September 2026 News Roundup: Beverly Hills, The Caribbean, Czechia, Great Britain, Italy, Korea, Netherlands, New Zealand, Santa Monica, West Hollywood
22 months until the opening of the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games and Hospitality House news is emerging on the daily. Read on for our largest roundup ever!
Beverly Hills
In August, Beverly Hills City Council hosted back-to-back meetings where the topic of Hospitality Houses was at the forefront.
According to meeting minutes, the city has been in touch with "about a dozen" interested National Olympic Committees, with "three countries continually following up" about establishing their presence in Beverly Hills, specifically at private residential homes. Additionally, city staff also noted "an uptick in corporate official Olympic sponsors" reaching out.
In both meetings, City Councillors wrestled with the incoming Hospitality House requests and the city's current Municipal Code, which restricts short-term rentals of residential properties, citywide. Currently, the prohibition covers all dwellings and requires renters to sign a minimum of a 12-month lease.
As noted by city staff, the year-long lease requirement is unworkable for Hospitality House organizers, which require only weeks of rental space.
According to our research here at House Party, two of these inquiring countries are likely Italy (more on that below!) and Romania, with the third unidentified. The Romanian Council General provided public comment to Beverly Hills Councillors on August 11:
"I'm [reaching] out personally because we are in the process of organizing Romania's official presence, our Casa, for the Olympic Games in 2028 and Beverly Hills is of course our preferred location. As you discuss rentals today, please know a private home would be ideal for our official use to host meetings, cultural events and hospitality gatherings. Given the temporary nature of the Games, I kindly ask you to consider ... whether there might be any pathway ... to allow a short-term lease strictly for this international event."
In a follow-up meeting on September 17, it was noted that City Council upheld the restriction on short-term rentals in Beverly Hills, and city staff have now been redirecting inquiries to established venues across the city:
"Partnerships from individual countries have [now] most notably taken the form of venue rental inquiries, such as Greystone Mansion, City Hall [and] the Civic Center complex, Beverly Canon Gardens, and ... partnerships with hotels and the Wallis [Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts]."
In this same meeting, it was also proposed that the City of Beverly Hills open their own Hospitality House — a "Beverly Hills House" — that would act as an enhanced visitor or information centre "that could house merchandise sales, highlight sponsors or local businesses, have a photo activation or pin trading, and provide tourist information."
We'll be watching Beverly Hills closely... there's lots to parse through as National Olympic Committees begin to make their final venue decisions.
The Caribbean: Caribbean House
At the Los Angeles Caribbean Heritage Festival in mid-September, it was announced that Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Mall will be the home of Caribbean House, for Caribbean and African athletes and visitors for Los Angeles 2028. Exciting!
The event was hosted by the office of Los Angeles City Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson, who made the Hospitality House announcement: "The Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Mall will be the Caribbean and African headquarters for all of the visiting teams from the Caribbean and from the continent of Africa."
The Baldwin Hills-Crenshaw-Leimert Park neighbourhoods have deep ties to communities from across the Caribbean and South America — Barbados, Belize, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, and Trindad and Tobago are particularly well-represented. (Read: fans who visit this Hospitality House will get the best of what these cultures have to offer in the surrounding area!)
Here at House Party, we're thrilled that the Caribbean nations have a home for Los Angeles 2028 and we'll be watching for more news around an official name and participating National Olympic Committees.
Czechia: Czech House
It appears that Czech House may be calling Santa Monica "home" for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
In the July 2026 News Roundup, we shared that organizers were focusing their search in Downtown Los Angeles, after touring the El Capitan Theatre, the Los Angeles Athletic Club and Vibiana, a catherdral-turned-event-venue in DTLA. However, it looks like they are now in final venue negotiations with the city of Santa Monica.
In the City Council meeting minutes from September 8, the city real estate negotiator is in talks with Ceská olympijská (the Czech Olympic Committee) to set up Czech House at the historic (and beautiful!) Miles Memorial Playhouse. As noted on the City of Santa Monica website:
"The Miles Memorial Playhouse is an historic landmark for the City of Santa Monica. ... It was completed in 1929 after [a] former City Councilman and his wife bequeathed $25,000 ... for the construction of a 'public recreation hall for the young men and women of the city.'
