India is set to host one of its most significant technology events to date as the India AI Impact Summit 2026 prepares to welcome global leaders, policymakers, researchers and technology companies to New Delhi.
Scheduled for February 16–20 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, the five-day event marks the first global AI summit of its scale to be hosted by a country from the Global South. The event is expected to bring together representatives from more than 100 countries to discuss how artificial intelligence can support economic growth, strengthen public services and address global challenges.
Rather than focusing only on breakthrough technologies, the summit aims to explore how AI can deliver practical benefits across healthcare, education, agriculture, governance and industry.
What is the India AI Impact Summit 2026?
The India AI Impact Summit is a global forum designed to bring governments, technology companies, startups, researchers and international organisations together to discuss the future of artificial intelligence.
Building on conversations held at previous international AI forums, the summit seeks to shift the focus from policy discussions alone to real-world implementation. Organisers say the event will emphasise responsible AI development while encouraging collaboration on technologies that improve lives and support sustainable development.
The programme is being led by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) under the broader IndiaAI Mission and Digital India initiative.
What can attendees expect?
The summit will feature a mix of policy discussions, research presentations, business forums and technology showcases.
It will extend well beyond keynote addresses. The programme includes an AI Impact Expo spanning more than 70,000 square metres, where over 300 exhibitors from more than 30 countries are expected to showcase AI technologies, hardware, enterprise solutions and research across multiple thematic pavilions.
Beyond the exhibition floor, the programme includes policy panels, CEO roundtables, ministerial discussions, industry sessions and research symposiums focused on AI governance, digital infrastructure, scientific research and responsible AI deployment.
Organisers have also scheduled the release of a new AI Compendium documenting real-world AI applications across sectors including healthcare, education, agriculture, energy, accessibility and gender empowerment.
Innovation competitions will also take centre stage, including AI for ALL, AI by HER and YUVAi, which recognise promising AI solutions from startups, women innovators, researchers and young developers. A dedicated Research Symposium, organised with IIIT Hyderabad as the knowledge partner, will bring together researchers from India and across the Global South to present frontier AI research.
The five-day programme will open with the AI Impact Expo, technical sessions and research discussions before moving into knowledge launches, applied AI seminars and industry forums.
The opening ceremony, Leaders’ Plenary and CEO Roundtable are scheduled for February 19, while the summit concludes with meetings of the Global Partnership on AI (GPAI) Council alongside additional ministerial sessions and policy roundtables.
Why is this summit important for India?
Artificial intelligence has become a strategic priority for governments worldwide, not only because of its economic potential but also because of its growing role in public services, national competitiveness and digital infrastructure.
For India, hosting the summit represents an opportunity to position itself as a global hub for responsible and inclusive AI innovation.
The discussions are expected to support India’s broader efforts to strengthen domestic AI research, expand computing infrastructure, encourage indigenous AI models and promote technologies that work effectively across the country’s linguistic and cultural diversity.
The summit also reflects India’s ambition to ensure that AI development extends beyond large technology companies and reaches governments, startups, researchers and citizens alike.
Which global leaders are expected to attend?
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to inaugurate the summit, which will bring together heads of state, senior policymakers and executives from some of the world’s leading technology companies.
According to the preliminary programme, global industry leaders including Google CEO Sundar Pichai, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and NVIDIA founder and CEO Jensen Huang are expected to participate in discussions alongside government representatives, researchers and policymakers from around the world.
The event is also scheduled to host leader-level engagements and meetings of the Global Partnership on AI (GPAI) Council.
Why will the summit matter beyond the event?
While new AI models, partnerships and policy announcements are expected to dominate headlines during the week, the summit’s broader significance lies in the conversations it aims to shape.
As countries race to develop artificial intelligence that is both competitive and responsible, the summit offers India an opportunity to influence global discussions while showcasing its own rapidly expanding AI ecosystem.
Whether through policy collaboration, startup innovation or new research initiatives, the event is expected to play an important role in defining how AI is developed and deployed in one of the world’s fastest-growing digital economies.
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