Enhancements in sustainability, technology and more continue to elevate the state-of-the-art MBCC.
Since a spectacular $640 million renovation in 2020, the Miami Beach Convention Center (MBCC) has continued to evolve with all manner of enhancements that define it as one of the country’s premier convention centers. Among the meeting and event space is a 60,000 sf grand ballroom, four junior ballrooms, nearly 500,000 sf of exhibit space, pre-function areas bathed in natural light and up to 84 flexible breakout rooms. Windows that bring the outdoors in and a $10.2 million art program curated by the City of Miami Beach anchor a clear sense of place.
Touring the center yesterday, Prevue editors got a first-hand look at some of the center’s newest state-of-the-art modernization elements—among an impressive array of 31 ongoing capital improvement projects in 2026 totaling roughly $27 million. We were also reminded of the neighborhood’s walkable assets that make the MBCC’s Miami Beach location so appealing for groups. Among the highlights for planners to put on their radar:
Sustainability and CSR. The MBCC is Gold-Key certified for sustainability and social impact by the Events Industry Council and LEED Silver certified by the U.S. Green Buildings Council. Now, a $1.7 million project in May 2026 has replaced all lighting fixtures in the exhibition halls and meeting rooms with the newest LED models, making it a 100 percent LED facility. The center’s ongoing sustainability leadership is especially important for planners to know, says Marianne Schmidhofer, Director, Meetings & Conventions Services, Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau (GMCVB) because sustainability has become an increasingly important concern in contract agreements. Planners, in effect, have the work done for them by knowing that the MBCC meets the highest standards. CSR projects are ongoing as well, with a program that donates event materials back to the community and programs operated by the center’s F&B provider, Sodexo Live!, that distributes leftover food to local non-profit organizations and sends food waste back to local farms.
Technical Upgrades and Installations. Last year, four large LED video walls were installed in the center’s West Lobby, giving planners an opportunity to customize visual messaging. Tech updates also include a venue-wide upgrade to Wi-Fi 7, the latest and fastest Wi-Fi standard that pushes data speeds exponentially, completed in May 2026. To date, only a few other convention centers in the U.S. offer Wi-Fi 7. In addition, 460 new Wi-Fi access points were installed throughout the facility. And, through its preferred partnership with A/V leader Encore, the MBCC has expanded its ability to provide comprehensive audio/visual production, rigging and digital event services. Encore’s investments in state-of-the-art equipment for the MBCC includes plans to upgrade and replace more than 80 fixed digital LED assets in the venue by Fall, 2026. On the F&B front, upgrades underway from Sodexo Live! include new point of sale F&B terminals, new café options and upgraded kitchen equipment.
Neighborhood and Campus Venues. Planners unfamiliar with the MBCC—and attendees who think Ocean Drive is the only big attraction of Miami Beach— may not be aware of the center’s appealing, walkable location. It’s a quick stroll to the outdoor pedestrian-only Lincoln Road Mall, with all manner of restaurants and shops. Steps away and available for groups are the the stunning Frank Gehry-designed New World Center; the verdant Miami Beach Botanical Garden for large outdoor events; and new gathering space at the deeply moving Holocaust Memorial. There are also two lesser-known historic gems on the MBCC campus directly across the street, available for group buyouts of around 100 attendees: the Rum Room and Venu. Both were originally built circa 1916 and re-opened three years ago after interior and exterior renovations.
But what about a MBCC headquarters hotel, planners ask? The Grand Hyatt Miami Beach, to be connected by skybridge, is on track to open in 2027. Learn more here.
