Mayo College to Host All-Ireland Hairdressing College Championships

Mayo College of Further Education has announced that it will host the All-Ireland Hairdressing College Championships 2026.

The championships will take place at Club 23, The Castlecourt Hotel, Westport, from Monday, February 2, until Tuesday, February 3. This competition is the first occasion in which hairdressing organisations, colleges, salons, apprentices, and educators from across Ireland will come together in a single national competition exclusively for hairdressing students. 

As a Mayo-based institution, Mayo College of Further Education will dedicate the 2026 championships to Marta Galvin of Allure, Mayo, in recognition of her outstanding contribution to the hairdressing profession.

Martha Galvin is a three-time recipient of the Irish Hairdressing Federation Hairdresser of the Year Award and a nominee for the Irish ICON Hairdressing Award 2026. In her honour, she has generously sponsored The Martha Galvin Award, which will be presented to the All-Ireland Hairdressing Student of the Year at the event.

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The championships are supported by a wide range of leading industry brands and professional bodies, including Wella, L’Oréal, Schwarzkopf, GHD, Phorest, Salon Select, LS Hair, Alfaparf, and Image Skillnet, alongside the Irish Hairdressing Federation, Irish Hairdressing Council, Hairdressing Educators Teacher Fellowship and the Hairdressing Apprenticeship Consortium.

Judging will be undertaken by a panel of respected industry professionals representing Ireland’s leading hairdressing organisations to ensure a high standard of assessment and industry alignment throughout the competition. 

The event will commence with a Meet and Greet on Monday, 2nd February at 8:00 pm, followed by a full day of competition on Tuesday, 3rd February, beginning at 10:00 am sharp.

Competition categories include Blow-Dry, Upstyle, and Avant Garde, with clear criteria set to reflect both technical skill and creative expression. The championships will conclude with the presentation of awards at 4:00 pm.

Registration for all competitors will take place on Monday, February 2, from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm, or on Tuesday, February 3, from 9:00 am to 9:45 am, with registration required prior to participation.

Organisers Heather Lynott Moore and Siobhán Costello Feeney said that the championships aim to showcase the high standard of hairdressing education in Ireland, while celebrating innovation, professionalism and the future of the industry.

Colleges, educators, salons and students from across the country are expected to attend what promises to be a significant and inspiring national event for the Irish hairdressing community.

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