Contessa Awards 2027 (38th Annual)
- 38th Edition
- Nearly Four Decades of Canadian Hair Excellence
- 30+ Categories
- Awards Across Styling, Colour, Barbering & More
- Black-Tie Gala
- Annual Ceremony in Toronto with Red Carpet & Live Shows
- Days to go
- 10
- Hosted by
- Salon Magazine (Canada)
About Contessa Awards 2027 (38th Annual)
Canada's most prestigious hairdressing awards programme, the Contessa Awards celebrate the artistry and technical excellence of the nation's top hairstylists, colourists, barbers and salon teams across 30+ categories each year.
About the Contessa Awards
The Contessa Awards — officially known as the Canadian Hairstylist of the Year Awards — are the premier recognition programme for Canada's professional hair industry. Now in their 38th year, the awards are organised by Salon Magazine, the country's leading professional beauty publication.
Each year, stylists, colourists, barbers and salon teams from across Canada submit photographic entries that are evaluated through a rigorous blind judging process. Categories span artistic hairstyling, colouring, barbering, salon design, texture, bridal and more — over 30 categories in total.
The Gala Ceremony
Winners are announced at the annual Contessa Awards Gala, a black-tie evening held in Toronto that brings together the Canadian beauty community for a night of celebration. The gala features a red carpet reception, live presentations from industry partners, and the prestigious awards ceremony. Recent galas have been held at the Westin Harbour Castle in Toronto.
Contessa Connective
Alongside the awards, Salon Magazine hosts Contessa Connective — an education and networking event that gives attendees opportunities to learn from top educators, attend workshops and connect with fellow professionals.
Who Can Enter
The Contessa Awards are open to licensed hairstylists, colourists, barbers and salon teams working in Canada. Entries are photographic and judged on technical skill, creativity and overall presentation. Entry guides are published annually on the Salon Magazine website.
Key information
- Dates
- Sunday 8 November 2026
- Time
- 00:00 to 00:00
- Venue
- Toronto, Canada
- Type
- Awards, Barbering, Hair, Make up, Nails
- Hosted by
- Salon Magazine (Canada)
Contact Salon Magazine (Canada)
Event features
- Live demos
- Networking opportunity
- Speaker lineup / guest experts
- Sponsorship/exhibitor opportunities
- VIP options
Event gallery
Frequently asked questions
What are the Contessa Awards?
The Contessa Awards are the premier Canadian hairdressing awards, recognising the nation's top hairstylists, colourists, barbers and salon teams. Organised by Salon Magazine, they have been running for 38 years and are considered the highest accolade in the Canadian professional hair industry.
Who can enter the Contessa Awards?
The awards are open to licensed hairstylists, colourists, barbers and salon teams working in Canada. Entries are submitted as photographic collections and judged through a blind judging process evaluating technical skill, creativity and overall presentation.
When and where is the Contessa Awards ceremony held?
The annual Contessa Awards Gala is typically held in Toronto in autumn. Recent ceremonies have taken place at the Westin Harbour Castle. The exact date for the 2027 ceremony is to be confirmed.
How many categories are there in the Contessa Awards?
The Contessa Awards feature over 30 categories spanning artistic hairstyling, colouring, barbering, texture, bridal, salon team, salon design and more. New categories such as Barber of the Year have been added in recent years.
What is Contessa Connective?
Contessa Connective is an education and networking event run alongside the Contessa Awards Gala. It features workshops, demonstrations and learning sessions led by top industry educators, giving attendees the chance to develop skills and connect with fellow professionals.
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Register Contessa Awards 2027 (38th Annual)
Event details are supplied by organisers. Please check with the organiser before travelling.