Designed by renowned local architect John Byers in his favorite Spanish Colonial revival style, the building retains its original main floor, stage, chandeliers, sconces, proscenium arch, massive wooden beams and period fireplace. The Miles Playhouse has been a unique and active host of performances and community gatherings for over 90 years."
Czech House is a Hospitality House staple at the Olympic Games, and we love the experience every time we visit. We'll never say no to the extensive Czech beer selection they always have on tap!
Great Britain: Team GB HOuse
After opening to the public for the first time at Paris 2024, the British Olympic Committee appears to be planning the next edition of Team GB House at Los Angeles 2028.
Represented by the British Consulate to Hollywood and accompanied by various government officials and the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, the group toured around the city in mid-September:
"The delegation toured six premier Hollywood venues, showcasing the neighborhood's world-class hospitality, entertainment, dining, and event offerings. With its central location, convenient access to public transportation and major transportation corridors, proximity to key LA28 venues, and global identity as the heart of Los Angeles’ entertainment and cultural scene, Hollywood offers an ideal hub for supporters during the Games."
We'll be watching closely for an official venue announcement.
Italy: Casa Italia
In late September, a delegation from the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI) spent a week in Los Angeles, preparing for the 2028 Olympic Games. From the press release:
"The stay in Los Angeles also served to evaluate various options for Casa Italia, the CONI hospitality house that traditionally accompanies Team Italy during the Olympic Games. The 2028 event will be particularly symbolic: Casa Italia was founded in Los Angeles for the 1984 Olympic Games, marking the beginning of a project that over the years has become one of the hallmarks of Italy's presence at the Olympics."
We dug into the history books to learn more about the original Casa Italia at LA84. On July 28, 1984, Italian newspaper L'Unità noted that Casa Italia was located in Beverly Hills:
"At Casa Italia, which is something of the showcase for the Italian delegation in Los Angeles, situated on the twelfth floor of a sort of skyscraper in Beverly Hills, well supplied with pastries and paintings by Guttuso, CONI president Franco Carraro welcomed the Italian journalists.”
Back in present day: the week prior to the Italian delegation's visit to Los Angeles, the Mayor of Beverly Hills welcomed Consul General of Italy in Los Angeles for a meeting at City Hall. As reported by the City of Beverly Hills Instagram account: "The conversation [between the two leaders] highlighted the longstanding connections between Italy and Beverly Hills, with a focus on cultural exchange, tourism, and opportunities to build stronger partnerships for the future."
Putting it all together: for 2028, it would be fitting if Casa Italia returned to Beverly Hills to honour its roots from 1984. We shall eagerly await more news.
Pssst! Want to take a peek at the full edition of L'Unità from July 28, 1984? Practice your Italian and access it below...
KOREA: Korea House
It's confirmed: Korea will have a physical presence at Los Angeles 2028.
On September 23, in an interview with the Director of the Korean Culture Centre of Los Angeles (KCCLA), the Beverly Press confirmed that Korea House will be making an appearance for LA28:
"The 2028 L.A. Olympics is a big mega event in the U.S. We plan to organize a lively fan hub with Korea House, where locals and sports enthusiasts can cheer on the Korean team together. But also, the L.A. Olympics is a big opportunity for us to bridge sports with culture. For example, we are considering showcasing the Taekwondo Demonstration Team in L.A., and boosting Korean Heritage Night with sports clubs such as the L.A. Dodgers and LAFC."
From the public coverage thus far, it's unclear if Korea House will open at the KCCLA location in the Miracle Mile, or if will simply play a part in organizing at a different venue. KCCLA is about 3 miles from the historic Koreatown cultural district and its proximity would provide a great cultural experience for Korean and international fans alike. As always, we'll be watching for further developments.
The Netherlands: TeamNL House
TeamNL House is a Hospitality House favourite here at House Party, and we've been awaiting public news about the Dutch home for LA28. The first tidbit is finally here!
