The transformation of Nice’s events venue: the future of Océanice

During his review of his first 100 days as mayor of Nice, Éric Ciotti announced that the Océanice conference centre would be demolished in early 2027. This decision, which forms part of a campaign pledge, aims to replace the building with a gala hall inspired by Monaco’s “Salle des Etoiles”, dedicated to events in Nice and business tourism. The Océanice centre, built for the UN Ocean Summit in 2025, has been criticised by Ciotti for its appearance – which he compared to an “Amazon warehouse” – and for its high cost of 23 million euros.

Océanice, a demountable structure managed by the Nice Tourist and Convention Bureau, was originally intended to serve as the media centre for the 2030 Winter Olympics. However, disagreements with the Olympic organising committee led to this plan being scrapped, leaving the building’s future uncertain. Furthermore, UNESCO has expressed concerns regarding Océanice’s impact on Nice’s World Heritage status, which has accelerated the dismantling plans.

The dismantling of Océanice raises questions about the future of events scheduled for after 2027, which will need to find new venues. Whilst the building could be sold to another local authority, future announcements by Éric Ciotti could still influence the fate of this venue. In the meantime, Nice is preparing for a transition in its events landscape, in the hope that the new gala venue will revitalise the business tourism sector in the region.