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7 of the Best Large Event Spaces at MCEC

By Deni Kirkova|

If you're organising a big event, you'll need to find an amazing space to facilitate all your requirements. You might have heard Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC) is the best venue for large-scale events. It's all in the name.

If you're organising a big event, you'll need to find an amazing space to facilitate all your requirements. You might have heard Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC) is the best venue for large-scale events. It's all in the name.

Conferences and exhibitions are our forte, our bread and butter, our original purpose. And we’ve hosted many large gala dinners to celebrate business achievement in spectacular fashion.

Scoping out ideas for where to host your next conference, exhibition or gala event? Look no further.

We’ve collaborated with Roslyn du Plooy, MCEC’s Manager Associations & Exhibitions Sales to curate a selection of our top large spaces. Read on and be inspired!

Exhibition Bays

Best suited to event type:

  • Conference, Exhibition and Gala Dinner

Seats up to (2 Bays - 3,028m2):

  • Theatre: 2,024, Cocktail: 2,523, Banquet: 1,520

A visually stunning exhibition bay featuring a grand tiered fringe chandelier with lights and a neon logo, as people leisurely walk and explore the space.

If you're great at envisioning potential in a space - exhibition bays are for you. Did you know they facilitate more than just epic expos? That’s right. They make amazing spaces for conferences and gala dinners too. We can make pretty much anything happen here and dress them entirely to your vision.

These versatile pillarless spaces offer direct access to the loading dock, kiosks, toilets and floor pits that provide essential services such as electricity, water, gas and air. It’s our little secret for seamless, aesthetic setup with no wires hanging from the ceiling (no thank you).

Our exhibition bays offer raw space for unconventional events and wild concepts. We’ve hosted a drive-in cinema in them! From public and trade exhibitions to gala dinners and even fashion runways, their potential is limitless.

An aerial view of a spacious gathering, with individuals seated and standing around. Some relax on white couches adorned with greenery, while others stand on the outskirts, all facing a panel of three individuals.
Melbourne Room

Best suited to event type:

  • Conference, Exhibition and Gala Dinner

Seats up to :

  • Theatre: 2,232, Cocktail: 2,007, Banquet: 1,450

A focused spotlight illuminating a stage where a woman stands behind a lectern, addressing the audience through a microphone. The attentive audience is seated at round tables, engaged in listening.

Melbourne Room is another one of our amazing versatile spaces but with an extra premium feel. You can configure it exactly to your needs: Melbourne Room 1 and Melbourne Room 2 can be booked separately or combined. They offer exhibition space on one side and Plenary on the other, accommodating exhibitions, conferences and gala events.

This room's iconic rose-patterned carpet represents blooms at Melbourne’s Flemington Racecourse. Together with the stunning interior and in-built technology, you’ll easily create ambiance to impress guests at your event.

For gala dinners, the pre-function foyer area offers picturesque views of Melbourne and the Birrarung (Yarra River). This one has it all.

A gathering of individuals seated in neatly arranged rows of vibrant orange chairs, facing two prominent digital screens positioned at the front of the room. The walls exhibit a warm wooden texture, complemented by a patterned carpet.
THE LUME Melbourne

Best suited to event type:

  • Cocktail Event, Awards Ceremony, Corporate Celebrations and Gala Dinner 

Seats up to:

  • Cocktail: 1,200, Banquet: 860 

Captivating gala event with guests dining at long tables, surrounded by immersive digital screens showcasing Van Gogh's iconic 'Starry Night' artwork. The mesmerising reflection is featured on the floor and throughout the venue.

Treat your guests to an immersive experience they'll remember forever at THE LUME Melbourne. This is one of the southern hemisphere’s most unique and creative event spaces: Australia’s customisable digital art gallery that delivers serious wow factor.

Work with our event planners to create an immersive gala dinner to celebrate the end of the year, a company achievement or your game-changing conference. It also makes a perfect choice for a product launch event, letting you showcase your brand like never before on an epic scale.  

For smaller numbers, we have the mezzanine option (non-exclusive). Or you can invite your guests to join an exclusive Monet & Friends experience that's open just for them. The possibilities are truly endless. 

A seated audience in rows, attentively facing a stage, while immersive digital screens adorn the surrounding walls.
Sovereign Room

Best suited to event type:

  • Conference, Exhibition and Gala Dinner

Seats up to:

  • Cocktail: 756, Banquet: 480

Four women on stage, each raising one arm to the sky while holding a musical instrument in the other hand. A focused stage light illuminates them as golden confetti cascades from the ceiling.

