Beauty Trade Shows in Europe

European beauty trade shows set the pace for the global industry. This is where many brands launch new collections, where distributors find their next partners and where salon, spa and clinic owners come to buy, compare and learn.

Cosmoprof Worldwide Bologna is the big one, taking over BolognaFiere each March with every category from hair and nails to packaging and spa. In April, Messe Düsseldorf hosts BEAUTY DÜSSELDORF for cosmetics, nails and wellness and hair Düsseldorf for stylists and barbers, while Dublin, Porto, Poznań and the Netherlands all run trade fairs in the same busy weeks. Paris has the Congrès International Esthétique and Spa in February and IMCAS in January for aesthetics, and Brussels welcomes Estetika each September. In London, ExCeL hosts Professional Beauty London and the World Spa and Wellness Convention in October and Tones of Beauty Expo in summer, and the Business Design Centre is home to ACE each March. Warsaw closes the summer with Beauty Days and Beauty Forum and Hair.

Each beauty trade show in Europe is listed below with dates, venues and who can attend, so you can plan your buying trips and stand bookings for the year.

Getting to the fairs

Most European trade fairs are held at large exhibition grounds with strong public transport links. BolognaFiere is a short bus or taxi ride from Bologna Centrale station, Messe Düsseldorf sits near Düsseldorf Airport, and Brussels Expo is beside the Heysel metro station and the Atomium. High speed rail makes it simple to combine fairs, for example Paris and Brussels, or Düsseldorf and the Netherlands.

Where to stay

Hotels in Bologna and Düsseldorf fill up quickly during the big fairs, so book as soon as dates are confirmed. Many buyers stay in nearby cities, such as Cologne for Düsseldorf or Modena and Florence for Bologna, and travel in by train each morning. For ExCeL London, the hotels at Royal Victoria Dock are right beside the halls.

Tips for trade visitors

• Most of these fairs are trade only. Register online in advance and bring your business details.
• Check for free trade tickets, such as those offered by Professional Beauty London and Professional Beauty Ireland.
• Plan your route around the halls before you arrive, as the largest fairs cover several pavilions.
• Book meetings with key exhibitors ahead of time, especially at Cosmoprof Bologna.