The French beauty retailer’s newest store is scheduled to open in Cabot Circus in spring 2026Sephora to open at Cabot Circus(Image: Sephora)

Major international beauty brand Sephora has announced it is set to open its first South West store in Bristol this year.

The French beauty retailer’s newest store is scheduled to open in Cabot Circus in spring 2026. The upcoming outlet will be the company’s 14th store in the UK and would mark the latest addition to Bristol’s central shopping quarter.

When it opens later this year, it will mean Bristol shoppers will be able to get their hands on the almost 500 brands stocked by Sephora, which cover everything beauty-related from skincare to haircare.

This includes a number of labels exclusive to the retailer and products that have gone viral on social media. Lady Gaga’s make-up brand Haus Labs has an exclusive partnership with Sephora, and Mariah Carey was the face of its latest Christmas ad campaign.

So the new, 4660 square feet location promises to be a significant injection into Bristol’s beauty offering. It also represents a step forward in Sephora’s ambitious plans for UK expansion.

What began as a French perfume shop in the 70s, was then bought by luxury goods giant LVMH in 1997 and is now a dominant global beauty retailer that opened its first UK store in 2023.

Sarah Boyd, managing director of Sephora UK, said that the firm is ‘thrilled’ to be opening the new South West store. “Bristol is a city that thrives on creativity, individuality and self-expression – values that sit at the very heart of Sephora,” she added.

“We’re thrilled to be welcoming Sephora to Cabot Circus and we know customers will be too,’ said Paul O’Brien, director of leasing and commercialisation at Hammerson, the real estate company that owns Cabot Circus.

The news comes after a big year for Cabot Circus in 2025. New arrivals from the London food and drink scene included coffee chain Joe & the Juice and Honest Burgers, whilst the opening of the new Marks & Spencer attracted huge queues. This year, fashion chain Uniqlo will join Sephora with the opening of their new Cabot Circus branch.