Ōtautahi Christchurch Prepares for a Powerful MICE Showcase as BEIA Conference 2026 and The Bizzies Celebrate Business Events Excellence Across New Zealand

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Subhankar Chakraborty

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July 23, 2026 12:49 PM

Ōtautahi Christchurch is being prepared for a major MICE gathering in late October, when the Business Events Industry Aotearoa (BEIA) Conference 2026 and The Bizzies awards will be staged across several city venues. New Zealand’s business events sector will be placed under national attention through the combined programme, with industry professionals, organisers, clients and organisations being brought together for learning, collaboration, recognition and networking.

Registrations have been opened for the Business Events Industry Aotearoa (BEIA) Conference 2026, which will be held from 28 to 29 October. The annual conference will be used to examine key issues affecting the MICE sector, while opportunities will be provided for industry participation and professional exchange. The Bizzies 2026 will also be presented on 28 October as New Zealand’s second annual business events awards night, with excellence, innovation and impact across individuals and events being recognised.

A Multi-Venue Programme Across Ōtautahi Christchurch

The wider programme will be launched with a welcome function at the new OneNZ Stadium on Tuesday, 27 October. Following the opening event, conference activities will be moved to Christchurch Town Hall, where the two-day industry programme will be delivered. Te Pae Christchurch will then be placed at the centre of The Bizzies gala dinner and a three-venue format will thereby be established across Ōtautahi Christchurch.

Through this arrangement, several event spaces in the city will be incorporated into the MICE programme. The conference and awards schedule will be distributed across venues selected for separate functions, with the welcome reception, professional sessions and gala celebration being hosted in different locations. Ōtautahi Christchurch will therefore be presented as the setting for both formal industry discussion and national recognition within New Zealand’s business events community.

Industry Collaboration to Be Strengthened

The Business Events Industry Aotearoa (BEIA) Conference has been designed to support discussion around the principal matters shaping the sector. An extensive speaker programme has been assembled, while delegates will be encouraged to share knowledge, build connections and engage with a range of industry perspectives.

Organisations across the MICE sector are being encouraged to attend as teams. Participation has been opened not only to BEIA members, but also to event organisers, clients and organisations considering business events as part of their future commercial mix. Team attendance has been promoted because more sessions can be covered and a wider selection of insights can be absorbed when several delegates are registered from one organisation.

A registration incentive has also been introduced for Business Events Industry Aotearoa (BEIA) members. When two or more delegates from the same organisation are registered, a 10 per cent discount will be applied to each registration in addition to the Earlybird rates. The Earlybird booking period will remain available until 20 September.

The collaborative format is expected to allow participation across the programme, as different representatives from one organisation can attend discussions. In this way, more information can be gathered, compared and shared after the event, strengthening the value of attendance for teams operating within New Zealand’s MICE and business events sector.

The Bizzies to Highlight New Zealand Excellence

The Bizzies 2026 will be used to celebrate achievement across New Zealand’s business events industry. Recognition will be directed towards individuals and events that have demonstrated excellence, innovation and impact. As the country’s second annual business events awards night, a dedicated platform will be provided through which contributions to the MICE sector can be acknowledged.

The awards dinner will be held separately from the conference registration process. Conference places can be secured through the official BEIA Conference 2026 website, while tickets for The Bizzies gala dinner can be purchased through The Bizzies website.

By being hosted in Ōtautahi Christchurch, both events will be brought together within one coordinated period of industry activity. The Business Events Industry Aotearoa (BEIA) Conference will be focused on professional development, sector discussion and collaboration, while The Bizzies will be centred on recognition. Together, a significant MICE showcase for New Zealand will be created, with industry learning, networking and celebration being delivered across three major Christchurch venues. Delegates will also be guided from an opening welcome to structured conference sessions and a formal awards evening, with each stage being assigned a distinct venue and purpose within central Ōtautahi Christchurch itself.

Image- OneNZ Stadium