Our Story
From framework to the final touches, find out how our revolutionary building came to be.
10th May 2017
ICC Wales, in partnership with the Welsh Government, announces its ambition to elevate Wales onto the global business tourism stage.
Ian Edwards, Chief Executive of ICC Wales, said:
“We’re delighted that building work for the forthcoming ICC Wales has now begun after years of meticulous researching and planning in close collaboration with Government and our destination partners. Having played host to the 2014 NATO Summit and the Ryder Cup in 2010, the appetite for bringing prestigious events to Wales is already well established. We have spent considerable time championing the viability and demand for building an international convention centre here on this scale, and are thrilled that it’s now full steam ahead.”
23rd June 2017
Building work on the new International Convention Centre Wales commences, celebrated by a ground breaking ceremony on the construction site.
First Minister of Wales Carwyn Jones joined Sir Terry Matthews, Chairman of the Celtic Manor Resort; Stephen Bowcott, Chief Executive of principal constructor Sisk Group; and Debbie Wilcox, Leader of Newport City Council, to mark the official start of the two year project by symbolically digging soil on the building site’s massive footprint.
21st Febuary 2018
New aerial shots of ICC Wales show the site's progression, including key framework and foundations in place offering a clear view of the structure taking shape.
21st March 2018
Exhibiting for the first time at IMEX Frankfurt in 2018, construction picks up pace and peaks manpower as the construction of our 26,000sqm venue.
Sharing a stand with Visit Wales, our attendance at the event highlights the convention centre’s importance as a key driver of economic growth in Wales and promotes a joint vision for the future of business events in the country to the international market.
2nd May 2018
With just over a year to go until opening day, we hosted our first ever all-inclusive familiarisation trip for a specially selected group of Professional Conference Organisers, Association Conference Managers and Agents at the under-construction venue.
Delegates sampled some of the innovative and healthy food options, prepared under the culinary philosophy of “Mind, Body and Soul” which still drives the culinary offering at ICC Wales today!
4th May 2018
One of the most important milestones of this project is announced!
Over half of the steel for the build was now in place, including the framework for the 1,500-seat auditorium, most of the steel for the main hall and five of the eight roof trusses.
10th May 2018
ICC Wales announces that it has awarded contracts worth over £22 million to businesses in South Wales for the construction of our convention centre, providing a massive boost to the economy of the region.
Excitedly at the time we had also already secured more than a landmark £1million in contracted revenue, over a year before ICC Wales was to open!
6th October 2018
A Feastival in the Foundations was held in the construction site of ICC Wales, giving more than 200 guests an immersive taste of what the venue will offer when it opened the following year.
The innovative festival welcomed high profile industry figures, clients and stakeholders of ICC Wales and their families into a specially cordoned area comprising about one third of what will be the vast 4,000 sqm main hall of the finished venue.
Amongst those who took a hard hat tour of other areas of ICC Wales, including the 1,500 seat auditorium, was First Minister of Wales, Carwyn Jones.
20th February 2019
An new bridge providing pedestrian access to ICC Wales was installed over the M4, making the project one step closer to finishing and ICC Wales connecting with its first delegates.
16th August 2019
Drivers began being greeted by a brand new landmark.
Our enormous Welsh dragon appeared at the side of the M4, a huge feat of engineering efforts. Our dragon needed 22 tonnes of steel plate and section, took eight months from start to finish, 1,700 fabrication hours, 850 litres of paint and four weeks on site to be erected, but we wouldn't be ICC Wales without it!
25th September 2019
A moment in history was made.
International Convention Centre Wales – the state-of-the-art £84 million meetings venue situated in Newport, South Wales – opened its doors to UK and international conferences, meetings and events, with more than 5,500 delegates passing through its doors during a packed first week of events.
ICC Wales’ inaugural event was the Association of Stoma Care Nurses (ASCN) three-day UK Annual Conference 2019. Other events at the new venue this week include Visit Britain’s research and bidding masterclass, and an Experience with Arnold Schwarzenegger, a gala dinner for more than 1,200 people.
Thoughts during ICC Wales' launch
I’m particularly excited that Wales is getting an International Convention Centre that is worthy of the wonderful landscapes, people and industries that make it such a fantastic country in which to hold an event.
Chair of Events Industry Board and Business Visits and Events Partnership
ICC Wales is a truly world class venue and is an excellent addition to the extensive portfolio of business events product available in the UK. At VisitBritain we are passionate about celebrating our destinations and this outstanding new venue will help to ensure that the UK remains a competitive destination in the global business events marketplace.
Explore our spaces
View the finished products and how they have come to life since our opening.
4,100 capacity
Main Hall
A purpose built exhibition hall with 4,000 sqm of pillar free space. Providing direct loading and dedicated parking for production and exhibition vehicles.
1,500 Capacity
The Auditorium
A state-of-the-art, dynamic space designed to inspire, featuring tiered, fixed theatre-style seating for 1,500 delegates
900 capacity
Meeting Room 1
The Woodland Suite is perfect for meetings, events and coupled with outstanding catering is an impressive backdrop for dinners.