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SEARCHThe show reported 30% attendance growth. It felt that way. This event for the southwest professional beauty community had heart, spice, and something for everyone.
MODERN SALON hosted a pop-up version of their Boot Camp event, featuring personal and professional development. A panel on healthy boundaries included (from left to right) Mireya Villarreal, Araceli Castaneda, Kimberly Loomis, and Amelia Fugitt.
Premiere Shows
My first Premiere San Antonio was last year and attending this year--Premiere Shows fourth annual event in San Antonio--it was obvious that both the crowd size and the energy had expanded.
The show was held on August 31, 2026, at the Henry B. González Convention Center, with over 12,000 professional and student visits over two days, which the show says is a 30% increase in attendance compared to 2025.
Premiere Shows
When Premiere Shows and SalonCentric announced their partnership in March 2026, the first presenting partnership in Premiere's 30+ year history, the vision was to elevate the event experience and expand opportunities for the Southwest beauty community. Five months later, the results have surpassed expectations, with the collaboration driving record attendance, expanded programming, and unprecedented engagement across every touchpoint.
"The energy and engagement we witnessed throughout the weekend was extraordinary," said Erin McDonald, Event Director, Premiere Shows. "The growth of this show validates our commitment to delivering unparalleled value to the Southwest beauty community and demonstrates the power of strategic industry collaboration.”
Education is at the heart of the show.
Premiere Shows
Strategic Partnership Transforms Event Experience
The collaboration between Premiere Shows and SalonCentric as the inaugural presenting partner delivered expanded brand representation, enhanced educational programming, and innovative activations that transformed the attendee experience. The partnership brought leading brand partners to the event including Redken, Color Wow, Biolage, Bumble and bumble, Framar, House of Foils, Living Proof and StyleCraft Gamma+.
The SalonCentric Pavilion served as a hub for interactive experiences, product discovery, and specialized education, creating a dynamic destination that drew consistent crowds throughout the two-day event.
At the Bumble and bumble booth, hands-on demos and education
Premiere Shows
“The energy, vibrancy, and undeniable passion we saw from the professionals and students in San Antonio was nothing short of inspiring—they came ready to learn, connect and elevate their craft,” said Dessirae Sands, VP of Education, Shows & Events for SalonCentric. “At SalonCentric, we are deeply proud to stand alongside Premiere in championing this community, empowering stylists and students with the world-class education, innovative resources and tools they need to grow their businesses and thrive behind the chair.”
Exhibitor Growth Reflects Brand Confidence
At the Barber Stage
Premiere Shows
More than 130 exhibitors showcased the latest innovations across hair, barbering, nails, spa, and wellness, representing a 14% increase in exhibitor participation and a 21% larger exhibit floor.
Beyond the SalonCentric brand partners, Premiere San Antonio featured diverse representation across the expanded floor, giving attendees comprehensive access to industry-leading innovations. Hair brands like Jack Winn Pro, Panasonic, and Keratherapy showcased the latest products alongside barbering leaders such as Beard Octane, Wahl, and Johnny B Hair Care. Nail brands like Kokoist, LeChat, and Sofgel brought cutting-edge artistry and technology, while Procell Therapies and Zemits were among some of the spa and wellness exhibitors highlighting innovations in skincare and wellness services.
Amelia Fugitt, known for her dramatic color transformations, on the Color Stage.
Premiere Shows
Among the industry leaders present, Living Proof highlighted the value of direct engagement with beauty professionals.
“Premiere San Antonio was a valuable opportunity to connect directly with stylists through education and meaningful conversations,” said Gwen Blevens, VP of Sales & Trade Marketing, Professional and International for Living Proof. “Living Proof was built to solve the toughest hair challenges professionals face behind the chair, and we loved sharing how our science-first approach and breakthrough innovations help stylists deliver real, proven results for their clients.”
World-Class Education & Competitions Drive Engagement
Skin is in. Esthetics and skin care brands had a healthy representation on the show floor and in the classrooms
Premiere Shows
Building on its reputation as the industry's leading education destination, the event delivered 250 sessions. The comprehensive curriculum spanned hair, barbering, spa & wellness, lashes, brows, and business development, featuring 135 prominent brands and independent educators. Standing-room-only crowds filled top sessions, some of which included:
· Bold Extension: From Install to Income with Rachel Bynum
· Korean Lash Lift with Lashcon
· Content - Connection - Clients with Bailey Lavender
· Intro to Curly Cutting with Presley Poe
Nailympia, powered by Scratch Magazine, brought international nail artistry to San Antonio, welcoming 51 nail professionals from across the globe. Maksymilian Borowy from Ireland claimed the prestigious Premiere Cup as the highest-scoring competitor across at least two Nailympia competitions at Premiere Shows this year.
Premiere Shows
Professional and Student Barber Battles, powered by L3VEL3 and sponsored by JRL, provided a high-energy platform for emerging and established barbers to demonstrate their skills before enthusiastic crowds celebrating technical excellence and artistry.
Building Momentum for 2027 and Beyond
Premiere San Antonio returns to the Henry B. González Convention Center August 29–30, 2027, building on four years of exponential growth. Before then, Premiere Shows continues its 2026 tour with Premiere Columbus, October 11–12, 2026, closing out the year with the beauty community in the Midwest.
