Beard Liberation Front
1st March
Contact BLF Organiser Keith Flett @keithbeard.bsky.social
Tom Jones voted St David’s Day Beard of Wales 2026
The annual vote to determine the St David’s Day Beard of Wales, the Welsh beard that offers the most positive national image, has closed with Tom Jones shaving journalist Martin Shipton for the annual honour.
For the first time the public vote was run across several social media platforms. Voting for Tom Jones and Martin Shipton was equal on Blue Sky but Tom Jones took 80% of the votes on Twitter and he was declared the overall winner
The Beard Liberation Front says that images of St David suggest that the Welsh Saint himself may have had an organic beard
Welsh rugby prop Adam Jones won the Award in 2013, voted for by BLF supporters, just shaving former Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams. Another rugby player Leigh Halfpenny won in 2014. In 2015 the Award went to Thee Faction musician Chris Fox in 2016 footballer Joe Ledley and in 2017 to Charcutier Illtud Llyr Dunsford, with Chris Fox winning again in 2018. In 2019 journalist Grant Tucker shaved the opposition to claim the accolade. Michael Sheen has won four times. In 2024 Plaid Assembly member Peredur Owen Griffiths won the coveted title
It is the fourteenth time the Award has been given following the traditional UK Beard of the Year at the end December each year and the BLF says it is a mark of Wales as a modern nation on St David’s Day that beards are now playing an increasingly significant role in national life.
BLF Organiser Keith Flett said, beards are blossoming in Wales, and competition bristled. We congratulate Tom Jones. His beard has become an iconic part of Welsh culture and life
The winner is declared on March 1st
Shortlist
Martin Shipton, journalist
Tom Jones, musician
Keiffer Moore, footballer
Mark Williams, Snooker Player
Kmflett's Blog 
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