The Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) has officially closed the books on a historic 2025–2026 fiscal year. With every event hosted, the Center set the stage for connection, creativity and community impact – driving record-breaking growth for its customers and the region.
From Oct. 1, 2025, to Sept. 30, 2026, the OCCC proudly hosted 185 events, welcomed 2.3 million attendees and generated an astounding $5 billion in economic impact for Orange County and the Central Florida region. This milestone reflects the Center’s growing influence on the local economy and its global reputation as a premier destination for conventions, meetings, trade shows and sporting events.
Compared to the previous fiscal year, which saw 184 events, 2 million attendees and $4.6 billion in economic impact, this year’s performance marks an approximately 9% increase in economic impact and a 15% increase in attendance.
From industry-leading conventions like VMX 2026 and Premiere Orlando to fan-favorite gatherings like MEGACON Orlando and IAAPA Expo, the OCCC was home to events that broke attendance records and drew national acclaim. The Center’s largest event of the year, the AAU Junior National Volleyball Championship, welcomed approximately 6,000 teams over the course of 24 days, becoming the largest volleyball tournament ever held. With more than 400,000 attendees, the event generated more than $1 billion in economic impact.
Other standout events included:
- MEGACON Orlando: 195,000 fans | $494.5 million impact
- Design and Construction Week 2026: 122,000 attendees | $309.3 million impact
As events flourished, so did the Center’s sustainability and community impact efforts. During Earth Month, the OCCC hosted its Great Solar Celebration, marking the completion of a new rooftop solar installation on the North-South Building. The 2.2 MW Direct Current (DC) solar array project more than doubled the Center’s on-site renewable energy production while maintaining the same rooftop footprint and built upon the success of the Great Solar Giveaway, which helped redistribute thousands of decommissioned solar panels to residents, organizations and businesses across Florida.
The Center also reached a major sustainability milestone when the North-South Building achieved LEED v4.1 Operations + Maintenance recertification at the Platinum level, the highest level awarded by the U.S. Green Building Council. The achievement marked the first Platinum-level certification in the Convention Center’s history and further reinforced the OCCC’s position as a leader in responsible convention center operations.
Looking ahead, the Center’s Grand Concourse Expansion remains a top priority. Construction began in early 2026 and remains on schedule and within budget. This $560 million investment will add 44,000 square feet of meeting space and a 100,000-square-foot ballroom to the North-South Building, enhancing connectivity, increasing flexibility and allowing the OCCC to continue supporting Orange County’s tourism industry and economic growth for decades to come.
Learn More
Discover more about the OCCC’s economic impact, event schedule and upcoming expansion by visiting www.occc.net.
If you are interested in hosting your next event at The Center of Hospitality, please submit a Request for Proposal (RFP), or get in touch with our expert sales team by emailing sales@occc.net .