TRENZ is back in Auckland for the first time in nearly a decade, with international delegates headed for the city of sails.
Auckland will welcome the New Zealand tourism industry and global travel trade to the city this week as host of TRENZ 2026, the first time in nearly a decade the event has been held in Auckland.
New Zealand’s largest international tourism business event will take place from 19–21 May 2026 at the newly opened New Zealand International Convention Centre (NZICC), bringing together tourism operators, international travel buyers, media and industry leaders from around the world. International delegates from key visitor markets including Australia, China, Japan, Korea, India, the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Germany will be in attendance.
As Auckland’s regional tourism organisation (RTO), Tātaki Auckland Unlimited is leading the region’s hosting role and working alongside partners like Auckland International Airport, to showcase Auckland as a vibrant, connected and world-class destination ready to welcome visitors from around the world.
With more than 1200 delegates expected at TRENZ 2026, the event is projected to deliver over NZD 3 million in economic impact for Auckland. But beyond that, the 16,000 business meetings taking place across the three-day programme will create valuable international connections and long-term opportunities for New Zealand tourism.
Tātaki Auckland Unlimited Chief Executive Nick Hill said hosting TRENZ is a pivotal opportunity to showcase the revitalisation of Auckland to the global tourism industry.
“It’s fantastic to welcome TRENZ back to Auckland for the first time since 2017 and to showcase a city and region that has evolved significantly over the past decade,” said Hill.
“Auckland in 2026 is a very different place to the one delegates last visited. There’s fresh energy across the city, from transformed waterfront spaces and new accommodation to major infrastructure like the NZICC, which provides a world-class home for events like this.”
Hill added that TRENZ was a powerful platform to position Auckland as more than a gateway for international buyers and media.
“We want delegates to take a fresh look at Auckland and get a taste of our urban culture, nature, food and events all underpinned by the manaakitanga that makes this region so special.”
As part of the programme, over 340 buyers will participate in a familiarisation experience, involving 25 local operators across 22 itineraries. These famils will cover a wide breadth of Auckland, from the city centre and Waiheke Island to Matakana and the west coast, providing the industry a chance to show off their trade-ready products firsthand to international buyers.
TRENZ is managed and delivered by Tourism Industry Aotearoa (TIA) on behalf of the Tourism Industry New Zealand Trust, which owns the event.
More news here.
