A Global Take on Exhibit Design Trends: from Cosmoprof 2025 to the Show Floor in 2026
This month, we’re talking all about beauty💄✨ - how the industry is changing, growing, and where we think it’s headed. Our founder and CEO, Marissa, shares her insight into the beauty industry’s past, present, and future after walking the show floors of Cosmoprof Miami, Las Vegas, and Bologna. While in different cities and countries, Marissa found that all three shows told one cohesive story about beauty exhibit design and the shifts we expect to see in the 2026 show season. 👀❤️🔥
The Global Design Throughline: the themes we’ve consistently found across the industry
1. Soft geometry is officially the standard.
“Hard corners are out. Pill-shaped walls, rounded counters, arches, and organic forms are in. These shapes feel more human, more modern, and more aligned with today’s beauty brands. At this point, soft geometry isn’t a trend—it’s table stakes.”
Dibs’ interactive prize arch, Snif’s life-size product bottle replica, and Ulta Beauty’s iconic orange arches all highlight natural shapes and rounded corners, encompassing to the soft geometry look. These organic and fluid shapes create a welcoming experience for attendees and elevate the exhibit space.
2. Retail-first, experience-driven layouts.
“Booths are being designed like flagship retail spaces and concept stores. Open layouts, approachable counters, and natural flow invite conversation instead of forcing traffic patterns.”
Whether it’s a makeup and hair counter, a demo stage for live hairstyling, or a fully themed space, these exhibits let every attendee immerse themselves in an unforgettable experience. Creating spaces that emulate the feeling of a flagship or pop-up store creates engagement and a sense of familiarity.
3. Lighting is doing the heavy lifting.
“Backlit logos, halo-lit niches, illuminated shelving, underlit plinths—lighting has become architectural. It elevates even the simplest builds and makes booths instantly camera-ready.”
No matter the size or shape, a neon sign, halo-lit product replica, or a stem light highlighting products, can all bring an exhibit spaces to life. Using light, color, and dimension to illuminate logos, products, or brand imagery creates an eye-catching and lasting impression for attendees.
4. Less product, more intention.
“Clutter is officially cancelled. Brands are editing their displays, showing fewer SKUs, and giving products room to breathe. Confidence looks like negative space—and the strongest booths owned it.”
Sometimes it’s about letting the exhibit speak for itself. Focusing in on education, interactive moments, and striking design is the key to success. Showing fewer SKUs lets brands focus in on their capabilities and how they want to show up in the eyes of attendees. When it comes to product display, sometimes less is more!
Our Beauty Predictions for 2026🔮👀
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2025 was the year of AI—and consumers are already craving the opposite. In 2026, we expect brands to pull back on heavy tech and lean into human-centered design. Think “less is more” floor plans, open and approachable layouts, and sensory moments that feel personal and tactile. Anything that creates an emotional tie and makes a brand feel real, accessible, and human will win.
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The clean, minimal aesthetic isn’t disappearing—it’s evolving. In 2026, expect pared-back architecture paired with bold, expressive graphics. Dreamlike collages, organic and imperfect typography, handwritten fonts, and editorial or zine-inspired layouts will allow brands to stay visually clean while showing personality and tapping into attendee emotion.
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Immersive design isn’t going anywhere—but the focus is shifting. It’s no longer just about grabbing attention; it’s about creating emotional connection through authentic storytelling. The strongest experiences will invite participation without overcomplication and feel true to the brand, not gimmicky. We also expect sports-anchored themes to rise, especially with the World Cup taking place in the U.S. in 2026.
We can’t wait to see what the beauty industry has in store for 2026. Stay tuned to see what GTC has planned for Ulta FLC / Ulta Beauty World, Premiere Orlando, IBS, and more. See you on the show floor!❤️🔥