"This partnership demonstrates what's possible when industry leaders collaborate to deliver exceptional value to beauty professionals," McDonald concludes. "We're committed to raising the bar year after year, empowering our community through education, connection, and inspiration."
Premiere Shows
About Premiere Shows
The Premiere Shows are the nation's leading network of beauty industry events, matched with world-class education from top beauty brands and renowned educators. Premiere welcomes all representatives of the professional beauty industry to meet with top brands from around the globe, get hands-on education, shop, connect with their community, and stay up to date with the hottest trends in the business. Premiere exhibitors are guaranteed to meet decision-makers from every area of the beauty industry on an exhibit floor designed to bring the beauty community together to learn, buy, and connect.
The Premiere Shows' events are organized by USA Beauty LLC, a joint venture between Informa Markets, BolognaFiere, and the Professional Beauty Association - a historic partnership created to better serve the beauty industry. USA Beauty LLC also operates the Cosmoprof North America events held annually in Las Vegas and Miami.
For more information, visit premiereshows.com
About SalonCentric
SalonCentric, headquartered in St. Petersburg, Fla., is the premier national distributor of salon professional products in the U.S. Created by L’Oréal USA in 2008, SalonCentric has 245 sales consultants, more than 780 SalonCentric and SalonCentric Franchise stores, more than 80 StateǀRDA stores and 250 StateǀRDA sales consultants. SalonCentric’s vision is to fuel freedom in every beauty professional. Brands distributed by SalonCentric include: AIIR, Alterna, amika, Artistic, Ashtae, Blonde Solutions, Brazilian Blowout, Bumble and bumble, Colortrak, Color Wow, Concept, BaByliss, Bioelements, Bio Ionic, Biolage, BosleyMD, Briogeo, Design Essentials, Design.ME, Dermalogica, Framar, ghd, Grande, Hempz, IGK, Joico, Jolie Skin Co., K18, Kenra Professional, Keratin Complex, KEVIN.MURPHY, L’ANZA, L’Oréal Professionnel, Living Proof, Matrix, Mizani, Moroccanoil, Olaplex, OUAI, Pravana, Product Club, Prolific, Pulp Riot, Pureology, R+Co, Redken 5th Avenue NYC, Sexy Hair, Surface, UNITE, Verb and many other fine brands.
For more information, visit www.saloncentric.com.
Haircare brand The Doux has launched “My Salon Empire,” a free-to-play salon management game on Roblox, helping the next generation celebrate the diversity of textured hair and explore salon entrepreneurship.
Wella artists presented the Monochromatic trend movement, introduced new Pure Perfection color and Sebastian styling innovations, while the Wella team created interactive fun throughout Wella Studio in Los Angeles.
Dominique LyVar, an influential educator and artist, is remembered by those who loved him for his significant impact on the industry and contributions to the community.
Known for his buttery blondes and a technique for highlighting hair with more precision that he called chunking, Brad Johns died on August 27. His friend and fellow colorist, David Stanko, shares thoughts on his talented colleague and close friend.
As technology evolves at an accelerated rate, you want to make sure you have the best in your business toolkit to help you grow sales, motivate your team, communicate with your current and future clientele, and streamline your managerial tasks. The 2026 SALON TODAY Technology Solutions Guide is designed to help you navigate today's growing landscape of salon and spa technology. In this guide, you'll find a curated look at more than 50 of the latest software platforms, digital solutions, and innovative features to help you compare options and identify the best fit for your business.
The Davines Edit reflects the brand’s passion for people and planet.
RÜTE Wash introduces a shower cap designed specifically for crown washing, helping clients with hair extensions cleanse the scalp while protecting the lengths from water.
Premiere San Antonio Presented by SalonCentric returns for its fourth edition August 30-31 at the Henry B. González Convention Center, delivering its biggest and boldest event to date.
One-Day Personal and Professional Development Education Event for Beauty Professionals Set for October 25, 2026, at the Hilton Philadelphia City Avenue.
According to the report, people are moving away from copy-paste trends and toward community, using real experiences to develop a sense of taste and beauty that reflects who they are.
Hairstylists and barbers can showcase their creative and technical vision in two global categories with cash prizes and a chance to represent in Portugal.
The BBR Beauty Show featured a prominent speaker lineup including Lacy Redway, Karrueche Tran, Danessa Myricks, Chelley B., Sabrina Elba, Jessica Harris-Dupart, and more.
The Professional Beauty Association and Pivot Point team up to develop an ongoing study that measures the confidence of salon owners, stylists, school owners, and students.
This shared recognition celebrates the strength of industry collaboration in advancing professional mobility.
In Dubai, a salon visit isn’t an appointment. It’s a weekly routine, and clients can spend $800 to $1,400 a month on it, according to Gaurav Tripathi of MADI International. On October 6-8, 2026, the market behind those numbers opens its doors as Beautyworld Dubai marks its 30th edition at the Dubai World Trade Centre, bringing together distributors, brands, stylists and salon owners from all over the world.
Sponsored by BeautyWorld Dubai
The Good Patch is a leading wearable wellness patch brand, offering wellness and skincare patches that support everyday needs including energy, sleep, relaxation and more.
Four publications for beauty industry professionals to enhance their leadership skills, financial awareness, professional growth, and joy!
