NZICC Marks Major Milestone as SkyCity Moves In Ahead of 2026 Opening

The New Zealand International Convention Centre (NZICC) has reached a significant milestone, as SkyCity Entertainment Group officially moves in.  

Commissioning is now underway and will focus on final fit-out, testing, and team training ahead of the venue’s opening in February 2026. 

Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei led a formal blessing of the building yesterday morning. The tangata whenua of central Tāmaki Makaurau provided a kawanga whare, a formal pre-dawn ceremony to open the building, to lift elements of tapu (sacredness/restriction) from the building and set the intention of the building and teams moving forward, as well as acknowledging the connection between people and place.   

Located in the heart of Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, the $750 million project is set to redefine the New Zealand business events landscape, offering world-class facilities and the capacity to host more than 4,000 delegates across its flexible, purpose-built spaces. Ranging from large-scale global summits, trade exhibitions, and concerts to intimate meetings of 20 people.  

The NZICC will serve as a catalyst for growth, strengthening Auckland’s position as a premier global events destination. It will soon host an impressive calendar of international and domestic conferences, exhibitions, and live events. Its vertically stacked, flexible layout will enable seamless delegate movement between meeting, exhibition, and performance spaces. 

Prue Daly, General Manager of NZICC, said: “We’re so excited to move in, as today’s milestone represents years of collaboration, craftmanship, and vision. The countdown to February is on and we can’t wait to welcome our first guests. Our team has been working hard to create an amazing calendar of both local and international events, and with over 100 confirmed already for 2026, there’s more to come. We’re off to a great start.”  

The NZICC is expected to attract approximately 33,000 international delegates annually, contributing around $90 million in new economic spend each year. 

Leading architecture and design practices Warren and Mahoney, Moller Architects and Woods Bagot were appointed as architectural partners for the project. 

John Coop, Managing Director at Warren and Mahoney, added: “It’s been a real honour to be part of this journey with our design partners and NZICC from the start. This is a long awaited and proud milestone for everyone involved.” 

“We aimed to create an innovative, functional, and city-shaping centre that showcases the very best of New Zealand to the world, and the outcome delivers on this ambition. We’re also really excited about the potential NZICC has to revitalise such an important urban space for not only Tāmaki Makaurau, but the whole country.”

Proudly partnering with the New Zealand Government, the NZICC will be the nation’s only convention centre to carry the FernMark.  

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