Iconic beauty brand announces new store opening

January 13, 2026 4,318

The iconic style brand has been called the ‘mothership of modern-day beauty industry’ (Image: wdstock via Getty Images)

Iconic beauty brand Sephora has announced the date its latest store will open. When it opens on February 12, the Sephora store in Victoria Square, Belfast will be its first opening of 2026 and its 13th UK store so far.

The brand’s debut in Belfast signifies Sephora UK’s introduction to the island of Ireland, introducing a massive 2,550 sq ft beauty haven to the centre of Belfast’s vibrant main shopping area. Having launched five new stores in 2025 including Liverpool One, Sheffield Meadowhall, Manchester Arndale, Cardiff St David’s, and Oxford Westgate, Sephora UK aims to have 20 store locations open by the end of 2026.

Since launching its first store in 2023, Sephora UK’s store openings across the country have become iconic events deeply rooted in the cultural zeitgeist, featuring entertainment from local and emerging talents, curated queue experiences, and delicious treats from favourite local culinary hot spots – all of which will be part of the ‘pure beaut’ grand opening when Sephora UK opens its doors in Belfast.

As part of the grand opening, customers making any purchase from February 12-15 will be gifted a ‘Beauty Bonus Card’, offering the chance to win an array of instant prizes. These include full-sized products, exclusive discounts, Sephora merchandise, and the much sought-after Sephora goodie bags, reports Belfast Live.

An image of a commercial building exterior featuring a large black sign displaying the text

Belfast will be Sephora’s 13th in the UK (Image: Belfast Live)

The Belfast branch will join the rest of Sephora UK in providing local beauty aficionados with a vast selection of globally recognised products. This includes cult favourites, indie icons, and Sephora’s own brand range, the Sephora Collection.

Shoppers can also explore exclusive ‘Only At Sephora’ brands such as rhode, Haus Labs, Makeup By Mario, Merit Beauty, INNBeauty Project, and Tower 28. Additionally, they can discover TikTok-viral sensations featured on the ‘Hot on Social’ table like Tatcha, Glossier, Glow Recipe, Rare Beauty, Sol De Janeiro and Kosas.

Denver, Colorado, USA-September 12, 2014. Shopping at Park Meadows Mall of South Denver.

Sephora has been a huge hit since it returned to the UK market (Image: arinahabich via Getty Images)

Sephora quit the UK in 2005, closing its handful of stores after failing to make a dent in the market. It is owned by French luxury goods empire LVMH, which owns a huge range of brands including Louis Vuitton, Dior and Dom Perignon and is owned by one of the world’s richest people. It returned in 2023 with huge fanfare, opening two shops in the giant Westfield malls either side of London. A spokesperson said: “We could not have asked for a stronger return to the UK.”

Greg Silverman, global director of brand economics at the marketing consultancy Interbrand, told The Guardian in 2024 that Sephora is the “mothership of the modern-day beauty industry” which “oozes luxury but with an affordable price tag”.

CARDIFF, WALES - NOVEMBER 9: A general view of a queue outside a Sephora store on November 9, 2025 in Cardiff, Wales. (Photo by

CARDIFF, WALES – NOVEMBER 9: A general view of a queue outside a Sephora store on November 9, 2025 in Cardiff, Wales. (Photo by Matthew Horwood/Getty Images) (Image: Matthew Horwood, Getty Images)

Following Belfast, the next Sephora UK store opening in 2026 will be in Bristol, with its Cabot Circus store set to open later this spring.

OXFORD, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 07: Guests attend the Sephora Oxford Store opening at Westgate Shopping Centre on November 7, 2025 in

Guests attend the Sephora store opening in Oxford (Image: Dave Benett, Tracey Welch/Dave Benett/Getty Images for Sephora)

Sarah Boyd, managing director of Sephora UK, expressed her excitement about the announcement: “We are so excited to finally reveal the date for our first opening for 2026 in Belfast. This opening will mark another first for Sephora UK – our first store in Northern Ireland, located at Belfast’s Victoria Square. We’re truly committed to living up to our name of Sephora UK by bringing our beauty playgrounds to all corners of the nation. Belfast is a city filled with important history, areas of outstanding natural beauty and we cannot wait to become a part of the local community.”

Julie King, senior asset manager at Commerz Real, commented: “The arrival of such a significant global beauty powerhouse is a milestone moment for Victoria Square. It is a powerful endorsement of the strength and appeal of Victoria Square as the city’s number one retail destination. Securing Sephora UK underscores our commitment to meeting evolving consumer demand for premium, experiential retail experiences. The brand’s arrival also affirms Belfast’s role as a major retail hotspot, both on the island of Ireland and the UK.”