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Conference venues for 400 or more delegates in Wellington

MICE editorial — 10 August 2026

A live ranking of Wellington conference and event venues that seat 400 or more delegates theatre-style.

In the capital, a 400-delegate plenary points you toward Wellington's dedicated convention and exhibition centre, its stadium and arena function spaces, and the larger hotel ballrooms clustered around the compact CBD. Wellington's advantage is walkability: government, business and hospitality sit within a tight radius, so a large conference can spread across a main venue and nearby hotels without long transfers.

The ranking below pulls live from the MICE directory and orders Wellington venues by verified theatre-style capacity of 400 or more. It lets you compare the handful of rooms that genuinely seat a plenary of this size before weighing precinct, catering and breakout options.

Rated capacity is a starting point, not a guarantee. Staging, AV and catering reduce the usable figure, so confirm the true number, layout flexibility and load-in access with each venue. Browse the Wellington venues listings and the capacities index for supporting spaces.

Wellington venues seating 400+ delegates (theatre style)

Live from the MICE directory, ranked by our data. Figures are indicative — confirm with each provider.

  1. 1
    TSB Arena & Auditorium (Shed 6)
    Wellington
    3,972theatre
  2. 2
    Venues Wellington
    Wellington
    3,972theatre
  3. 3
    Michael Fowler Centre
    Wellington
    2,210theatre
  4. 4
    ASB Sports Centre
    Wellington
    2,200theatre
  5. 5
    Tākina Events
    Wellington
    1,610theatre
  6. 6
    St James Theatre
    Wellington
    1,552theatre
  7. 7
    The Opera House
    Wellington
    1,381theatre
  8. 8
    Lower Hutt Events Centre
    Wellington
    900theatre
  9. 9
    Hnry Stadium Function Centre
    Wellington
    750theatre
  10. 10
    Pipitea Marae & Function Centre
    Wellington
    620theatre
  11. 11
    Whirinaki Whare Taonga (Expressions Whirinaki Arts & Entertainment Centre)
    Wellington
    600theatre
  12. 12
    The Course at RACE Trentham (Wellington Racing Club)
    Wellington
    500theatre
  13. 13
    Southward Car Museum
    Wellington
    474theatre
  14. 14
    Upper Hutt Cosmopolitan Club (Cossie Club)
    Wellington
    450theatre
See all options in the directory

Frequently asked

Which Wellington venues seat 400 or more?

The city's convention and exhibition centre, stadium and arena function spaces, and the largest CBD hotel ballrooms. The live list on this page shows the current set by capacity.

Is the compact CBD an advantage for big conferences?

Yes. Wellington's central venues, hotels and dining sit within walking distance of each other, which simplifies delegate movement and evening functions for large events.

How much does capacity drop for a banquet layout?

Switching from theatre to banquet with round tables typically cuts capacity by a third or more. Check the banquet figure directly if you are planning a seated dinner.

Can I run breakouts alongside the main plenary?

Larger Wellington venues are often divisible or paired with adjacent meeting rooms. Ask about concurrent-session capacity when you enquire.

How is the ranking kept up to date?

It renders live from the MICE directory and re-ranks as venue data changes.

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