavarian town of Burghausen, Germany, on the border with Austria.

2025 PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA

The 2025 Championships were hosted by Mad Viking Beard Club Pennsylvania July 3, 4, and 5, 2025. There were 424 competitors.
Proceeds to benefit the UPMC Children’s Hospital.

Upcoming World Beard and Moustache Championships

2027 BLACKPOOL, ENGLAND

To be held by the Sandgrown Beardsmen on August 13-16, 2027.

2029 SPOKANE, WASHINGTON

To be held by Spokane Beard and Mustache in 2029.

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