With the United Nations Ocean Summit scheduled for 9-13 June 2025 just around the corner, Nice is making great strides in building the structure that will host the event. Located on the Quai Amiral Infernet in the Old Port, the venue will then act as a convention centre to replace the Palais Acropolis, which was destroyed last year. The cost of the structure will be met mainly by a public interest grouping made up of the UN, the French government and Costa Rica, with the City of Nice and the Metropolitan Authority also contributing. A good financial deal for Christian Estrosi's city.
A 10,600 m² Mice complex
According to the final plan and visuals of the project, the future Convention Centre will have a vast modular exhibition hall with a surface area of 4,000 m² and two other staggered buildings, one housing a conference centre and the other the port's new ferry terminal. This complex of three structures, which offers 10,600 m² total surface areawill be fully mobilised for the Ocean Summit, which will bring together 20,000 participants and 150 heads of state from around the world over three days.
In addition to the large wood and glass hall, the facility will offer 1,200 m² of space dedicated to sub-committees, a 2,500-seat auditorium, a 4,000 m² esplanade and a 1,400 m rooftop.² which can accommodate up to 800 people. With the Oceans Summit serving as a superb calling card and the novelty effect playing to the full, the Palais des Congrès has already been reserved for other events this yearand in 2026 with the Nice Convention Bureau.
A project supported by GL Events
This project, which is intended to be temporary and eco-responsible, with equipment that can be recycled at 98%, is being carried out by GL Events at breakneck speed, as the complex is due to be completed by the end of 2010. completed by the end of April. However, the events group has all the know-how it needs, having built the Grand Palais Ephémère for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. The Parisian building, designed in wood by the architectural firm Wilmotte & Associés, will soon be dismantled and reborn in another French city.
The future exhibition and convention centre is due to open in 2029
The Palais des Congrès in Nice's Vieux Port will have to stay. operational for around 15 years in order to take into account the construction of the Exhibition and Convention Centre on the site of the former Min Fleurs, near Nice Côte d'Azur airport. Now that the appeals process has been completed and the relocation of the entire MIN is in the pipeline, this new 18,000 sq. m. public reception facility is expected to be operational by 2029, in time for the 2030 Winter Olympics. By this date, the entire area, which also includes the international airport, offices and numerous hotels (Radisson, Crowne Plaza, B&B, Ibis, Okko Hotels, etc.), will benefit from the proximity of the new Nice airport SNCF train station, which is to be built in place of Nice-Saint-Augustin station.
