Hosted Buyer Applications Now Open for MEETINGS 2026 at NZICC, Auckland

Hosted buyer applications are now open for MEETINGS 2026 at the New Zealand International Convention Centre (NZICC) in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland.

New Zealand's largest and longest running annual business events industry tradeshow will be held for the first time at the NZICC on 17 and 18 June 2026.

MEETINGS is run by Business Events Industry Aotearoa's (BEIA) and its hosted buyer programme is open to key decision makers and organisers of business events, including conferences, tradeshows and travel incentives from Australia and New Zealand.

BEIA Chief Executive, Lisa Hopkins says business events professionals from across the Tasman and around the world are eager to be part of MEETINGS 2026 at the NZICC, and hosted buyer applications are opening earlier this year to reflect this interest. “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.

“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.”

Hosted Buyers receive complimentary travel, accommodation, invitations to premium networking events, including the MEETINGS' official Opening and Celebration, and catering throughout the tradeshow across three days in the multi-functional spaces at the NZICC.

Fully-hosted buyers can book a curated selection of 32 appointments over two days from a choice of over 250 exhibiting organisations and 18 different regions. For New Zealand business event organisers, both one and two-day hosted buyer options are available. “This year's appointment schedule gives hosted buyers flexibility to expand their availability to ensure a greater chance of meeting preferred exhibitors.

“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.

Hosted buyers also have the chance to join Auckland and regional familiarisation programmes, including a one-day famil of the host city with Auckland Convention Bureau on Tuesday 16 June. Access to the latest information at the Tourism New Zealand Destination and Knowledge Hub, and the Celebrity Speakers Showcase will be drawcards for hosted buyers too.

Conference organisers visiting the 100% Pure New Zealand stand at the PCOA25 conference in Christchurch this December can apply to be fully hosted to MEETINGS next year.

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