In a sure sign that New Zealand’s business events landscape is gearing up for a banner year, hosted buyer applications have officially opened for MEETINGS 2026, with the showcase set to debut at the much-anticipated New Zealand International Convention Centre (NZICC) in Tāmaki Makaurau, Auckland.
The country’s largest and longest-running annual trade show for the business events sector will unfold on 17 and 18 June 2026, marking the first time MEETINGS has been held inside the towering new NZICC. This venue has been stirring industry curiosity since the day its foundations were poured.
Hosted by Business Events Industry Aotearoa (BEIA), the event’s hosted buyer program is aimed squarely at the decision-makers who keep conferences, incentives, exhibitions and corporate gatherings turning on both sides of the Tasman.
BEIA’s Chief Executive, Lisa Hopkins, says the early opening of applications is a deliberate nod to growing anticipation.
Appointments at MEETINGS 2025.
“We can’t wait to debut the NZICC and Auckland city’s new infrastructure to the who’s who of the business events industry and show them first-hand the dynamic changes in the heart of New Zealand’s largest city,” she says.
Hopkins notes that the broader uplift across Auckland’s tourism and events landscape forms a compelling backdrop for next year’s showcase.
“They include an extensive upgrade programme for Auckland Airport, one of the largest infrastructure investments in the country, plus the new City Rail Link project, and 18,000 hotel rooms in the region.”
If ever there were a moment to show off, Auckland seems to have timed it beautifully.
A Hosted Buyer Program With All the Trimmings
The hosted buyer package reads like a well-polished invitation: complimentary travel, accommodation, premium networking events, and full catering across three days. Guests will also enjoy the MEETINGS official Opening and Celebration, the sort of affair where handshakes, old-school industry charm and a few well-placed business cards still go a long way.
Inside the NZICC’s versatile event spaces, fully hosted buyers can schedule 32 curated appointments across two days, selecting from more than 250 exhibitors spanning 18 regions, for New Zealand organisers closer to home, one- and two-day hosted buyer options offer flexibility without compromising access.
Hopkins says the appointment structure for 2026 has been intentionally refined.
“This year’s appointment schedule gives hosted buyers flexibility to expand their availability to ensure a greater chance of meeting preferred exhibitors.”
The attraction is clear: everything and everyone sits under one expansive roof.
“Across one show floor and two days we have the best suppliers in the business events industry in New Zealand, including regional bureaux, hotels, venues, event management companies, activity and other creative and innovative service providers,” Hopkins says.
Auckland and Beyond on Show
Hosted buyers will also be invited to take part in Auckland and regional familiarisation programs, including a one-day city famil with the Auckland Convention Bureau on Tuesday, 16 June. The schedule promises a close look at the evolving city centre — a place where new laneways, hospitality precincts and public spaces continue to reshape the urban landscape.
They’ll also gain access to up-to-the-minute insights at the Tourism New Zealand Destination and Knowledge Hub. At the same time, the Celebrity Speakers Showcase adds a dash of inspiration and entertainment to proceedings.
To sweeten the mix, conference organisers attending the PCOA25 conference in Christchurch this December will be able to apply onsite to become fully hosted for MEETINGS 2026, a timely incentive amid the end-of-year events calendar.
Applications Now Open
Hosted buyer applications for MEETINGS 2026 are now live online via BEIA’s official site:
https://www.beia.co.nz/beia-events-and-programmes/meetings
With the NZICC preparing for its long-awaited starring moment, and Auckland’s infrastructure programme running at full steam, MEETINGS 2026 is shaping up to be a milestone edition, one that reflects both the industry’s traditions and its determination to embrace the future with customary Kiwi aplomb.
By Sandra Jones – (c) 2025
Read Time: 6 minutes.
About the Writer
Sandra has spent much of her working life untangling the world for others, one itinerary, one dream, one frazzled traveller at a time. With years spent in some of Australia’s best-known travel agencies, she’s the calm voice on the line when flights go missing, luggage takes its own holiday, or someone decides to “see Europe properly” in nine days.
A qualified travel consultant with a knack for making sense of chaos, Sandra fine-tuned her skills through a specialised advisory course, the sort that teaches both knowledge and patience in equal measure. But the storyteller in her was never far away. A later foray into writing gave her the perfect excuse to blend that industry wisdom with her gift for words.
Now, through Global Travel Media, Sandra shares the small truths of travel, its frustrations, laughter, and quiet moments that make every journey worth the fuss.
