Nice inaugurated this morning, Oceania, its new seafront convention center designed to host the city’s future events, including the United Nations Conference on the Ocean. This strategic site, conceived for events and tourism, marks a turning point for Port Lympia.
This Wednesday morning on Quai Infernet, Christian Estrosi celebrated a promise kept: the record-time delivery of the future port convention center, now named Oceania. An ambitious and versatile facility that embodies the new international vocation of Nice.
Erected where the old lighthouse parking lot used to be, this center, with a surface of 10,600 m², including a main modular hall of 4,000 m² that can accommodate up to 2,500 seated people, opens onto a esplanade and a panoramic rooftop. Starting today, it is entrusted to the United Nations until June 13 to host the 3rd World Conference on the Ocean (UNOC 2025), co-organized by France and Costa Rica.
A hall named by the people of Nice
On this occasion, the mayor of Nice unveiled the name chosen by the residents via the participatory platform JeParticipe.Nice.fr: the main hall will be called Nicea, in tribute to the city. “This facility belongs to you, it is yours, it is part of your heritage,” declared Christian Estrosi in front of journalists and officials present, among whom were Olivier Poivre d’Arvor, special envoy for the UNOC, and Andrés Perez Saenz, Costa Rica’s minister-counselor.
A June under the sign of the sea
During the summit, several major events will mark the life of Port Lympia:
- On June 2, “The Whale” opens to citizens for meetings with ocean stakeholders.
- From June 4 to 6, an international scientific congress on ocean research.
- On the evening of June 6, a grand drone show on Quai des États-Unis, aiming to break the world record for the number of drones in the sky.
- On June 7, a summit of sea coalitions, cities, and coastal regions at Oceania.
A hall oriented towards the future
Starting in September, Oceania will host already 70 events: congresses, seminars, concerts, or exhibitions. “It’s an added value for the economy, tourism, and local employment,” emphasizes the mayor. Funded to the tune of 23 million euros, the operation is expected to be amortized in less than two and a half years, according to the city hall, thanks to the revenues from port users, the tourist tax, and reservations already made. The state’s contribution for hosting the UNOC amounts to 5 million euros.
Built with 94% reusable or recyclable materials, Oceania is also a symbol of the ecological commitment of the Metropolis. “Everyone said it wouldn’t be possible, but we have proven that impossible is not a word for Nice!,” rejoiced Estrosi.
