New Delhi is set to host the India AI Impact Summit 2026 from February 16 to 20 at the Bharat Mandapam. This marks the first global AI summit to be held in the Global South and is expected to be the largest of the four such summits held to date. The event will bring together world leaders, policymakers, and top executives from the technology sector to shape global investment, partnership, and policy decisions in artificial intelligence.
The summit will see participation from 15 to 20 heads of government, over 50 ministers, and more than 40 Indian and global chief executives. Notable attendees include Google CEO Sundar Pichai, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani, Microsoft President Brad Smith, and Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to formally inaugurate the summit on February 19 and convene a high-level CEO roundtable.
The gathering is structured around three foundational pillars, or Sutras: People, Planet, and Progress. These are supported by seven working groups, called Chakras, covering areas such as human capital, safe and trusted AI, and democratizing AI resources. The agenda features over 700 sessions across five days, focusing on AI safety, governance, ethical deployment, and India's sovereign AI approach.
A key component is the India AI Impact Expo, spanning 70,000 square meters with over 300 exhibitors from 30 countries. The expo will showcase practical AI applications in healthcare, agriculture, education, and climate action. India's national skilling initiatives, including AI for ALL and YUVAi, will also be highlighted to build AI awareness among students and underrepresented groups.
The summit underscores India's emergence as a critical AI market. Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, stated that India has the potential to become a "full-stack AI leader." The country's vast digital population, expanding infrastructure, and government-led IndiaAI Mission are positioning it as a central hub for AI deployment and investment. A major theme of the summit is the call for a "global AI commons"—a shared repository of tools and resources—to prevent digital dependency and ensure inclusive growth, particularly for developing nations.
The event's significance is further highlighted by an unprecedented surge in luxury accommodation demand in New Delhi, with some hotel suite prices reportedly soaring to $33,000 per night. Increased private aviation traffic into the city also reflects the high-stakes nature of the meetings and partnership discussions taking place.
