Barber News title card: 32.5 inches, that's a beard, with a yellow tape measure

Iowa State Fair Longest Beard 2026 Explained for Barbers: 32.5 Inches Ends a 15-Title Run

32.5 inches. That's a beard. At this year's Iowa State Fair beard-growing contest, a new Longest Beard champion ended a run of 15 titles in 17 contests. Here is the story behind our latest Sultan Barber News reel, explained for barbers.

What is the Iowa State Fair beard contest?

It is the fair's annual beard-growing contest. On the morning of Tuesday 18 August 2026, hundreds of people passed through Pioneer Hall to watch competitors line up in five categories: longest beard, best-groomed, most unique, most historic and best beard with a costume.

How the beards are judged

The judges come from the crowd: three random fairgoers are picked from the audience. For the longest beard, it is pure measurement: a ruler from the tip of the chin to the end of the beard. First-place winners take home a blue ribbon.

32.5 inches ends a 15-title run

This year's Longest Beard winner was Bulmaro Martinez of West Des Moines, at 32.5 inches. That ended a run in which Harold Stephenson of Center Point had claimed the title 15 times in the previous 17 contests. Martinez's beard was more than four inches longer than Stephenson's winning beard in 2025.

The other 2026 winners: Will Garriott of West Des Moines (best costume), Justin Fisher of Des Moines (best groomed) and Ben Pullen of Spencer (most unique and most historic).

Why barbers should care

Length gets the headlines, but categories like best-groomed and most historic reward shaping, detail and styling, the work that happens in the chair. Contests like this keep beards in the spotlight and give clients a reason to talk about theirs. Which category would your clients enter? If you are advising a client who is growing for length, our guide on how to use beard oil covers how often, how much and what it cannot do.

More from Sultan Barber News

The reel also goes live today on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and YouTube Shorts. Tag a barber who would enter.

Sources: Des Moines Register via AOL (19 August 2026) and KCCI (18 August 2026). Sultan Barber News is an independent news series and is not affiliated with the Iowa State Fair.

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