Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland is preparing to welcome New Zealand’s tourism industry and global travel trade this week, as TRENZ 2026 returns to the city for the first time in nearly a decade.
The country’s largest international tourism business event will be held from 19–21 May 2026 at the newly opened New Zealand International Convention Centre, bringing together tourism operators, international buyers, media and industry leaders from key visitor markets including Australia, China, Japan, Korea, India, the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Germany.
The event comes as new figures from Auckland Airport underline the economic value of international visitors to the region. Travellers from Australia, the United States and China New Zealand’s three largest inbound markets, accounting for 65% of total visitor arrivals at Auckland Airport in the year ending March 2026 are spending around $7.6 million a day in Auckland, contributing $2.8 billion annually to the regional economy.
Auckland Airport Chief Executive Carrie Hurihanganui said the figures highlighted Auckland’s growing role as both New Zealand’s international gateway and a destination in its own right. “International visitors aren’t just passing through Auckland. They’re choosing to spend time here, eating out, shopping, staying in hotels and exploring the city before travelling further around the country,” Hurihanganui said. She noted that visitor spend supports thousands of Auckland jobs and businesses, from hospitality operators to tourism providers and local retailers.
Tātaki Auckland Unlimited Director Destination Annie Dundas said Auckland’s international profile had strengthened as the city reconnected with priority visitor markets. “What’s encouraging is that we’re now seeing more visitors choosing to spend longer in Auckland and engaging with a broader range of experiences across the region,” Dundas said.
Air Connectivity Supporting Visitor Growth
Auckland Airport said direct air connectivity and seat capacity have been key drivers of growth from Australia, the United States and China. Over the recent summer period, from late October 2025 to late March 2026, Australia accounted for 42% of seat capacity at Auckland Airport, up 5% on the previous year. The United States represented 13% of capacity, while China accounted for 10%, up 12% year-on-year.
Australia remains New Zealand’s largest visitor market, with Australians spending around $1.5 million a day in Auckland. In the year ending March 2026, seat capacity between Australia and Auckland grew 4%, supported by 11 additional Jetstar and Qantas flights per week, helping drive a 9% increase in Australian holidaymakers. The United States remains a high-value visitor market, with American travellers contributing around $5 million a day to Auckland’s economy. Auckland Airport said this demand is supported by six airlines flying direct from six major US cities.
TRENZ to Showcase a Revitalised Auckland
As Auckland’s regional tourism organisation, Tātaki Auckland Unlimited is leading the city’s hosting role for TRENZ 2026, working with partners including Auckland International Airport to showcase the region as a connected, trade-ready and world-class destination. More than 1200 delegates are expected to attend TRENZ 2026, which is projected to deliver more than $3 million in economic impact for Auckland. Across the three-day programme, around 16,000 business meetings will take place, creating opportunities for New Zealand tourism operators to build international trade connections.
Tātaki Auckland Unlimited Chief Executive Nick Hill said hosting TRENZ was a pivotal opportunity to show how Auckland had evolved since the event was last held in the city in 2017. “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 said.
With stronger air links, major infrastructure investment and renewed international trade engagement, Auckland will use TRENZ 2026 to reinforce its position as more than a point of arrival — and as a destination capable of supporting high-value visitor growth across New Zealand’s wider tourism economy.