Las Vegas International Beauty Show 2026: A Reflection After Four Visits
This was my fourth time at the Las Vegas International Beauty Show. For anyone wondering why a UK professional would fly across the Atlantic for a trade event, it has always felt worth it. Attending global events matters to me. It stops you being shaped entirely by one country's view of the industry, and Vegas has historically delivered on scale, brands and energy in a way few events can match. It has also always been a brilliant social event, with plenty going on privately with brands and groups and a packed schedule from start to finish.
This year I decided to make a week of it, arriving early with a friend and giving myself a rare few days off before the show started. A proper holiday alongside an industry trip, something I don't do enough of.
First impressions
Vegas itself was noticeably quiet. Whether that affected footfall at the show I can't say for certain, but I clocked it early on.
I also had zero industry plans going in. Normally I pick things up through the grapevine, so I probably missed a few events. This year I tried to pre plan from the published schedule instead. What I found was a long list of free classes, almost all brand led, very few business talks, and every single one a full hour. That is a real commitment when you are trying to cover a lot of ground.
The highlight: Lightwave LED
I arrived ready for a 9.30am class run by the Lightwave LED team and it was excellent. I've been working with LED for years, but their educator was brilliant and I left that session feeling I had connected some dots I hadn't joined before. I came home ready to promote it more actively to my clients. That is exactly what a good class should do.
A few more sessions followed. Some were fine. None were worth the hour they cost.
The show floor
I was shocked.
The trade show floor looked like a warehouse. No flooring down. Stands separated by curtains. Even the big brands couldn't do much with the space. Nothing looked special, nothing drew you in. I know this shouldn't make a difference, but I'm a visual person. The environment matters to me, and this one actively made me not want to walk around.
Two bright spots. The team at Fabletics, who were so helpful and friendly, and I stocked up on uniforms to bring back for my team. And my annual stop at Farmhouse Fresh, an American brand I love that we simply don't have in the UK. Stocking up there is now a ritual.
We made it a shorter day. England were playing in the World Cup. Day two was much the same: a day of classes and making the most of catching up on skills. Monday was a half day before our flight home and a few more uniforms.
Where this leaves me
This year lacked finish, energy and any real sense of industry celebration. I think trade shows are having a hard time with the economy and rising costs, and that showed. I would sooner have seen a smaller, more polished event that felt like a genuine celebration of the industry.
I'm not sure I'll be back in Vegas for a while, or at all. The time and money will go into new events I haven't attended before. New rooms, new perspectives, new conversations. That has always been the point.
