MEETINGS 2026 is underway at the New Zealand International Convention Centre (NZICC) for the first time, with 253 exhibition stands – including a piece of The Shire from Hobbiton Movie Set – on show to over 700 buyers from across New Zealand and key international markets.
Business Events Industry Aotearoa (BEIA) Chief Executive, Lisa Hopkins says the 29th annual industry showcase comes at a time when international business event arrivals are rebounding strongly in New Zealand.
The business events sector delivered a $925 million boost to New Zealand’s economy last year, according to BEIA research. More than 16,500 international delegates arrived in Q1 2026, up over 50 per cent year-on-year and only 4 per cent below pre-Covid 2019 levels. April was another strong month, 21 per cent ahead of April 2025. During MEETINGS 2025, $110 million of business bookings were generated for New Zealand.
“Business events are one of New Zealand’s most valuable visitor segments. Delegates travelling here bring global expertise, networks and knowledge into New Zealand, and support our venues, hotels, hospitality, transport and regional economies,” Hopkins said.
“At MEETINGS, all of New Zealand comes together under one roof to keep the momentum high, converting interest into confirmed events. It’s exciting to see so much business happening in one dynamic space.”
Among the activations on the MEETINGS 2026 exhibition floor, Hobbiton Movie Set is transporting delegates straight to The Shire with an authentic, full-scale Hobbit Hole complete with living grass, flowers, and the lush vegetation of Hobbiton’s gardens, built by the same team of carpenters, scenic painters, landscapers, and craftspeople who maintain the iconic Matamata set.
MEETINGS is supporting Garden to Table as its chosen charity this year. The Garden to Table team are on the show floor showcasing their work teaching children to grow and share fresh seasonal produce. More than 32,000 students at 309 schools across Aotearoa took part in their programme last year and enjoyed more than one million vegetable-based meals.
The 2026 Celebrity Speakers NZ Showcase features two lunchtime sessions with leading voices from business, innovation, and community sectors.
Day Buyers can still register online or on the day onsite. Other visitors are invited MEETINGS during Industry Hours from 2.30pm to 4.00pm on either Wednesday 17 June or Thursday 18 June.
What NZICC offers:
- A venue that is designed around giving delegates fast and effortless transitions between meetings, exhibition, pre-function, banquet, and performance spaces.
- A glazed facade provides delegates with an inviting and transparent connection to the vibrancy of the city while allowing views of Auckland’s natural beauty, from the Waitākere Ranges to the Waitematā Harbour.
- In close proximity to Auckland’s innovation ecosystem – universities, business headquarters and innovation hubs – allowing event organisers to tap into New Zealand’s leading knowledge centres.
- An integrated atrium and public laneway encourage networking and enhances the delegate experience within a city full of excitement and sophistication, with over 8000 hotel rooms, dining precincts, shopping and entertainment all within 20 minutes walking distance.
- Configurable spaces presenting opportunities for a wide range of events with meeting spaces on all levels, pre-function capacity for 2,700 people, convention capacity for 3,150 and one-off events for 4,000.
