The controversial haircut known for being “business in the front, party in the back” took center stage in Denmark’s capital this weekend.
Thousands of enthusiastic spectators packed an outdoor venue in central Copenhagen on Saturday to witness Denmark’s annual mullet championship, where a dozen contestants showed off their distinctive hairstyles characterized by short front sections and lengthy back portions.
The wild 2026 competition, held on a stage in the heart of the city, drew over 1,000 onlookers for what organizers called the evening’s “mane” attraction.
Event founder Steffen Stiw Weber, a 37-year-old electrician, explained that the contest started four years ago following his own hair transplant procedure when he decided to grow a mullet.
Weber created the Danish competition after discovering he couldn’t participate in a similar U.S. contest due to citizenship requirements.
“I was like, OK, I have to do it on my own here in Denmark,” he said while smiling.
Judge Bobby Agren explained that participants were scored based on their haircut’s style, creativity, and overall stage presence, including their “mullet moves.”
Each participant received one minute on stage to display their unique cuts.
“I like the finesse, the twist, the nostalgia. I like it if it looks ridiculous or maybe ugly in a beautiful way,” said Agren, who operates two hair salons in Copenhagen.
“I think in our culture, when everything must … be perfect on social media and everything like that, I think that’s why people have to stand out from the crowd,” said Stiw Weber.
The competition showcased dramatic performances including alcohol consumption, breakdancing, and live musical acts. One participant even styled their mullet to mirror Denmark’s national flag.
Spectators roared and chanted throughout the event, their excitement clearly energizing the stage performers.
Following each act, judges displayed scoring cards to award points to contestants.
Construction worker Thomas Berg, 43, claimed victory after impressing judges with an energetic trampoline routine while wearing bright green athletic clothing and an orange headband to complement his mullet.
“I think it’s just funny. It’s just a big party,” said a grinning Berg after receiving his award. “It’s just nice to be a bit outside the box.”
While mullets have existed longer than professional hairstyling, the Oxford English Dictionary credits hip-hop group the Beastie Boys with popularizing the term through their 1994 song “Mullet Head” from the album “Ill Communication.”
The distinctive short-front, long-back style gained popularity among hockey players and 1980s musicians before eventually losing mainstream appeal.
Vogue magazine once labeled the mullet as “history’s most divisive hairstyle.”
However, the haircut has experienced a worldwide comeback in recent years. British publication i-D proclaimed 2020 “the year of the mullet” as pandemic salon closures and lockdown restrictions encouraged people to experiment with longer hair.
Similar mullet contests now occur globally, with Belgium hosting the European Mullet Cup just last month.
“It comes back every 20-30 years. There’s always a circular motion in fashion,” said Agren, the Denmark mullet competition judge.
