Beauty Events in Toronto

Toronto is Canada's busiest city for beauty events, with a calendar that covers trade education, awards, barbering and permanent makeup. The downtown convention centre is the heart of the scene, and events spread out to the airport area and the northern suburbs.

The ESI Show Toronto is the city's main spring trade show, held at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre each April with education, conferences and a show floor across skin, spa, nails, hair and beauty. Each November, the Contessa Awards celebrate the best of Canadian hairstyling, barbering, makeup and nails, also at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. In summer, the Toronto Barber Expo: Hairfest brings competitions, education and a trade floor to the Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto, and it welcomes the public. For permanent makeup and brow artists, Next Level PMU meets in Markham at the end of October with conferences, awards and business sessions.

Every beauty event in Toronto is listed below with dates, venues and who can attend, so you can choose your events and plan your visit.

Getting there

Toronto Pearson International Airport is northwest of downtown, and the UP Express train links it to Union Station. The Metro Toronto Convention Centre is a short walk from Union Station and connected to it by the PATH walkway, which is handy in winter. The Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto is in Etobicoke, close to Pearson. Markham is north of the city and easiest to reach by car or GO Transit.

Where to stay

For events at the convention centre, hotels around Union Station, the Entertainment District and the waterfront are within walking distance. For Hairfest, the hotels around Pearson are the closest. Next Level PMU is held at the Hilton Toronto/Markham Suites, so staying on site is simplest.

Tips for Toronto events

• Dress for the season. November and April can be cold, while July is warm and humid.
• Use the PATH to stay indoors between Union Station and the convention centre.
• Book Contessa Awards tickets early, as the evening is a highlight of the Canadian calendar.
• Bring a team to the ESI Show to cover more of the education.