Sovereign Room is a formidable choice for a conference and a stunning premium event space for a gala dinner or social business event. Impress guests as they make their way up the unique grand staircase and marvel at the stunning feature ceiling.

The ambience in Sovereign Room is everything. You can customise the technology to create a unique experience for your special occasion. Illuminate the interior with superior lighting capabilities for a show stopping celebration.

Make use of the roomy and accessible outdoor terrace with gorgeous natural light. It's a perfect space for a pre-event reception.

A lively foyer filled with a diverse crowd engaged in conversation and mingling. Overhead, vibrant bars of multi-coloured lights in shades of blue, purple, green, yellow, and orange hang from the ceiling.
Goldfields Theatre and Event Space

Best suited to event type:

  • Gala Dinner and Conference with Exhibition space

Seats up to:

  • Goldfields Theatre - 1,005 

  • Goldfields Event Space - Cocktail: 1,251, Banquet: 740

  • Goldfields Event Space Combined - Cocktail: 2,523, Banquet: 1,400  

Models dressed in colourful clothing walking on a catwalk, while a large screen serves as the backdrop. The audience applauds in support.

A vision of muted silver and gold, this chic and modern space is in a prime location near Goldfields Café + Bar and nearby exhibition bays. And it’s super adaptable – book the Goldfields Theatre alone or add the exquisite Event Space, if you choose.

Essentially, this event space is an exhibition bay with adjustable walls and inbuild seating that can be completely retracted. You can arrange it any way to suit your event. Create various room configurations to suit plenary sessions with breakouts, exhibitions and even gala dinners.

The entrance takes guests from Goldfields Theatre to the pre-function space filled with natural light. It's a great solution for awards celebrations and graduations.

A vibrant auditorium with tiered seating overlooking a well-lit stage, adorned with captivating colourful lights.
The Courtyard

Best suited to event type:

  • Conference (welcome receptions)

Seats up to:

  • Cocktail: 740 (standing)

A large crowd of people are gathered in an outdoor courtyard, all staring intently at something.

Our Courtyard is a unique outdoor event space flooded with natural light. A great option for events taking place in the warmer months.

Conveniently located close to Goldfields Café + Bar, Goldfields Theatre, the nearby exhibition bays and Sovereign Room, the Courtyard is ideal for gathering delegates to network before or after your conference.

You can decorate the Courtyard with vibrant furniture to compliment the existing greenery and organise a delectable cocktail menu for a gorgeous welcome reception.

Either enjoy the sunshine during the day or illuminate the space for an evening cocktail event. Add festoon lighting to give it a chic garden party vibe.

Vibrant courtyard gathering with people socialising around a tall table, enjoying champagne served by a waitress. In the background, a food stall with chefs standing behind it and an 'eat' sign adds to the lively atmosphere.
Plenary

Best suited to event type:

  • Conference, Gala Dinner, Concert and Performance, Speaker or Comedy Tour, Panel Discussion and Graduation

Seats up to:

  • Entire Plenary - Cocktail: 1,500, Banquet: 1,270, Theatre: 5,564

  • Plenary 1 or 3 - Cocktail: 333, Banquet: 170, Theatre: 1,482

  • Plenary 2 - Cocktail: 833, Banquet: 510, Theatre:2,468

A large auditorium is filled with people watching a performance on stage. A woman is singing, and her image is projected onto two large digital screens to either side of the stage. The audience is captivated by the performance.

Need a space to accommodate industry delegates from around the world or your entire company? The Plenary caters to very large numbers in spectacular fashion.

The versatile conference space is the centrepiece of our venue. It accommodates all kinds of large-scale events, from shows, theatre and concerts to gala dinners with an enormous 527–5,500 capacity.

Plenary has been home to many successful large events over the years. Just ask us what's possible. Our tech team can configure the space to match many different requirements, including full theatrical capabilities.

Image of a large multipurpose space within the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC). The space has ample multi-levelled green seating that faces a stage with two large digital screens, one on each side of the stage. The space is well-lit and an event is in progress.
BONUS! Main Foyer (Plenary foyer space)

Best suited to event type

  • Conference, Exhibition and Gala Dinner

Seats up to

  • Foyer space: 2,655 sqm

This multipurpose space is the pre-function or exhibition area for events in the Plenary. It’s a central hub with gorgeous views and a versatile layout.

The glass façade offers ample natural light, and there are plenty of branding and sponsorship opportunities. You can even set up merch here!

Scoping out epic spaces for your next large event? Reach out to the team and discover the difference.

Image of a large foyer area within the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC). The foyer is filled with people walking around. There are concrete pillars, stairs, large windows and a wooden wall. The foyer is well-lit and appears to be a busy place.