India Hosts AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi, First in Global South

India is set to host the AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi from February 16 to 20, marking a significant milestone as the first edition of this global series to be held in the Global South. The event will feature over 500 events across four venues, with more than 840 exhibitors, including national delegations, AI startups, tech companies, and research labs. Heads of state, tech CEOs, researchers, and policymakers are expected to attend, highlighting the summit's importance in shaping the future of artificial intelligence.

Summit Overview and Guiding Principles

This is the fourth edition of the global AI Summit series, following previous editions in the UK, Seoul, and Paris. The Summit's three guiding principles are People, Planet, and Progress, focusing on AI that serves humanity, uses resources responsibly, and avoids concentration in the hands of a few. The main venue is Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, with additional events at Sushma Swaraj Bhawan, Vigyan Bhawan, and Dr. Ambedkar Bhawan.

AI Expo and Thematic Zones

The AI Expo runs all five days at the Bharat Mandapam Exhibition Halls, organized around seven thematic zones called 'Chakras': Health, Agriculture, Safe & Trusted AI, Science, Inclusion, Democratising AI Resources, and Economic Development. Over 30 countries and 300-plus exhibitors are participating, showcasing innovations and collaborations in AI.

Daily Agenda Highlights

February 16 (Monday): Keynote addresses, policy panels, expert roundtables, and inauguration of the AI Expo.
February 17 (Tuesday): Continuation of panels, launch of Knowledge Compendiums covering AI in Health, Energy, Education, Agriculture, Gender Empowerment, and Disabilities, and a seminar on Applied AI.
February 18 (Wednesday): Research Symposium for academics and think tanks, industry sessions, demos from AI by HER – Global Impact Challenge finalists, and a Summit Dinner at Bharat Mandapam.
February 19 (Thursday): Formal Summit begins with PM Narendra Modi's inauguration in an invite-only ceremony, followed by a Leaders' Plenary and CEO Roundtable. Registered visitors can access the Expo Arena from 11 am to 6 pm.
February 20 (Friday): GPAI Council meeting to align on responsible AI priorities, adoption of the Leaders' Declaration, with India pushing for a trusted AI commons and global governance framework. Note: The agenda is tentative and may change, with livestreaming links available on the IndiaAI website.

Confirmed Attendees

High-profile attendees include Sundar Pichai (CEO of Google), Demis Hassabis (CEO of Google DeepMind), Brad Smith (President and Vice Chair of Microsoft), Cristiano Amon (CEO of Qualcomm), and Arthur Mensch (Co-Founder and CEO of Mistral AI). Other notable names are Alexandr Wang (Chief AI Officer at Meta), Børge Brende (President of the World Economic Forum), and Indian leaders like HCLTech CEO C Vijayakumar and Salesforce India Chairperson Arundhati Bhattacharya.

Registration and Logistics

Registration is free at impact.indiaai.gov.in. After filling the form and verifying email via OTP, approved participants receive a QR code as an entry pass. Entry points include Bharat Mandapam Gate No. 4 and Gate 10, and Sushma Swaraj Bhawan Gate No. 2. Valid government-issued photo ID is required, with passports for international visitors. Pass validity varies by category, with some single-day and others covering all five days.

Transport and Accommodation

Transport support is limited to approved speakers, panellists, researchers, hackathon finalists, and selected invitees, including dedicated vehicles, Delhi Metro passes, and a Summit-specific Uber feature with up to three geo-fenced trips per day. Hotel The Ashok is the primary accommodation option, with spillover to empanelled 3-star and 4-star hotels. Bharat Mandapam is accessible via Delhi Metro, but parking is limited and mostly reserved for exhibitors and VIPs.

Cultural Evenings

Two cultural evenings are planned: "India's Journey from Tradition to Technology" on February 17, featuring classical and folk performances and felicitation of Global Impact Challenge winners, and "Hornbill Dream – Where Tradition Meets Technology" on February 20 as the closing event. Both are free for all registered participants.