On September 14, Culver City Council sat for a presentation from a city-led delegation that travelled to the Netherlands to meet with Dutch officials on an array of Olympic Games topics. Specifically,
"The delegation presented Culver City as a potential location for the Netherlands House during LA28. The City Council reached consensus for staff to begin negotiating a Memorandum of Understanding with Team NL to advance the possibility of locating the hospitality house in Culver City."
If the National Olympic Committee of the Netherlands (NOC*NSF) were to choose Culver City as their home base, they would join already-announced Afro Village House, House of Baltics and New Zealand House. More to come...
New Zealand: New Zealand House
One of the first to announce their home base at LA28, New Zealand House will be a public and free Hospitality House at LA28, located in Culver City Plaza in Culver City.
Now, the New Zealand Olympic Committee is calling for an expression of interest from supporters of New Zealand Olympic Foundation. Donors to the NZOF will be offered a curated experience for Los Angeles 2028, including special access to New Zealand House and the opportunity to stay on site at The Culver Hotel:
"At the centre of our LA28 programme will be New Zealand House, located in the heart of Culver City — one of Los Angeles’ most vibrant and walkable precincts. New Zealand House will serve as the social and hospitality hub for our Olympic family throughout the Games:
Daily access to New Zealand House
Athlete appearances and interactions
Medal celebration events
Team New Zealand hospitality functions
Hosted donor gatherings
Venue tours and behind-the-scenes experiences
Family-friendly activities and local excursions"
In the details, it's noted that the NZOC has secured a full buyout of The Culver Hotel for the "New Zealand Olympic Family".
While New Zealand House will be free and open to the public for the duration of LA28, it appears a section of the experience called the "LA2028 Club" will be a private space for donors and other VIPs. Those interested in this immersive experience can submit their Expression of Interest at the link below.
Third Street Promenade, Santa Monica
It appears that another National Olympic Committee has its eyes set on Santa Monica.
At the end of August, BisNow reported that an "undisclosed country" is in negotiations with Daniel Negari of United XYZ, who owns property on Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica:
"[It's] 15,000sqft of retail space at Third Street Promenade for a hospitality house that will start as a pop-up but will occupy the spot for a more traditional, long-term lease period. During the Olympics, part of the building will serve as the country's 'official hospitality and delegation hub', with space for its ambassador, government representatives and invited guests."
It's noted that "after the Olympics, that part of the building [will] transition to non-Games-related uses, including coworking, cultural programming and event space."
Based on our search of United XYZ's properties, it's possible the space in negotiation is 1222 Third Street Promenade — a blank slate for its organizer, as shown in the video below.
We'll continue to watch for an announcement related to Third Street Promenade.
Santa Monica
We missed this update in our August News Roundup! In mid-summer, the first edition of the Community Collective Builders Breakfast was hosted on the aforementioned Third Street Promenade.
With a special focus on Los Angeles' upcoming sporting events, the group of more than 50 leaders from Santa Monica meet monthly with a focus on how to maximize the economic impact of the Olympic Games.
Present at the July meeting was Santa Monica Economic Development Manager Jennifer Taylor, who shared:
"The city's economic development team is working with representatives from about 17 countries exploring Hospitality Houses, cultural programming and brand activations tied to the 2028 Olympics."
At our current count, we have public visibility into the following four countries who are in conversation and/or negotiation with the City of Santa Monica: Brazil, Czechia (noted above), India and the USA. And the following two countries have confirmed venues in Santa Monica: France and Swizterland. It appears that many more announcements are to come!
West Hollywood
Already announced in West Hollywood, Pride House is the first of what appears to be many possible Hospitality Houses in the city northwest of Los Angeles. As reported by the Beverly Press:
"As of August 31, the city [of West Hollywood] has reached out to more than 30 international consulates and met with six. Several consulates have indicated they are interested in partnering with West Hollywood, but have not yet determined their needs for LA28."
In the same article, it's noted that West Hollywood has established a Hospitality House working group made up of various invested parties, showing WeHo's intent and desire to attract National Olympic Committees to the city: "The working group is focused on recruiting international delegations to establish their hospitality houses in West Hollywood during the [Olympic] Games."
It appears our friends at Pride House may have some neighbours soon enough!
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