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Business Events Industry Aotearoa is welcoming news of the confirmed February 2026 opening of the New Zealand International Convention Centre.
BEIA chief executive Lisa Hopkins says the industry is pleased to have a confirmed schedule for the opening after much anticipation.
“It is impossible not to think about the history of this venue. When first conceived, the expectation for what it would deliver was enormous. The hurdles along the way have been heart-breaking, not just for the industry, but for the NZICC team who have been so dedicated.
“Now, instead of looking behind us, we can, with certainty, look forward, and it is fantastic to have the assurance that this time next year we will be welcoming a new era for Tāmaki Makaurau and New Zealand on the international stage,” she says.
NZICC will be Aotearoa’s largest convention centre located in the heart of Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland.
Alongside Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre and Tākina Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wellington, NZICC completes the triumvirate of New Zealand’s investment in purpose-built infrastructure for business events.
”The business events industry is valued at NZD2.8 trillion globally and the potential for the sector to contribute to New Zealand’s growth goals, jobs, knowledge and business connections, as well as tourism and hospitality is immense.
“We are already looking ahead at MEETINGS’ 2026, which will be the 30th anniversary of this landmark event in June 2026, and NZICC is where we will be celebrating this milestone,” she says.
“Although it has taken longer than anticipated it will be worth the wait, and supports New Zealand and Auckland’s future as a global business events hub.
“With world-class new infrastructure, increased international connectivity, and diverse regional offerings, New Zealand’s position as an aspirational destination for business events – conferences, corporate meetings, tradeshows and incentive travel, has never looked brighter.
“Business events are a long term game, and it is not uncommon for large international conferences to be booked four to six years in advance,” Lisa says.
“Now, with this certainty, the long pipeline of business for New Zealand’s flagship new facility is going to get longer and that signals great news for not just the sector, but the country as a whole.”
