As the beauty industry continues to outpace broader CPG retail industries, showcasing its resilience and growth, Cosmoprof Worldwide Bologna returns with one of the largest global beauty trade shows — scheduled to be held in Bologna, Italy, from March 26 to 29, 2026.
The business-to-business trade show hosts stakeholders from every major country and expectations for the fair are already high. With more than 225,000 attendees, the trade show represents the entire supply chain from ingredients to finished products in its 170,000 square meters of exhibition space.
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For 2025, Cosmoprof Bologna reported a 4.5 percent increase in attendance versus 2024, with attendees from more than 150 countries and 21 percent of people registered as first-time visitors. Enrico Zannini, general manager of BolognaFiere Cosmoprof, told Fairchild Studio that next year’s 57th edition will be the most business-driven and international yet.
Cosmoprof Bologna offers attendees a comprehensive and international overview of the beauty industry — from formulation to retail. At the fair, business happens one-on-one with decision-makers — chief executive officers, founders and export directors — to create authentic, strategic connections.
The event merges three trade shows: Cosmopack, Cosmo Perfumery and Cosmetics and Cosmo Hair, Nail and Beauty Salon. And given the volatile global climate and economic landscape, the international platform helps companies diversify their markets and partnerships.
According to Euromonitor, the beauty and personal care market is set to grow with a projected reach of $664.6 billion in 2026 for the U.S., up 6.6 percent year-over-year. Mass will represent 58 percent of the total market value, with premium beauty representing 30 percent and prestige beauty at 12 percent.
“Cosmoprof Worldwide Bologna’s unique ability to combine global reach, high-level networking and trend forecasting makes it indispensable year after year,” said Zannini. “For new players, it’s a launchpad; for established names, it remains a benchmark in the international beauty calendar.”
Flagship initiatives return in 2026: CosmoTalks, CosmoTrends and an integration between Cosmoprof and Cosmopack to offer a 360-degree perspective of the global beauty ecosystem. Most notably, Cosmopack is a leader in the beauty supply chain across all sectors of the beauty production process.
“Cosmopack remains the engine of innovation and efficiency,” Zannini told Fairchild Studio. “By connecting manufacturers, suppliers and brands, it enables companies to optimize sourcing, reduce costs and strengthen supply resilience. It’s also a space for learning and collaboration — with live demos and conferences addressing sustainability, regulation and new technologies shaping the future of beauty production.”
In 2026, attendees can look forward to new networking areas, a dedicated stage for pitches, industry presentations and a strong focus on high-growth markets. Zannini shared that a major initiative of the show is the launch of the Cosmetics Stage in Hall 36, which is a new area for product presentations, brand storytelling and networking with buyers and media.
“The Buyer Program and our matchmaking platform, Cosmoprof My Match, are tools designed to facilitate business relationships between companies, suppliers and buyers,” he explained. “They enable selection of the most suitable buyer profiles for the product categories showcased at the event, as well as the creation of tailored business connections to meet specific needs, with a consultative, personalized approach.”
The 2026 country pavilions with 29 countries represent established markets such as the U.S., U.K., France and Japan — and emerging high-growth markets such as South Korea and India.
Cosmoprof Bologna scheduled the trade show after Ramadan, Zannini said, to have even more visitors from across the Middle East, with a spotlight on Saudi Arabia.
While other Cosmoprof shows held in Asia, North America, India and Miami serve a more regional market, Bologna remains the flagship for Cosmoprof — with the event previewing trends before they hit the market and innovation continuing to take center stage.
Notably, Zannini said Italian companies remain at the heart of all things Cosmoprof. “The [Italian companies on display] embody Made in Italy excellence — creativity, craftsmanship and innovation — and are key drivers of export growth. Their integrated approach, combining flexibility, quality and design, makes them trusted partners for international buyers. Made in Italy continues to stand for beauty, authenticity and superior know-how — and Bologna is its global showcase.”
“For 2026, we’re investing further in internationalization, press and influencer engagement and Cosmoprof Insights, which is our new editorial platform exploring trends and opportunities ahead of the show. Ultimately, our goal is to keep Bologna the beating heart of global beauty — where innovation, collaboration and the Made in Italy spirit inspire the entire industry,” Zannini concluded.
Cosmoprof Bologna: A Must-Attend Event
Notable attendees give insights into why the trade show has a global industry impact.
“Bologna is a must-attend due to the sheer number of new exhibitors, curated indie brands and amazing innovations that we discover every year. The niche areas, new activations and amazing lineup of educational talks enrich the experience beyond the traditional trade show format. Cosmoprof Bologna is like the epicenter of it all — it’s the biggest and buzziest show of the year. Its size and industry impact are certainly prestigious, but I’ve always found that the Bologna edition also has a distinct energy that makes it memorable.” — Mallory Huron, director of beauty and wellness at Future Snoops.
“The Bologna show is a place where exhibitors, attendees and programming collectively represent every stage of the beauty value chain, offering something for everyone within an organization — regardless of their role in bringing products and services to consumers. Bologna always feels like the place where the next big trends and innovations are unveiled — it’s where you get a first look at what’s coming for the year ahead.” — Ukachi Anonyuo, global vice president at Esteée Lauder.
“Cosmoprof Bologna was such an inspiring and energizing experience. It’s one of the few places where you get a true 360-degree view of the beauty industry: from skin care to hair care, fragrance and even packaging and formulation.” — Marina Testino, director of strategic partnerships at Earthpartner and founder of SustainableFridays.
“Cosmoprof Bologna is a premier event that brings together a diverse ecosystem of leading manufacturers, innovative suppliers and brand owners from around the world.” — Sushil Iyer, head of global packaging R&D at Kenvue.
“I love being able to meet with brands from other countries — especially the European market and the fast-growing K-beauty. This event brings a large audience of vendors from all over the world all in one event. The amount of vendors is impressive — the event is large and unique.” — Liliana Grajales, Director of spa and wellness at JW Marriott Miami Turnberry Resort & Spa.
“Cosmoprof Bologna is an iconic event which has been a must-attend for nearly 60 years. It brings together a dynamic mix of global beauty professionals, brands and innovators to create an unmatched environment for networking, trend-spotting and thought leadership. It stands out as the flagship event of the global Cosmoprof network, with a nearly 60-year legacy of bringing together the entire beauty ecosystem. Its scale, international reach and deep industry roots make it a uniquely influential platform for trend discovery, networking and innovation.” — Larissa Jensen, senior vice president and global beauty industry advisor at Circana.
“Since partnering, I’ve learned so much more about them. Some of what has impressed me is their strategic communication and trendspotting, global reach and diverse participation, high volume of innovation and launches, matchmaking and buyer programs, end-to-end-to-end coverage of the industry and quality of programming and education. If someone is serious about the industry, they would be foolish to miss this event.” — Richard Purvis, chief executive officer at Skin Moderne Inc.