Bookings open for Nyaal Banyul Convention and Event Centre

THE chance to be the first event at the coming Nyaal Banyul Convention and Event Centre is up for grabs, with bookings now open ahead of the centre’s completion in 2026.

The centre, which passed the halfway point of construction earlier this month, will have 3,700sqm of event space, including a 1,000-seat theatre, multiple meeting spaces, an exhibition space and eateries, and will be part of a precinct that includes a 200-room Crowne Plaza Hotel.

Bookings for the venue officially opened on Thursday last week for events from 2026 and beyond, with floorplans and video flythroughs posted online.

Tourism Greater Geelong and the Bellarine executive director Tracey Carter welcomed the opening of bookings.

“Nyaal Banyul provides such incredible opportunity for events to take advantage of the broader experiences available in the destination,” she said.

“Wineries, restaurants, coast and culture – there’s so much within easy reach of the venue to make a conference truly memorable.”

The Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Trust will operate the centre.

“We are thrilled to be virtually ‘opening the doors’ to Nyaal Banyul for the first time,” trust chief executive officer Natalie O’Brien said.

“We can’t wait to welcome visitors to our stunning new venue – an architectural masterpiece inspired by the diverse landscape and cultural heritage that dates back thousands of generations.

“Nyaal Banyul will absolutely transform the Geelong Waterfront and attract thousands of new visitors to the city every year, bringing significant economic growth and opportunity to the whole region.”

Business Events Victoria (BEV) executive officer Adeline Keh said demand for Nyaal Banyul was likely to be high with such an impressive offering for event organisers.

“We anticipate that many event organisers will be keen to lock in their dates for such an outstanding business event venue in Victoria’s largest regional city,” she said.

Conferences and events held at Nyaal Banyul will also enable dispersal opportunities for off-site events, accommodation and activities to businesses in Geelong and the Bellarine.

Over the past 18 months, BEV has referred 75 business events leads to Geelong and the Bellarine, out of which 14 events have been confirmed in 2024 and 2025, generating $631,000 in economic impact for the region.

“With Nyaal Banyul and a great range of existing assets, Geelong has all the elements to deliver a premium business events experience, and we will continue to assist event organisers to source the best venue, accommodation and experience options for their events,” Ms Keh said.