ICC Wales Turns 7: The Evolution of an Award-Winning Venue
Seven years ago, ICC Wales opened its doors with a vision to put Wales firmly on the map for international events.
Over the last seven years, ICC Wales has become home to international congresses, award-winning exhibitions, major consumer events and unforgettable experiences for visitors from across the globe.
Today, after hosting hundreds of events, generating millions of pounds in economic impact and welcoming delegates from around the world, we're proud to be celebrating our seventh birthday.
From international congresses and corporate events to weddings, exhibitions and festive family experiences, ICC Wales has grown into an award-winning venue known for delivering exceptional events and a warm Welsh welcome.
As we celebrate this milestone, Q3 has continued to demonstrate the breadth and ambition of our events calendar, with returning favourites such as Comic Con Wales and ASCP26 Conference, Exhibition and Awards alongside exciting new additions including Warhammer Open Series.
Quarterly Update from Craig Bingham, Managing Director at ICC Wales
Celebrating seven years of ICC Wales is a proud moment for all of us. When we opened our doors in 2019, our ambition was clear - to create a venue that would attract world-class events to Wales and deliver lasting value for the wider region.
Seven years later, we've welcomed delegates from all across the world, hosted internationally recognised events, supported local businesses and built a reputation as one of the UK's leading conference and exhibition venues.
This year alone has seen highlights such as the Worldchefs Congress & Expo, continued growth in our accessibility agenda through Access All Areas, and an increasingly diverse event mix that includes everything from international conferences to consumer experiences like Comic Con Wales.
None of this would be possible without the support of our clients, partners and dedicated team. Thank you for being part of our journey so far. We're excited for what the future holds and look forward to welcoming many more events, delegates and visitors to ICC Wales in the years ahead.
Celebrating 7 Years of ICC Wales
September marks seven years since ICC Wales officially opened following two years of construction.
Since then, we've welcomed a diverse range of events to Newport, from medical conferences and international congresses to festivals, exhibitions and consumer experiences.
Our first event, the Association of Stoma Care Nurses Annual Conference, set the stage for what would follow, including landmark events such as UK Space Conference, IGTM, the Wales Investment Summit and, most recently, Worldchefs Congress & Expo - a first for the UK.
Alongside hosting events, we've championed industry issues including accessibility and Martyn's Law, helping to drive positive change beyond our venue walls.
While we're proud of everything we've achieved over the last seven years, we're even more excited about what comes next.
Recent Event Spotlight: Gaming Events
Thousands of fans, hobbyists and gamers descended on ICC Wales this quarter as Comic Con Wales and the Warhammer Newport UK Open returned to Newport.
As one of Wales' fastest-growing creative sectors, gaming presents an exciting opportunity for ICC Wales. These events have showcased our ability to deliver high-footfall consumer experiences while broadening our event portfolio beyond the meetings, conferences and corporate events we're traditionally known for.
Beyond attracting thousands of visitors, these events continue to generate significant economic benefits for the region. Comic Con Wales alone has contributed more than £10 million to the local economy since making ICC Wales its home in 2022.
Events like Comic Con and Warhammer allow our award-winning team to do what they do best - bring people together, create memorable experiences that leave a lasting impression and help events grow year after year. We're proud to continue growing these partnerships, welcoming new communities to the venue and sharing our warm Welsh hospitality with an ever-expanding audience.
Photo Credit: Monopoly Events / Photographer: Sam Murphy
Awards & Recognition: Celebrating Our Team
We're proud to celebrate some fantastic achievements across the ICC Wales team this quarter.
Our brilliant Association Sales Manager, Chloe Turner, graduated from Fast Forward 15 in July. Chloe's achievement reflects both her dedication to professional development and the value of programmes such as Fast Forward 15 in supporting the next generation of industry talent.
Alongside these personal achievements, we're also delighted to have added some fantastic wins to our trophy cabinet this quarter, including:
• micebook Awards - Best UK Event Venue - Gold
• Conference & Events Awards - Best Conference / Events Team - Venues and Best Conference / Event Venue (over 1,200 theatre style) - Gold
• M&IT Awards - Best UK Conference Centre - Silver
These awards are a testament to the effort and dedication of the ICC Wales team in their delivery of events and client satisfaction while continuing to innovate, adapt and deliver exceptional experiences for our clients.
We’ve also continued to be recognised for our efforts as we’ve been shortlisted for more awards including:
• C&IT Awards - Best Convention Centre
• MiaList Awards - Venue of the Year (> 300), Events & Operations Team, Inclusive Events Initiative
• ABPCO - Legacy & Impact for Access All Areas in partnership with The Business of Events.
