Barbers and stylists will gather in Raleigh for a daylong mix of competitions, classes and networking. The North Carolina Barber & Beauty Tradeshow is set for Sunday, Nov. 15, 2026, at Hampton Inn & Suites in Raleigh, running from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. with educational seminars, live competitions and an awards ceremony.
According to CBS 17, the event is hosted by Major League Barber Co. and has operated since 2015, giving newly trained barber students and local barbers a platform to build skills and showcase their artistry. The show's own event page, run by mlbarbertradeshows.com, confirms the Nov. 15 date at Hampton Inn & Suites and says the day will include five categories judged live in Raleigh, with cash, belts and clippers on the line.
An October 5, 2025, CBS 17 report referred to the upcoming tradeshow that November, while the event listed for 2026 is scheduled for Nov. 15.
A Full Day of Seminars, Competition and Awards
The schedule breaks the day into three main blocks: educational seminars from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., competitions from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m., and an awards ceremony at 8 p.m., all on Nov. 15. The organizer's site adds that seven sessions from working barbers and industry brands are included with every ticket, and that one ticket covers the competition floor, the education stage and every exhibitor for the day.
General tickets start at $35, per the same CBS 17 report, while booth packages for vendors start at $275 and include tables, chairs and admission bands, according to mlbarbertradeshows.com. Ticket sales are not offered at the door, so attendees planning to go are expected to secure admission ahead of time.
A Decade of Growth for the Raleigh Show
The tradeshow traces back to barber James Anthony, who goes by AmazinAnt and has been cutting hair for 20 years. “In 2015, I took a leap of faith and started the first North Carolina trade show,” Anthony said, according to a separate CBS 17 report. That same report notes Major League Barbers started the North Carolina Barber and Beauty Tradeshow in 2015, and Anthony sees the show as a platform for stylists to network, compete and learn new techniques.
Organizers expect the show to keep expanding, a separate CBS 17 article on the event's growth reports. The tradeshow also offers classes for barbers and stylists.
One barber, Winston, traced his own path in the trade back to a show much like this one. “It was a barber show and hair show that opened my eyes to the profession,” he said, per CBS 17's coverage of the event's growth. The same report highlights the Sensory Safe Solution, which serves clients with autism and sensory differences.
On Instagram, the account @nctradeshow has been promoting the date to its followers, posting: “NC Barber & Beauty Industry Event - Nov 15th, 2026 8am - 8pm Competitions, Classes and More!” The November gathering will mark another chapter for an event that started as one barber's leap of faith a decade ago and has grown into a full day of competition, education and industry exchange at a Raleigh hotel.
