The Aotearoa AI Summit 2026 will take place on September 08 and 09, 2026, at the Tākina Wellington Convention and Exhibition Centre, in New Zealand. The event aims to serve as a New Zealand’s essential AI gathering, uniting industry leaders, researchers, policymakers, and innovators to explore cutting-edge advancements and real-world applications of AI.

While detailed information for the 2026 is still being finalized, the event will build on the success of the 2025 summit, which featured keynotes, panels, and workshops spanning AI ethics, innovation, business, and emerging technologies, and showcased how AI is transforming sectors like healthcare, finance, agriculture, and government.

Notable highlights from 2025 included a government announcement of a national AI platform with up to NZD 70 million (US$40 million) funding to accelerate research-to-market, along with the Auckland Bioengineering Institute-Oden Institute collaboration on AI-powered virtual human models.