The eagerly anticipated Pro.Connect Business Forum returns in 2026 with a reimagined format that is less a fixed conference agenda and more a curated experience.
The 2026 iteration serves as an evolution of the beloved event that embraces flexibility, choice, and a more fluid way of learning.
The event brings together all five brands under the L’Oréal Professionnel Products ecosystem – Kérastase, Redken, Matrix, Pureology and Biolage – for a three day immersion into the world of L’Oréal Professionnel Products, and offers both salon owners and stylists alike to connect with each other and the brands.
Set in the heart of Melbourne, voted the World’s Best City for 2026 by Time Out, the 2026 venue of choice is 1Hotel, Melbourne’s new sustainable sanctuary that redefines luxury through nature and wellness, and awarded a Michelin Key.
In 2026, the Pro.Connect Business Forum moves away from rigid programming in favour of a build-your-own model, designed to reflect how modern salons actually operate and allow attendees to curate their ideal experience.
After all, no two teams (or hairdressers, in fact) learn the same way, and education should reflect that reality.
Attendees are able to choose between two core schedules – the Everything Edit and the Business Edit – with both unlocking access to the two-day forum, alongside optional Look & Learn masterclasses and evening experiences (of course) rounding out the agenda.
Excitingly, for the very first time in 2026, stylists are also invited to come along through the Flexible Team Member Schedule and experience headline sessions in addition to the evening events.
On the subject of Pro.Connect Business Forum 2026 headliners, Pink La Blonde will deliver a social-first colour session exploring blonde, glossing, and the evolution of salon services into more editorial, content-led experiences.
Joining Pink La Blonde on headline duties is Kaine Vakai, who will focus on lived-in blonding, express services, and the operational systems behind building a faster, more profitable colour business without compromising craft.
Alongside the headline education sessions from Pink La Blonde and Kaine Vakai, Pro.Connect Business Forum 2026 brings together a broader line-up of industry voices shaping the future of salon business, branding, and culture. The speaker roster includes Matt Purcell, Mark Visser, Nadia Bartel, Sharlene Lee, and Jess Del Borrello, with more to come.
What you’ll learn at Pro.Connect Business Forum 2026
- Celebrity entrepreneurship and in-house content creation with Nadia Bartel
- Future-proofing the modern salon and the future of services, including head spas
- Industry benchmarking and understanding where your salon sits
- Team culture and incentives with Jess Del Borrello and Sharlene Lee
- Profitability, business and consultation with Kaine Vakai
- Content, personal branding and business growth with Matt Purcell
- Future You Program, and building the next generation of salon talent
- Hear directly from our brand directors with leadership insights from across L’Oréal Professionnel Products
- Industry panel discussions covering AI, HR, team culture, independent salons, rent-a-chair, revenue and profitability
And let’s be honest. Whilst we all love a day filled with education and mastering our craft, it’s the evening events and opportunities to network that most excite us. Pro.Connect Business Forum 2026 officially opens with the Welcome Party, featuring the World of L’Oréal, an immersive activation bringing attendees into the broader L’Oréal Professionalnel Products ecosystem.
This is followed on night two by Pro.Connect After Dark, a waterside evening event designed around community and industry connection. The dress code? Old Money Glamour, inspired by 2025’s biggest TikTok hair trend.
The eagerly anticipated 2026 instalment of Pro.Connect Business Forum is the perfect way to reignite your love of hairdressing, connect with your wider Pro.Connect community and (thanks to the flexible choose-your-own-adventure format) the perfect way to inspire your team.
View the full Pro.Connect Business Forum 2026 details here.
