New Delhi: Delhi is buzzing with activity today as the capital prepares to become the nerve centre of the world’s most consequential conversation on artificial
intelligence. The five-day India AI Impact Summit 2026opens today, Monday, at the Bharat Mandapam. This is billed as the first international AI summit ever hosted in the Global South. The mega event signals India’s determination to be seen as a defining force in shaping the future of technology.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the India AI Impact Summit 2026 later today. The event comes at a time when AI is transforming economies and governance worldwide. It raises concerns around jobs and privacy. Global cooperation is critical right now. A massive gathering of world leaders and tech CEOs is expected in the city.
Who is attending India AI Impact Summit 2026
The guest list for this summit is quite heavy. No fewer than 20 heads or representatives of states are expected to attend. This includes UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres. We are also seeing a powerhouse American industry delegation. It is co-led by Adobe Chairman and CEO Shantanu Narayen and FedEx President and CEO Raj Subramaniam.
Tech luminaries arriving in Delhi include:
Google CEO Sundar Pichai
OpenAI’s Sam Altman
Nvidia’s Jensen Huang
Microsoft’s Brad Smith
Anthropic’s Dario Amodei
What PM Modi said about the summit
The Prime Minister expressed happiness about the scale of the event. “Welcoming global tech leaders to India for the summit, PM Modi said it is a matter of immense pride.” He believes this shows the power of the next generation. “He added that this reflects the potential and capability of India’s youth.”
He further noted that the event is proof that the country is making rapid strides in science and technology. It is contributing significantly to global development.
Focus on startups and exhibitions
The summit will host over 600 high-potential start-ups and 13 country pavilions. The India AI Impact Expo is a centrepiece of the summit. It will feature more than 300 exhibitors across thematic pavilions. These cover healthcare and agriculture and education. The expo showcases India’s commitment to artificial intelligence through live demonstrations across three thematic areas. These are People and Planet and Progress.
Many of these startups are building globally relevant and population-scale solutions. It is a unique opportunity to highlight global cooperation in the AI ecosystem.
Schedule and how to watch India AI Impact Summit 2026 online
Day 1 which is February 16 will mainly focus on multiple discussion panels and sessions with domestic and global leaders. These are spread across multiple venues like Sushma Swaraj Bhawan and Ambedkar Bhawan in New Delhi. Over 500 sessions will be organised in total.
If you can not visit the venue, you can catch all the action LIVE on Youtube. The channel is @indiaai. The sessions will deliberate on future actions to ensure that AI benefits every global citizen.
