Hangzhou, 18 March 2026 — The Personal Care and Homecare Ingredients (PCHi) trade show opened today at the Hangzhou Grand Convention & Exhibition Center, bringing together more than 860 exhibitors from 26 countries and regions across 70,000 square meters. As the world’s largest cosmetics ingredients exhibition and the first major industry gathering of the year, PCHi 2026 serves as a global launchpad for ingredient technologies while offering brands, formulators, and manufacturers a strategic venue to source innovation for the year ahead.

Over the next three days, R&D professionals, formulators, regulatory specialists, and brand leaders will explore advances shaping the next phase of product development. With sustainability expectations, biotechnology breakthroughs, and evolving regulatory frameworks influencing formulation strategies, the event provides a timely platform for companies to align innovation, sourcing, and market strategy for the year ahead.

Global Launchpad: Innovation Debuts in Hangzhou

Opening day saw the unveiling of close to 50 new product launches, including both global introductions and China-market debuts. International and domestic companies presented developments spanning ingredient technologies, biotechnology, formulation systems, testing services, packaging materials, and AI-enabled applications.

Across the exhibition floor, many of the innovations reflected growing industry priorities around performance-driven formulations, sustainability integration, and compliance-ready development.

“PCHi provides a valuable platform to engage with the industry at a time when formulation priorities are evolving rapidly,” said Isabelle Lacasse, Head of Global Marketing for Product Management and Formulation at Lucas Meyer Cosmetics. “We chose to introduce AlgaSurge™ at PCHi as developments in China increasingly influence global product strategies. It also points to a broader shift toward more efficient formulation approaches, with greater emphasis on multifunctionality and substantiated performance.”

“We are pleased to be part of PCHi once again, having exhibited for more than a decade,” said Ms Kayco Mou, Global Operations, International Business Manager, Shanghai Huiwen Biotech Corp., Ltd. “As one of the first major industry events of the year, it provides a timely platform to introduce our new HWPDRN^®DDS to a global audience. The event also plays an important role in connecting Chinese ingredient manufacturers with international partners and bringing early visibility to new innovations.”

Visitors highlighted the opportunity to assess emerging technologies while engaging directly with developers and suppliers. Many noted that the concentration of ingredient innovations and technical expertise offered a valuable environment for evaluating solutions and exchanging insights with industry peers.

“What stands out at PCHi this year is the breadth of ingredients available for visitors,” said Jananya Sriphairot, Supervisor, Cosmeplus Co., Ltd. “This is my second time attending, and the innovations showcased here are relevant beyond China, making it a valuable platform for sourcing ideas and tracking global developments.”

Celebrating Excellence: Fountain Awards 2026 Winners Announced

A highlight of the opening day was the PCHi Fountain Awards Ceremony, recognizing advances in ingredient development, formulation technology, and applied science. Widely regarded as a benchmark for technical progress and formulation relevance, the Awards celebrate innovations shaping the future of personal care and homecare products.

This year the organizers received 295 product submissions and 19 Outstanding Engineer nominations, reflecting sustained investment in research and development across the industry. Entries were evaluated by a judging panel comprising scientific researchers, industry experts, and members of PCHi’s Cosmetics Science & Technology Innovation Committee (CSTIC).

The winners of the PCHi 2026 Fountain Awards are:

“China’s personal care market is playing an increasingly influential role in shaping global innovation cycles,” said a spokesperson from Reed Sinopharm Exhibitions (RSE). “For ingredient suppliers, formulators, and brands, staying close to developments here is essential. PCHi brings the global industry together at a critical moment in the year to exchange ideas, examine new technologies, and understand the trends shaping product development.”

From Recognition to Real-World Application

Beyond the awards ceremony, a range of featured displays across the exhibition floor highlight emerging technologies and product concepts. Areas such as the Innovation Zone, New Products Showcase, and other themed displays provide visitors with structured opportunities to explore new technologies and assess their potential commercial applications.

Together, these initiatives create a direct link between award recognition and practical implementation, allowing formulators, brand owners, and sourcing specialists to engage with the innovations shaping the next generation of personal care and homecare products.

Learning, Exchange, and Industry Dialogue

Alongside the exhibition, the three-day program features a series of technical seminars, industry forums, and new technology sessions. Discussions cover formulation science, regulatory developments, sustainability priorities, ingredient trends, and emerging technologies.

The program is designed to provide practical insights for stakeholders across the value chain, offering a platform where scientific research, regulatory understanding, and commercial strategy intersect.

Looking Ahead: PCHi 2027 Returns to Guangzhou

RSE confirmed that the next edition of PCHi will take place from 24–26 February 2027 at the China Import and Export Fair Complex in Guangzhou, continuing the event’s long-standing role in bringing together the global cosmetics ingredients industry.

For more information about PCHi, please visit www.pchi-china.com/en or follow PCHi on social media.