The British Beauty Council and brand management ecosystem, Chrysalis Beauty, have signed a strategic partnership, bringing the British Beauty Festival to China.
China marks the festival’s first international base, with the inaugural 2026 iteration unfolding across three Shanghai venues throughout April and May. British nail brand, Nailberry, and lash, brow and hair company, UKLASH, are among the participants of the festival, many of which are making their China market debut at the event.
Shared vision
The partnership between the the British Beauty Council and Chrysalis Beauty sees the latter appointed as the master licensee for the British Beauty Festival across Greater China. This collaboration was born from a shared belief that British beauty deserves a dedicated platform in one of the world’s most dynamic markets. With an estimated retail value of almost £60 billion, China represents a huge opportunity for British brands.
Sohail Shaikh, HM deputy trade commissioner for China, UK Department for Business and Trade, comments: “China is one of the world’s largest and most dynamic beauty and personal care markets. Its scale, rapid premiumisation and highly developed digital ecosystem present significant opportunities for British beauty brands.”
Festival phases
The festival spans three phases. Phase One ran from 23-30 April at Jiuguang Department Store in Shanghai’s Jing’An District, featuring the British Bloom Garden – an immersive pop-up bringing together British brands through curated showcases, influencer visits and sampling activations.
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Phase Two moves to Bicester Village this month, offering an exclusive brand showcase for 80,000 VIP members, while Phase Three runs from 10-31 May at Lane Crawford – one of Asia’s most prestigious luxury retail environments, with dedicated brand displays and live-streaming facilities.
Significant support
The British Beauty Festival is supported financially by the UK Department for Business and Trade (DBT), reflecting ‘the British Government’s commitment to championing UK businesses in China and deepening trade ties between the two countries’.
Miriam Bray, founder & CEO of Chrysalis Beauty, says: “The British Beauty Festival began as an idea rooted in a genuine belief in what British beauty can achieve in China. The support of the UK Department for Business and Trade was instrumental in turning that vision into reality, and the British Beauty Council’s backing gave it the platform it deserved.
“This long-term partnership is the next chapter – and Shanghai is just the beginning.“
Millie Kendall OBE, CEO of the British Beauty Council, adds: “The British Beauty Festival is exactly the kind of initiative the British Beauty Council exists to support. What began as a bold proposition for China has demonstrated the appetite that exists for British beauty internationally. We are delighted to stand behind this festival for the long term, and to work with Chrysalis Beauty to take it to audiences across the country.”