California the place to be for meetings, events

Visit California reports that 2026 will bring a period of major growth and reinvention for the state’s meetings and events landscape. An expanded inventory of group-ready hotels, state-of-the-art entertainment districts and endless opportunity for creativity coming in 2026 reaffirm California’s position as the premier destination for meetings and events.

Caroline Beteta, president & CEO of Visit California, said that: “From massive convention center modernizations to the growth of distinctive off-site venues like stadiums and entertainment districts and a slate of fresh hotel offerings across the state, 2026 truly represents a new chapter for meetings, events and corporate gatherings in the Golden State,”

And Beteta said that those developments make it clear that: “California is more than a place to meet — it’s a place to connect, celebrate and be inspired.”

Some of the major developments include:

L.A. Convention Center renovation underway — Construction has officially begun on a $2.6 billion modernization and expansion of the L.A. Convention Center (LACC). The renovation will add 190,000 square feet of space and create a contiguous hall spanning over 750,000 square feet, plus expand meeting and multi-purpose rooms. The milestone project positions Los Angeles to welcome larger global conferences, multi-track events and Olympic-scale gatherings.

OCVIBE to unveil first phase of opening — OCVIBE, a new immersive entertainment district in Orange County, spans over 100 acres along the river situated around the iconic ARTIC and Honda Center. Opening in phases, the district’s anticipated 2026 openings include the Market Hall, a 50,000-square-foot culinary space featuring 21 chef-driven concepts and six bars; the Weave, a flexible working space; the Concert Hall, a 5,700-person venue; and Urban Park, the heart of OCVIBE.

ONT Field to open for Ontario Tower Buzzers’ debut — ONT Field in Ontario is a 190-acre sports and entertainment district and is now home to the Ontario Tower Buzzers, the new Los Angeles Dodgers’ Single-A affiliate team. The field is slated to open in April 2026, just in time for baseball season, and features more than 75,000 square feet of food and beverage offerings, seats 4,500 and includes themed “neighborhoods” offering distinct atmospheres.

West Harbor, LA’s newest waterfront entertainment destination — Opening in summer 2026, West Harbor will redefine the Los Angeles Waterfront as a dynamic new destination for groups of any size. Spanning 42 acres at the Port of Los Angeles in San Pedro, the development features restaurants, retail, recreation and a 6,200-seat amphitheater. The opening also comes with a launch point for Harbor Breeze Cruises, where visitors can experience private group charters and whale watching directly from the site.

Lucas Museum of Narrative Art to open in 2026 — Slated to open in September 2026 in Los Angeles’ Exposition Park, the highly anticipated Lucas Museum of Narrative Art will showcase storytelling through painting, photography, film and sculpture in its impressive 100,000 square feet of gallery space. Founded by legendary filmmaker George Lucas, the 11-acre campus also features two state-of-the-art theaters, classroom and studio spaces and a dedicated space for special events.

Reimagined Old Lumberyard set to open — Slated to debut its first phase in May 2026, the Old Lumberyard in downtown Truckee, a reimagined historic industrial site, is now a mixed-use commercial and retail open-air gathering space. The second phase of the project is also set to break ground later in 2026 which includes an over 10,000 square foot event center and boutique hotel.

Plus, the state will also see a range of new hotels that feature event or group hosting space.

Go to www.VisitCalifornia.com for more.