Access All Areas: Growing Momentum & Sparking Change
Access All Areas has continued to build momentum this quarter, with several significant milestones reinforcing our commitment to driving positive change and creating more accessible events for all. Some of the highlights this quarter include:
• The Business of Events Policy Forum: Our Managing Director, Craig Bingham had the pleasure of attending this event in July. Not only was this event a great way to discuss the future of the UK’s business events sector but Dr Shani Dhanda’s session on accessibility continued to be a powerful reminder that creating accessible experiences should be fundamental to every event.
• The Meeting Show 2026: Our Sales Director, Amy Phillips, took to the stage for Access All Areas: From Good Intentions to Real Inclusion. Amy discussed what venues need to do differently, highlighting how the gap between intention and lived experience is still there. It was truly the conversation that our industry needs to have more often.
• Accessible Events Show: Our Sales Director, Amy Phillips will be attending the UK’s only dedicated event for accessibility and inclusion in events on 29 October 2026 at The Drum, Wembley. Amy will be sharing the journey of Access All Areas so far, along with the steps we're continuing to take to help drive accessibility across the events industry.
Coming Soon... We can't reveal too much just yet, but another exciting Access All Areas collaboration is on the horizon. Keep an eye on our channels for more details soon.
While the conversation continues to grow, our ambition remains simple - to help make accessibility a standard consideration throughout the events industry, not an afterthought.
Update: New Catering Menus
Great events deserve great food. That's why our chefs have refreshed our catering menus with delicious new concepts, locally sourced ingredients and delegate-focused dining experiences designed to be every bit as memorable as the event itself.
Enough to make your mouth water?
Planning Your Christmas Party?
As the mornings get cooler and the days begin to shorten, there's one question we're hearing more and more often... "What's happening for Christmas?"
The annual "What are we doing for the Christmas do?" conversation has already begun, and with three months until the festive season arrives, now is the perfect time to start planning. ICC Wales has your celebrations covered with our calendar of party events:
Choose from:
• Snowfall Festive-al : A magical winter celebration complete with festive entertainment, delicious dining and a spectacular party atmosphere.
• Sleigh All Day Brunch Party: The ultimate daytime Christmas Party featuring brunch, drinks, live entertainment and plenty of festive fun.
• Viva Las Christmas: Bring the glamour of Las Vegas to your festive celebrations with dazzling entertainment and a casino-inspired experience.
• Gimme, Gimme, Gimme Christmas Festive-al: A festive party night packed with iconic ABBA hits, sing-along moments and a feel-good atmosphere.
Not sure where to start? Read our guide, ‘How to Plan Your Office Christmas Party.’, packed with tips to help you organise a memorable festive celebration.
Looking for something more bespoke? Exclusive hire offers are available in our Christmas Corporate Packages, creating a unique festive experience to celebrate your team.
Whether you're planning for 20 colleagues or 800 guests, our team can help create a festive experience to suit your needs, with a range of corporate offers available on selected packages and dates.
Looking Ahead to 2027?
If next year's event calendar is already starting to take shape, we're here to help.
From conferences and roadshows to awards evenings and team gatherings, ICC Wales offers flexible event space for 100 - 400 delegates, supported by an experienced team dedicated to delivering exceptional experiences.
To support early planning, events confirmed by 31 December 2026 and taking place up to 31 March 2027 can choose from a range of added-value benefits:
• Complimentary on-site parking for all delegates
• Arrival drink (one per delegate)
• Additional tea & coffee break
• ICC Wales shuttle (16-seater) to local hotels*
A simple way to add value and tailor the experience to your event.
* Shuttle transfers subject to availability.
Visit our website or contact the event team today to receive a tailored quote - eventenquiries@iccwales.com.
Where to Find Us Next
From exhibition halls and conference floors to coffee catchups and client meetings, it's been a busy year for the ICC Wales team and we're not done yet...
Come find us at:
• CHS Manchester: 30th September - Manchester - Stand C60
• ICCA Congress: 8th - 9th November - Panama
• IBTM: 17th - 19th November - Spain - Stand G10
• ABPCO Awards: 10th - 11th December - Belfast
Drop us a message if you’d like to speak to us whilst attending these events, or if you'd like to pop over for a cuppa and a Welsh cake.
Amy Phillips | Sales Director, ICC Wales | eventenquiries@iccwales.com | 01633 410200