Yes. Ulta Beauty World is worth the hype. The highly anticipated, sold-out expo kicked off in Orlando, Florida, on Thursday, April 16, bringing thousands of beauty lovers together for a day of activations from 200-plus brands and, of course — samples! Shop TODAY had a chance to attend the beauty world's biggest event of the year, and below, we're highlighting everything you need to know.
What is Ulta Beauty World?
Ulta Beauty World is an all-day, immersive expo where attendees can interact with their favorite brands in makeup, skin care and hair. The first event was held in 2025 in San Antonio, Texas, and this year, Ulta brought the beauty mecca to Orlando's Orange County Convention Center.
Within each booth, attendees can grab samples, get a first look at upcoming launches, get color-matched with a new foundation and even play games for a chance to win major prizes. (Shark Beauty was giving out the chance to win a whole Shark Glam, which is valued at $400!)
Tickets cost $160, plus a $5 processing fee, and if you ask us, that cost is absolutely worth it because, aside from snagging goodies from the floor, beauty goers rolled away with a Beis carry-on and tote, filled with products with a total value of $2,000.
When is the next Ulta Beauty World?
Attendees learned that Ulta Beauty World 2027 is happening, but the location has not been officially disclosed. However, you can expect it to be another epic event. In fact, the hype for the second Ulta Beauty World was so popular that the event sold out on Ticketmaster within minutes. According to Ulta in an Instagram post and comment reply, 3 million people joined the queue with only 3,000 tickets available.
What brands and activations were at Ulta Beauty World?
The expo center floor was filled with over 200 brands, from viral skincare to K-Beauty to newer brands, too. Attendees had the chance to try their favorite products firsthand from industry experts and take a few goodies home. A few of my favorite activities included: hair styling with Shark and Moroccan Oil, makeup touch-ups with Rare Beauty, IT Cosmetics, Anastasia Beverly Hills, and Nars, and a skin analysis and hand massage with Elemis. The Ulta Beauty Collection was offering free ear piercings, too.
But that's not all, there were even special guest appearances that thrilled beauty fans. Khloe Kardashian, a brand ambassador for It's a 10 Haircare, surprised fans with an impromptu meet-and-greet, who were lucky enough to make the line. And Jonathan van Ness was greeting fans and offering styling at JVN. If you wanted to experience every booth, you'd have to plan to spend the entire nine hours there.
What's in the $2,000-value Ulta Beauty World swag bag?
The question is what's not in it. While press didn't get to take home the famous swag bag, a very nice attendee (shout out to Andrea!) let Shop TODAY take a peek inside, and it did not disappoint. Not only did everyone "shop" the booths, but they also rolled away with a Beis carry-on filled with full-size bottles from brands like Redken, Bio-oil, Elemis, Chi, Bondi Sands, Gucci Flora Perfume, Clinique makeup ... and too many more to name.
If you didn't snag a ticket to Ulta Beauty World 2026, you'll want to set a reminder as soon as next year's event is announced. In the meantime, you can check out some of Shop TODAY's favorite products found at Ulta — and some are on sale!
Ulta Beauty deals to shop
A mascara for just over $2? Talk about an incredible deal! This mascara has a buildable formula that allows you to control your desired results.
What we love most about this hanitizer is that it contains aloe vera to keep your hands moisturized.
Don't feel like washing your hair? This dry shampoo instantly refreshes hair, lifts from the root and eliminates odor.
We understand why this is called a "miracle leave-in." It offers everything from heat protectant to smoothing, and the travel-friendly bottle is 50% off.
The brand says this daily SPF 50 sunscreen feels like a serum that complements your skin care and adds smooth coverage.
"After air drying for around an hour, my hair was noticeably shinier and ultra-curly — I felt like a new woman," wrote editorial assistant Annie Shigo in a review article. "I stared at this new person in the mirror for about five minutes and then paraded around my apartment, where I was met with many compliments on my curls, even getting a 'Whoa, what did you do!?'"
According to the brand, this intensive moisturizer replenishes the skin's barrier "immediately." The brand offers a smaller option for $22, which is great if you want to test it out before you commit to the full-size bottle.
While you should always wear sunscreen year-round, this moisturizer contains SPF 30 and niacinamides to hydrate and protect your skin.
This viral liquid blush comes in 16 hues ranging from pinks to peach to deep plums. While the packaging looks small, a little goes a really long way.
Clinique Almost Lipstick Black Honey
The viral Clinqiue Black Honey lipstick gets the stamp of approval from multiple Shop TODAY editors. The beauty award winner has a buildable color that's moisturizing and complements every skin tone.
Another Shop TODAY icon worth grabbing while it's on sale? This award-winning concealer from Tarte. Our editors love it for its coverage and moisturizing ingredients.
IT Cosmetics' newest launch quickly became an editor favorite and featured on our latest Shop TODAY Hot List. The formula combines skin care and makeup with its moisturizing ingredients and buildable coverage.
Now's your chance to grab Tatcha's bestsellers at an affordable cost. Within this value set, you'll get everything you need for your most hydrated skin.
Deal alert: The Shark Beauty SpeedStyle Pro Flex is 32% off! It comes with four attachments that provide smooth blowouts or frizz-free curls, and it folds up, making it perfect for traveling.
Why trust Shop TODAY
The Shop TODAY editors and writers search the internet to find the best products and sales out there. We use our own personal experiences with beauty products and top brands to make shopping easier for our readers. For this story, Shop TODAY commerce editor Shannon Garlin attended Ulta Beauty World in Orlando as press, where she got an in-person look at each booth, participated in activations and tried products firsthand.
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Summersalt The Perfect Wrap One-Piece
Summersalt The Perfect Wrap One-Piece