The Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre has made history by winning both the Overall Winner Award and the Delegates’ Choice Award at the AIPC Innovation Awards 2026 in Bilbao, Spain. This achievement is unique, marking the first time a single venue has been recognized by both an international judging panel and its peers in the same year.
The Centre’s winning submission highlighted its transformation of underutilized spaces into modern event venues, notably converting the former Press Centre into flexible meeting facilities. This approach enhanced operational efficiency without expanding the physical footprint.
Robert Hatton-Jones, Deputy General Manager, stated that this recognition is beneficial for Malaysia’s broader business events industry.
“To receive both awards is an extraordinary honour, particularly as they represent recognition from two important groups – the AIPC Board, who served as the judging panel, and delegates from convention centres around the world who attended the AIPC Annual Conference and voted for the People’s Choice Award. The fact that this is the first time a single venue has received both accolades makes the achievement even more meaningful,” said Robert.
Competing with convention centers from around the world, many focused on long-term sustainability, the Centre’s submission was recognized for being practical, measurable, and easy for other venues to follow.
This recognition comes during a strong first half of 2026 for the Centre. From January to June, the Centre hosted over 552 business events, welcoming about 810,685 delegates and generating an estimated RM 548 million in economic impact for Malaysia.
Notable events during this time included the Offshore Technology Conference with more than 1,000 delegates; Asiawater 2026, which attracted over 10,000 delegates and visitors; the MIA International Accountants Conference 2026 with nearly 1,300 delegates; Automechanika Kuala Lumpur 2026 with over 5,000 participants; the World Federation of Hemophilia Congress 2026 with around 2,000 delegates; the International Congress of the International Society of Blood Transfusion (ISBT) 2026 with about 2,500 delegates; the World Scholar’s Cup with more than 2,000 participants; and the Franchise Expo Malaysia 2026, which welcomed around 5,000 attendees.
The Centre’s schedule remains active as we move into the second half of the year. Upcoming events include the Malaysian International Food & Beverage Expo (15–17 July), expected to attract over 10,000 participants; the APHM International Healthcare Conference & Exhibition (28–30 July); Cosmobeauté Malaysia & beautyexpo (29 September–1 October), which will feature around 400 exhibitors from 11 countries; and the 22nd Asian Oil, Gas & Petrochemical Engineering Exhibition (OGA 2026), expected to welcome more than 22,000 delegates and trade visitors.
The award highlights Malaysia’s emerging status as a top business events destination. With rising competition among convention cities worldwide, the Centre’s achievement serves as an international endorsement of the country’s capability to provide innovation and high-quality service, a reputation strengthened by the variety of events the venue attracts.
“This is not the finish line for us,” Robert said. “If anything, it’s a reminder that there’s always another corner of the building worth a second look.”
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