Beautycon is coming back to Los Angeles as Beautycon University.
It’s a one-day event taking place Sept. 19 in downtown L.A., marking the third stand-alone L.A. event since Essence Ventures acquired Beautycon in 2021. Tickets range from $50 to $250.
Keke Palmer will serve as dean of well-being, with the multihyphenate talent bringing Practice by Palmer to the main stage as part of the event’s wellness programming. Palmer previously took part in Essence’s 2026 Festival of Culture in New Orleans in July, where she hosted Pilates by Palmer.
Cardi B will also make a special appearance with her Grow Good brand, after attending the festival as well.
You May Also Like
Presented by Refinery29 and parent company Sundial Media & Technology Group, Beautycon University will rework the event around a university theme, with five areas of study: art, business, history, science and well-being. The lineup will include classroom-style sessions, demonstrations and conversations focused on beauty artistry, entrepreneurship, culture and product innovation.
“As beauty continues to evolve, today’s audience doesn’t just want to follow what’s happening. They want to understand it, participate in it and learn directly from the people shaping it,” said Brooke DeVard, chief content officer of Refinery29, in a statement.
Makeup artist and creative director Sir John will serve as head of class and professor of face. Beauty creator and entrepreneur Glamzilla will serve as dean of art; Chillhouse founder and chief executive officer Cyndi Ramirez-Fulton as dean of business, and Soko Glam and Then I Met You cofounder Charlotte Cho as dean of history. Celebrity makeup artist Kenya Alexis and hair artist and creative director Coree Moreno are also joining.
Presenting partners include eos, First Response, Toyota and Threads. CurlyCon and NaturallyCurly will participate with a focus on textured hair.
