The International Congress of Esthetics and Spa returns to Fort Lauderdale October 17–18 with two days of professional education, live demonstrations, product discovery and more than 150 professional brands at the Broward County Convention Center.
ICES has announced more than 80 speakers and masterclasses, with education touching corrective skincare, acne, chemical peels, pigmentation, facial techniques, brows, waxing, business development and other areas of professional esthetics. One ticket includes access to the show floor, branded workshops, educational conferences and live demonstrations.
The exhibitor floor is similarly broad, with companies representing professional skincare, Korean skincare, exosomes, chemical peels, microchanneling, nano-infusion, skin analysis technology, hydradermabrasion, treatment equipment, waxing, brows, lashes and business tools.
The NBEW Lens
One part of the program especially worth noting is the attention being given to melanated skin within the show’s corrective-esthetics education.
Niva Leones will present “Shades of Beauty: Melanin, Science and Customized Care,” a session focused on Fitzpatrick skin types IV–VI and diverse backgrounds. The class addresses melanocyte activity, peel selection, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation risk and considerations for developing safer, more individualized treatment plans for melanated skin.
ICES also addresses the subject in its official guide for corrective Estheticians, where organizers write that education around melanin should be considered “a foundational skill rather than a specialty.”
Rather than separating melanated skin from the larger conversation about advanced esthetics, the ICES program places it alongside discussions of pigmentation, peel safety, inflammation, corrective treatments and individualized client care.
For Estheticians whose clientele includes a wide range of complexions, that is an area of the Fort Lauderdale program worth a closer look.
NBEW Note
Beyond treatment technique, ICES is also putting significant attention on the business and professional side of esthetics. Current programming addresses client experience, branding, career development and business growth, while Esthetician Edit LIVE extends the conversation into professional identity, career paths and longevity in the industry.
For Estheticians building a practice as well as refining their treatment skills, that broader programming is definitely a must.
Who Should Know About It
ICES is designed for licensed Estheticians and other skincare and spa professionals, including spa owners and managers, solo practitioners, waxing specialists, brow professionals, lash professionals, cosmetologists, MedSpa owners, nurse practitioners and makeup artists.
The Fort Lauderdale show may be particularly relevant for professionals looking to:
- strengthen corrective-skincare knowledge
- explore professional product lines or treatment technology
- compare brands and equipment in person
- attend live demonstrations and education
- learn more about treating melanated skin and pigmentation
- develop brow, lash or waxing services
- strengthen the business side of an esthetics practice
- connect with other professionals working in the industry
For someone deciding whether the trip makes sense, the more useful question may not be simply How big is the show? but does the programming match what I want to bring back to my treatment room or business?
What We Know So Far
ICES currently lists 150+ professional brands and 80+ speakers and masterclasses for the Fort Lauderdale show.
Announced education includes acne correction and chemical peel layering, brow lamination, facial techniques, pigmentation, business strategy and the “Shades of Beauty” session on melanated skin. The larger 2026 program also spans areas including exosomes, PDRN, nano-infusion, microneedling, client retention and professional development.
Admission includes the exhibition floor, branded workshops, educational conferences, live demonstrations and show specials. ICES currently lists more than 100 exhibitors as part of the admission experience.
NBEW will continue following the Fort Lauderdale program, including the educators, brands and conversations that may be especially relevant to Estheticians serving diverse clientele.
Event Details
International Congress of Esthetics and Spa — Fort Lauderdale
Dates: October 17–18, 2026
Location: Broward County Convention Center
Address: 1950 Eisenhower Blvd., Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316
Saturday: 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
Sunday: 9:30 a.m.–6 p.m.
Tickets: One day $60 through October 2, then $80; two days $80 through October 2, then $100
VIP: Available with two-day admission, Esthetician Edit LIVE, networking, cocktails and $200+ in professional skincare products
