Deemed the Oscars of the Hair and Beauty Industry, HBA – the UK’s largest hair and beauty celebration is set to follow the BRITS in a daring move to Manchester.
After going viral in 2020 with their fair approach to awards, the UK Hair and Beauty Awards have held their annual ceremony in Birmingham for the past 5 years, selling out the city’s largest venue year after year.
After concerns prompted by increasing logistical challenges and pressures from the venue to ‘shrink’ the red carpet due to queues, HBA are now rumoured to be looking for not just a new venue, but a whole new city.
Manchester has been growing in popularity for major UK award events such as the BRITS, MTV Awards, and now it looks like the HBA’s will follow their lead in a completely unexpected move for 2026.
A source close to HBA commented on the potential change: “Manchester is definitely the new London, and to get the HBA’s there would be a huge move for The UK Hair and Beauty Awards. They’ve definitely outgrown most venues, and it’s really hard to put on the show they want when restrictions are put in place simply due to numbers. There are some really amazing venues in Manchester that are the biggest in Europe, not just the UK – who knows they could even break a record for the biggest hair and beauty event which would be awesome!”
The 2025 event, hosted by TV Personality Jake Quickenden, saw nearly 1,800 attendees and featured high-profile guests such as Paris Fury and Princess Andre, with a performance from hit boyband, The Wanted 2.0.
HBA is also recognised for its industry-leading approach to entry, being one of the first awards to introduce a single, low, transparent entry fee with no hidden costs. This ensures the results cannot be influenced, maintaining a commitment to fairness that the brand is built upon. For those who cannot attend, the ceremony is also made accessible via a FREE live stream.
An official announcement on the 2026 venue is expected in the coming months.
