Great Wine Capitals of the World
Hawke’s Bay to Host Premier International Wine Tourism Conference for the First Time
The 26th Great Wine Capitals (GWC) International Annual Conference comes to Hawke's Bay in October 2026, a landmark moment for New Zealand's wine and tourism industries
New Zealand is set to take its place on the global wine and tourism stage this October 2026 when Hawke's Bay hosts the 26th Great Wine Capitals International Annual Conference, the flagship event of the prestigious Great Wine Capitals Global Network.
The programme has officially launched, with registrations now open for delegates from across the international wine and tourism community. From 18 to 22 October 2026, industry professionals, travel trade representatives, and media from Great Wine Capitals around the world, including Bordeaux, Mendoza, Adelaide and Napa Valley, will converge on Hawke's Bay for five days of industry sessions, innovation showcases, cultural immersion, and world-class wine experiences.
Hawke's Bay was accepted as a member of the Great Wine Capitals Global Network, a community of the world's most renowned wine tourism regions, in 2023, making the region's selection as conference host a significant milestone for New Zealand's international wine tourism profile.
Kim Thorp, GWC Hawke’s Bay Ambassador, said: "This is a wonderful opportunity for New Zealand. Hawke’s Bay has everything this event demands: world-class wines, extraordinary landscapes, a rich cultural story, and an industry that is genuinely world-leading. This conference will showcase New Zealand to an influential global audience in a way that no marketing campaign could replicate. The connections made here, the stories told, and the impressions left will resonate across international markets for years to come."
Under the theme ‘A World of New’, the 2026 conference programme has been designed to deliver new cultures, new wines, new experiences, new connections, new business opportunities, and new insights to every delegate who attends.
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The five-day programme includes keynote presentations, roundtable discussions, travel trade meetings, structured networking, hosted dinners, winery visits, and curated regional experiences that showcase the very best of Hawke's Bay and New Zealand.
President of the Great Wine Capitals Global Network and Deputy Chief Executive of the Department of Primary Industries and Regions South Australia, Jo Collins, said: “The Great Wine Capitals Global Network has been built on a simple but powerful idea: collaboration, not competition. At a time when the global wine sector is navigating both challenges and transformation, our conference in Hawke’s Bay offers a vital opportunity to come together, share knowledge, and strengthen one another.”
“Under the theme ‘A World of New’, it reflects exactly what our industry needs right now -fresh thinking, open dialogue, and a commitment to turn challenges into opportunities. This is more than a conference; it’s a chance to shape the future of wine tourism collectively,” added Ms Collins.
New Zealand wine and tourism businesses are being encouraged to participate as Business Delegates, with the conference presenting a rare home-ground opportunity to connect face-to-face with international buyers, trade partners, and industry leaders from the world's most celebrated wine destinations.
Kim Thorpe added, "We know how competitive the global wine and tourism marketplace is. Events like this, where relationships are built in person, where New Zealand's story can be told and tasted, are invaluable. I would encourage anyone working in our wine or tourism industries to consider what being in that room could mean for their business and for the sector as a whole. The world is coming to us. Let's make the most of it."
The conference is supported by Hawke's Bay Tourism, Hawke's Bay Wine, Hastings District Council, Napier City Council, and Hawke's Bay Airport. A programme of exclusive pre and post-conference delegate experiences has also been developed in partnership with local businesses, including Craggy Range Winery, Porters Boutique Hotel, Wallingford Homestead, and Hawke's Bay Experiences.
Full programme details and registration are available at: gwchawkesbay26.com
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About Great Wine Capitals Global Network
The Great Wine Capitals Global Network is an international association of the world's most prominent wine tourism regions. Member cities and regions, including; Bordeaux, Mendoza, Napa Valley, Porto, Bilbao, Mainz-Rheinhessen, Adelaide, Lausanne, Valparaiso, Verona, and Hawke's Bay, collaborate to develop and promote wine tourism as a driver of economic, cultural, and sustainable development. The Annual Conference is the network's flagship gathering, bringing together member representatives, industry professionals, travel trade, and media from across the globe.