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Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland will host the International Dairy Federation’s World Dairy Summit in 2026, anticipated to attract more than 1000 industry leaders and scientific experts to the New Zealand International Convention Centre.
The summit is the flagship event for the 120-year-old Federation, which spans more than 40 member countries, representing more than 75 per cent of the world’s milk production.
More than 2000 people attended the event when it was last held in New Zealand in 2010.
New Zealand was awarded this prestigious event following a bid by the New Zealand International Dairy Federation with support from Auckland Convention Bureau, a division of Tātaki Auckland Unlimited, and Tourism New Zealand.
A programme of social tours will also enable visitors to explore Auckland and New Zealand.
“This is a fantastic opportunity for experts from around the world to share their knowledge with one of New Zealand’s long-standing industries,” says Tourism New Zealand general manager New Zealand and business events Bjoern Spreitzer.
“We hope that visitors take the time to seek out, explore and enjoy all New Zealand can offer.”
“It is a privilege to be welcoming the World Dairy Summit and its delegates to the New Zealand International Convention Centre in 2026,” says NZICC general manager Prue Daly.
“We look forward to showcasing New Zealand’s manaakitanga and fostering learning within our venue.”
Convenor Andy Williams says winning the event reflects New Zealand’s standing in the global industry as the source of 40 per cent of the world’s traded dairy products.
“Worldwide, New Zealand is seen as a leader in the sector, from farming practices and welfare through to marketing strategies and everything in between.
“Hosting this summit will be great for New Zealand, it’s recognising our dairy expertise and leadership. We’ll be able to showcase what New Zealand is doing to stay at the forefront of this important global industry and how we’re adapting to emerging challenges. Dairy has an important role to play in the sustainability, safety and security of the global nutrient supply, and it is important that New Zealand is at the table when the sector discusses how we will respond to these important issues.”
Andy says Auckland has the facilities and capacity to host an event of this scale at the NZICC and will be an excellent host city for the event, which is expected to deliver more than $2million to the region’s economy.
“Bringing this conference to Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland is a great opportunity to showcase the region, both as a centre for agri-tech and as a top business events destination,” says head of ACB Ken Pereira.
“The IDF World Dairy Summit will provide invaluable opportunities for collaboration, promoting New Zealand’s innovation to global leaders in the industry.
“Inviting these delegates to explore Auckland outside of the conference setting is a further opportunity to show off the unique blend of world-class conference facilities and breathtaking natural landscapes that make Auckland unique.”
The event will showcase the work the IDF is doing to enhance all aspects of dairy – from cows to consumers, including the vital role the Federation plays in helping to shape food policies and standards. Attendees will also hear from senior industry executives from across the globe and eminent technical experts about the opportunities and challenges facing the sector.
Andy says having the conference on home soil will help boost New Zealand’s dairy industry through networking, education, trade and new technology opportunities. “You get a lot of cross-fertilisation of ideas.”
The event will be followed by technical tours of manufacturing plants, research institutes, farms, and the dairy industry, showcasing New Zealand’s wider agriculture sector.
