Beard Liberation Front
Media Release
8th August
Contact BLF Organiser Keith Flett @keithbeard.bsky.social
London Beard Week 2026. W G Grace & Michael Rosen tie in Best Ever London Beard Vote
The Beard Liberation Front, the informal network of beard wearers, has said that London Beard Week which marks the continuing growth and impact of beards in the Capital has concluded with the result of the vote for London’s Best Ever Beard.
Over 5,500 votes were cast in an on-line poll and the result saw cricketer W G Grace who lived in London towards the end of his life, and author and Arsenal fan Michael Rosen both receive 34.5% of the vote.
The result was announced live on air on LBC on Saturday morning as breaking news
London Beard Week traditionally coincided with the Campaign For Real Ale’s Great British Beer Festival at Olympia often the source of anti-beard stories in the media. However this is not running in 2026.
The campaigners say that aside from the many more beards to be seen in workplaces, shops and pubs, there is also a growth of specialist beard care shops and hairdressers offering beard trims and treatments, although the BLF generally advises against beard trims in barbers shops.
London Beard Week is a celebration of London, now one of the most beard friendly Capital cities in the world, and of London’s great hirsute heritage from Charles Dickens to Karl Marx through to modern day beards such as Islington North MP Jeremy Corbyn and author and Arsenal fan Michael Rosen.
As part of the week the BLF is ran a poll to find the most impactful and impressive figure with a beard who is associated with London, past and present.
BLF Organiser Keith Flett said, London is striking a decisive blow against pogonophobia, the irrational dislike of facial hair. It’s now respectable to wear a beard in London but that doesn’t mean there isn’t room for stylish and perhaps even world changing beards to be promoted further. We congratulate Michael Rosen and the memory of W G Grace for representing the very best of London beards past and present
London Beard Week poll to find London’s most Iconic Beard.
An online poll ran during the week. The winner is announced on 8th August
Charles Dickens, author
Fred Engels, philosopher and activist
Michael Rosen, author & broadcaster
William Morris, socialist & designer
Jeremy Corbyn, Islington North MP
William Cuffay, Leader of London Chartism
Bernie Grant, London Labour MP
W G Grace, cricketer
Kmflett's Blog 
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