History
The World Beard and Moustache Championships is overseen by the World Beard and Moustache Association.
During the occurrence of the WBMC, that years WBMC Host organizes the biennial (usually) WBMA meeting.
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 WBMC 4 years after.
Beginnings
Like many things having to do with the sport of international bearding, the history of the sport is shrouded in controversy. One Italian group claims that it held the first championships in Northern Italy in the early 1970′s, it seems more likely that modern competitive bearding an event began with a 1990 event organized and hosted by the First Höfener Beard Club (1. Höfener Bartclub) in its hometown 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 Dominance
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 of Trondheim. 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.
Officially Sanctioned World Beard and Moustache Championships
Burghausen, Germany 2023
The 2023 Championships were hosted by the Ostbayerischer Bart-und Schnauserclub
June 9, 10, and 11, 2023 at City Hall in the wonderful town of Burghausen.
Auckland, New Zealand, 2021
Unfortunately, this event was canceled due to Covid 19.
Antwerp, Belgium 2019
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.
Austin,Texas 2017
Austin Facial Hair Club host of the to date largest WBMC welcoming guest from 33 countries, 738 competitors and 27 categories and more than 3k in audience. This is also the first WBMC to allow the Creative/Fantasy and Realistic categories for women and men 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.
Leogang 2015
In 2015 the WBMC returned to Europe in the Alpine village of Leogang, Austria. The East Bavarian Beard Club organized the event.
Leinfelden-Echterdingen 2013
In 2013, Belle-Moustache hosted the world championships in its hometown, Leinfelden-Echterdingen, near Stuttgart, Germany. Beard Team USA fielded a strong squad including Patrick Fette who achieved a perfect score in the English Moustache category.
Trondheim 2011
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.
Anchorage 2009
The United States became the world’s new facial hair super power, capturing 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 and Beard Team USA member 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.
Brighton 2007
In 2007 London’s Handlebar Club, which ironically prohibits its members from having beards (moustaches only!) 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 Weisser’s beard commemorated London’s Tower Bridge. Upstart Beard Team USA took five first-place trophies but Germany continued its domination with nine golds in all.
Berlin 2005
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. Beard Team USA fielded a strong squad but was not match to the host team in the German capital.
Carson City 2003
Bearding came to American 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 beardsman were not affiliated with local clubs, but competed as Beard Team USA®.