The announcement was made at the opening of this year’s MEETINGS, which is also being held at the New Zealand International Convention Centre (NZICC), for the first time, following the venue’s February 2026 opening.
“The board wanted to ensure MEETINGS continued to evolve and grow. Staying at the NZICC for the next three years establishes long-term continuity. We can now plan for the future with confidence,” said Martin Snedden, board chair of Business Events Industry Aotearoa (BEIA), which owns and runs MEETINGS.
BEIA chief executive, Lisa Hopkins, who made Tuesday’s multi-year hosting announcement to the 750 business events industry stakeholders attending the opening of MEETINGS, noted that the NZICC’s tenure as the event’s host would include the 30th anniversary of MEETINGS in 2027.
“That is significant for an event which has welcomed thousands of event decision-makers, organisers and planners, resulting in billions of dollars being pumped into New Zealand’s economy over the past three decades,” said Hopkins.
“Knowing that MEETINGS will be anchored at the NZICC means we can continue to ensure the trade show remains fresh and relevant, while at the same time enhancing the elements that we know are important to the industry.
“Supported by the New Zealand convention bureau network, the popular regional familiarisation programme will remain an important part of MEETINGS, offering a deeper understanding of the destinations, people and experiences across the country,” said Hopkins.
BEIA’s other flagship event, its annual conference, continues to move around the country, with Christchurch’s young convention centre, Te Pae, hosting the 2026 event in October, along with New Zealand’s business events awards program, The Bizzies, now in its second year and currently open for entries.
The 2026 MEETINGS show floor opens on Wednesday morning, with over 600 buyers expected, including 100 from Australia and others from further afield, including China, India, Southeast Asia and North America. There is also a significant buyer pool from New Zealand.
The event will conclude on Thursday evening, with a closing celebration, which, like the opening, will also be held at Auckland’s new convention centre.
