When Auckland opens the gleaming glass doors of the New Zealand International Convention Centre (NZICC) next June, it will host an event and showcase an industry.
From 16 to 18 June 2026, the NZICC will take centre stage for MEETINGS 2026, the country’s flagship gathering for the business events sector. Run by Business Events Industry Aotearoa (BEIA), the three-day showcase celebrates scale, style and serious business potential with Kiwi hospitality that makes deals feel like conversations among friends.
A Stage Worth the Spotlight
Lisa Hopkins, BEIA Chief Executive
It’s been years in the making. The long-anticipated NZICC, a statement piece in Auckland’s skyline, will reveal its whole multi-functional muscle when it transforms from conference hub to networking arena to gala venue all within 72 hours. From the red-carpet opening to the final-night celebration, the message is clear: New Zealand’s business events scene is not just back; it’s booming.
BEIA’s Chief Executive, Lisa Hopkins, calls it “a huge opportunity for exhibitors to make their mark at a world-class venue.”
“To secure floor space at this much-anticipated show, we’re encouraging exhibitors across New Zealand to apply early,” she says. “Last year’s MEETINGS drew over 1,200 attendees, 6,000 pre-scheduled appointments and a record 250 stands representing 18 regions. 2026 will raise that bar more buyers, more countries, more connections.”
From Strength to Strength
It’s a fair boast. In an era when virtual meetings briefly reigned, MEETINGS has stood its ground, a testament to New Zealand’s enduring belief in handshakes, eye contact, and proper coffee.
Hopkins says BEIA expects the 2026 edition to “break new ground, with a larger footprint, more international buyers, and an attendance likely to exceed 1,500.”
Partnering with Auckland Convention Bureau and the wider business-events community, the 2026 event aims to blend commerce and camaraderie where new partnerships are struck and old ones strengthened. “It’s where the country’s best operators show the world what Kiwi ingenuity looks like in a suit and tie,” she quips.
Room for Newcomers
Auckland Showfloor MEETINGS 2025.
In keeping with the industry’s welcoming spirit, BEIA offers entry-level exhibitor packages for first-timers and those returning after a five-year hiatus. This is a chance for boutique venues, regional bureaus, and fresh tourism ventures to compete with the heavyweights.
A limited number of shared-stand opportunities will also be available, smartly and cost-effectively allowing two organisations to join forces and share appointment streams while still capturing valuable exposure.
Early-bird rates apply until 12 December 2025 for the fiscally disciplined (and who isn’t these days?).
Exhibitors can dive into the details via the MEETINGS 2026 Exhibitor Prospectus, which outlines stand options, hosted-buyer programs, and logistics for the event at nzicc.co.nz.
A Meeting of Minds and Momentum
Beyond its economic ripple, MEETINGS 2026 carries symbolic weight. It signals confidence and a collective belief that face-to-face business remains the backbone of progress. New Zealand’s business events sector is putting connection back on the agenda in a world that often forgets the power of a shared conversation.
As Hopkins sums up: “MEETINGS 2026 isn’t just about showcasing venues; it’s about showcasing people our professionalism, creativity and manaakitanga.”
And that’s the spirit that has long defined New Zealand: forward-looking but firmly grounded in respect and relationship-building — values that never go out of style.
By Susan Ng
BIO
With the polish of an international hotel professional and the heart of a born storyteller, Susan Ng has spent years behind reception desks, in banquet halls, and among linen carts, learning what genuine hospitality feels like, not just looks like. From the first greeting to the last goodnight, she understands that excellence lives in the small, unshowy gestures that linger long after checkout.
Away from the bustle, Susan’s curiosity found another front desk: the blank page. Her candid, thoughtful, sometimes wry blog pieces drew a quiet but loyal readership who sensed the truth behind her words. Today she’s turning that same eye for grace and imperfection toward the written world, offering stories rich in empathy, insight and lived detail. Every time, expect warm, genuine and polished writing like the perfect check-in.
