About Salon International
For more than 50 years, Salon International has been a meeting point for the UK's professional hairdressing community. The show is organised by Professional Beauty Group and is closely linked to Hairdressers Journal (HJ), whose website hosts the event and whose stage is one of its centrepieces.
Its character comes from performance and education as much as from the exhibition. Stage shows, colour and cutting demonstrations, barbering sessions, masterclasses and competitions run throughout, giving stylists a reason to spend the whole day on site. Stages typically cover areas such as colour, barbering, textured hair, trends and business skills, so the content reaches both creative and commercial audiences.
Visitors are stylists, colourists, barbers, educators, freelancers and salon owners. Unlike many trade shows, Salon International is ticketed, which tends to bring in a committed audience that has chosen to spend time and money on the day.
On the exhibition floor, haircare and colour brands sit alongside suppliers of styling tools and electricals, salon furniture, hair extensions, barbering products, education providers and business software. For brands, the value is direct contact with the people who use and recommend products every day. A good demonstration can win over a stylist, and many visitors come specifically to compare products, take advantage of show offers and stock up. Smaller and newer brands can also gain visibility by placing products in the hands of influential stylists and educators who attend.
Show recap
How Salon International 2026 went
Salon International 2026 took place on 4 and 5 October at ExCeL London, the first edition to leave its long-standing spring slot and share the venue with Professional Beauty London. Professional Beauty Group reported 34,173 visitors to Salon International over the two days, while Professional Beauty London recorded 22,378 of its own, turning the pairing into a substantial autumn gathering for the hair and beauty trade.
More than 250 brands exhibited, many of them running live product demonstrations, and six free stages kept education going throughout both days. Salon Live and the Masterclass sessions offered more in-depth learning, and a Business Hub was aimed at salon owners. The Fellowship for British Hairdressing staged its F.A.M.E. Team finals on the opening day, with eight stylists competing in front of judges and a live audience, while a British Hairdressing Awards gallery sponsored by Schwarzkopf Professional displayed work by the BHA26 finalists. The organiser has confirmed that both shows will share ExCeL again in October 2027.
Next edition
Salon International 2027: what to expect
Salon International returns to ExCeL London on 10 and 11 October 2027, once again alongside Professional Beauty London, so suppliers selling into both hair and beauty businesses can meet them in a single trip. Professional Beauty Group reported 34,173 visitors to Salon International in 2026, when more than 250 brands took part. The 2027 brand list and stage programme have not yet been published.
Stylists come to watch technique, so plan the stand around a demonstration chair with strong overhead lighting and a mirror angled towards the aisle. Many visitors buy at show prices, which makes a compact till point, card readers and back-of-stand stock storage worthwhile. The show falls on a Sunday and Monday; many salons close on Mondays, which can make the second day a good time for business conversations with owners.