New Delhi will host the inaugural India AI Impact Summit 2026 from February 16 to February 20, uniting leaders in artificial intelligence, policymakers, and corporate executives. This five-day event, taking place at Bharat Mandapam, marks the first global AI summit held in the Global South and is expected to be the largest among the four global AI summits thus far.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to formally inaugurate the summit on February 19, convening a CEO roundtable that underscores India’s growing significance in global artificial intelligence deployment and investment strategies. The summit will feature participation from 15 to 20 heads of government, over 50 ministers, and more than 40 chief executives from both Indian and international companies.
Notable attendees include Google CEO Sundar Pichai, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani, Biocon Chairperson Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, Microsoft President Brad Smith, and Meta Chief AI Officer Alexandr Wang. A diverse set of thousands of delegates from governments, industry, and academia are expected to attend, reflecting the summit’s pivotal role in shaping global AI investment, partnerships, and policy decisions.
Over 700 sessions are planned throughout the summit, focusing on key themes such as artificial intelligence safety, governance, ethical deployment, and data protection, alongside India’s sovereign approach to AI. A significant feature of the summit will be the India AI Impact Expo, which spans more than 70,000 square meters and will feature over 300 exhibitors from 30 countries. This expo aims to showcase practical AI applications across sectors such as healthcare, agriculture, education, climate action, energy efficiency, and accessibility.
The summit will also highlight India’s national skilling initiatives, including AI for ALL, AI by HER, YUVAi, and India AI Tinkerpreneur. These programs are designed to promote AI awareness and skills among students, young professionals, and underrepresented groups. The gathering is structured around three foundational pillars, known as Sutras: People, Planet, and Progress. These are further supported by seven working groups, referred to as Chakras, which cover human capital, social inclusion, safe and trusted AI, resilience and innovation, democratization of AI resources, and AI for economic development.
The summit’s agenda includes keynote addresses, expert roundtables, research symposiums, and industry sessions. On February 16, the event will kick off with policy discussions and the inauguration of the India AI Expo, bringing together innovators, startups, public institutions, and industry leaders. The following day, panel discussions will continue alongside the release of knowledge compendia focusing on AI applications in various fields, including health, energy, and education.
February 18 will see a research symposium featuring academics and think tanks presenting insights on AI research and policy. The formal opening ceremony on February 19 will be led by Prime Minister Modi, who will also participate in a high-level CEO roundtable involving global executives and policymakers. The final day, February 20, will host meetings of the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence council, where member nations will review progress, align priorities, and enhance multilateral cooperation, culminating in the adoption of a leaders’ declaration.
India’s emergence as a key market for artificial intelligence is underscored by the presence of global technology leaders at the summit. As companies invest heavily in AI models and infrastructure, they are increasingly targeting India for customer and enterprise adoption opportunities that support long-term growth. The nation’s vast service economy, large workforce, and expanding digital population position it as a critical landscape for AI deployment across various sectors, including enterprise services, education, and government.
The surge of interest in India’s infrastructure, particularly in data center development and computing capacity, further underscores the demand for AI hardware and software. The large internet user base and extensive data ecosystem present ample opportunities for AI training, deployment, and commercialization. As the summit unfolds, its outcomes are anticipated to guide policymakers, investors, and industry leaders, as India seeks to establish itself as a pivotal hub for global AI cooperation and technological investment.
The summit has also triggered an unprecedented spike in accommodation demand in New Delhi, with luxury hotel prices soaring. Some premium hotel suites, typically priced under $1,000 per night, are being listed at rates as high as $33,000, reflecting fierce competition among corporate delegations, foreign officials, and technology executives. Many five-star hotels have introduced minimum stay requirements and increased rates for top-tier rooms, while entire floors have been reserved for government delegations and senior executives. This rise in demand for lodging highlights the scale of the event as global technology companies and policymakers converge on India to forge partnerships, secure investments, and influence the burgeoning AI market.
Nvidia, OpenAI, and Microsoft are among the key players expected to showcase their latest innovations, while Google continues to invest in AI research and development, further fueling the momentum. As the world watches, the India AI Impact Summit 2026 is poised to shape the future of artificial intelligence and its applications across the globe.
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