Professional Beauty Association Opens Entries for PBA NAHA 2027, Welcomes Back Nail Professional of the Year

PBA Opens Entries for NAHA 2027

The Professional Beauty Association announced on August 4, 2026, that entries are officially open for PBA NAHA 2027, inviting licensed professionals to submit their work for what PBA characterizes as the professional beauty industry's most prestigious creative awards competition. The announcement was issued as a press release from Phoenix, AZ, and was independently republished the same day by Modern Salon.

PBA states that for nearly four decades, NAHA has recognized artists whose creativity, technical excellence, and innovation continue to shape the professional beauty industry, with each year's competition honoring collections that challenge convention and demonstrate exceptional technical mastery.

Nail Professional of the Year Returns

One of the headline changes for 2027 is the return of the Nail Professional of the Year category, which has not been part of the competition since 2020. According to PBA, the category honors the exceptional artistry, technical execution, and versatility of professional nail artists, recognizing collections that showcase salon-style nails, nail extensions, and avant-garde nail artistry.

PBA states that the return of Nail Professional of the Year reflects its continued commitment to recognizing excellence across every discipline of professional beauty.

2027 Categories and a Refined Logo

PBA NAHA 2027 includes 16 categories in total, with the return of Nail Professional of the Year counted among them. The NAHA landing page and PBA homepage both confirm this category count.

Alongside the entry opening, PBA introduced a refined NAHA logo. PBA describes the updated logo as more accurately reflecting the breadth of artistry celebrated through the competition. While the previous logo carried a historic association with hair, PBA states the updated version is intended to better represent the artists recognized today across hair, barbering, makeup, and nails—while still honoring nearly four decades of competition history.

Entry Deadlines and Fees

Professionals have two entry windows depending on their PBA membership status. Non-Members must submit by October 13, 2026. PBA Members receive an extended deadline through November 12, 2026. These dates are confirmed across the PBA press release, the NAHA landing page, and the Modern Salon republication.

• PBA Member entry fee: $95 per collection submitted
• Non-Member entry fee: $195 per collection submitted
• Student Hairstylist of the Year — PBA Member fee: $55 per collection submitted
• Student Hairstylist of the Year — Non-Member fee: $95 per collection submitted

Key Milestone Dates for 2027

Beyond the entry deadlines, two milestone dates define the competition calendar for 2027. Finalists will be announced at Premiere Anaheim on February 7, 2027. Winners will then be celebrated live at PBA NAHA 2027 on June 6, 2027, alongside Premiere Orlando. These dates are confirmed across the PBA press release, the NAHA landing page, and the PBA homepage.

PBA's CEO on the Competition's Purpose

Leslie Perry, CEO of the Professional Beauty Association, spoke to the role the competition plays in the industry. Perry noted that PBA NAHA serves as an annual reminder that creativity is among the most powerful forces shaping the industry, and that the artists recognized through the competition do more than produce beautiful work—they challenge techniques, influence trends, and expand what is considered possible for the profession. Perry added that as PBA NAHA continues to evolve alongside the industry, PBA is proud to recognize the extraordinary talent that makes professional beauty dynamic.

How to Enter PBA NAHA 2027

Complete competition rules, eligibility requirements, category descriptions, and entry information are available at probeauty.org/NAHA, as directed in the PBA press release.

The NAHA landing page lists individual release forms and rules documents for specific categories, including Haircolor, International Collection, Master Hairstylist, Nail Professional, Student Hairstylist, Styling and Finishing, and Team of the Year. Professionals can review category-specific requirements before submitting.

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