Global Tech Leaders Gather at Delhi's Bharat Mandapam for AI Impact Summit 2026

The AI Impact Summit 2026 officially commenced today at Bharat Mandapam, the sprawling international exhibition and convention centre located within the Pragati Maidan complex in New Delhi. Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the five-day event, welcoming a high-profile delegation of heads of state, industry executives, and technology innovators. The summit, which runs from February 16 to February 20, is the first major global gathering of its kind to be hosted in the Global South, positioning India as a primary hub for international policy and infrastructure discussions.

The venue, Bharat Mandapam, serves as the architectural centrepiece of this gathering. Developed as a national project at an estimated cost of approximately 2,700 crore rupees, the Integrated Exhibition-cum-Convention Centre (IECC) spans 123 acres. The facility features a multi-purpose hall and a plenary hall with a combined capacity of 7,000 people, a scale that exceeds many of the world’s most prominent performance and meeting venues. Its design, inspired by the Shankha or conch shell, incorporates modern engineering with traditional artistic elements.

According to official statements, the theme for the summit is Sarvajana Hitaya, Sarvajana Sukhaya, translated as welfare for all and happiness for all. This guiding principle focuses on the deployment of technology for human-centric progress across critical sectors, including healthcare, agriculture, and education. The Prime Minister noted that the participation of 1.4 billion people has placed the nation at the forefront of digital transformation, supported by a robust digital public infrastructure and an expanding startup ecosystem.

The event structure is built around three foundational pillars, or Sutras, defined as People, Planet, and Progress. These pillars are further divided into seven Chakras, or working groups, which address specific domains such as AI skilling, social inclusion, safety, and sustainable computing. Over the coming days, delegates will participate in more than 500 sessions. The summit also features an AI Impact Expo within the Bharat Mandapam exhibition halls, where over 500 startups and various industry leaders are showcasing sector-specific models designed to address challenges in developing economies.

Infrastructure and logistical arrangements have been heavily prioritised to accommodate the expected 200,000 visitors. The Delhi Traffic Police have issued advisories for the Pragati Maidan area, with restricted access to certain corridors and a preference for public transport via the Delhi Metro. To ensure seamless operations during the plenary sessions, authorities have coordinated with telecom providers to enhance mobile network coverage around the complex. Parking facilities have been extended to nearby sites, including the National Stadium and Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, to manage the influx of vehicles.

International participation includes high-ranking officials from over 20 countries, with notable attendees such as French President Emmanuel Macron and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. On the corporate side, CEOs from major global firms like NVIDIA and Microsoft are expected to engage in discussions regarding investment and hardware development. The summit is also a platform for launching national initiatives, including the rollout of sovereign AI models and the establishment of research labs across 500 universities.

India has already seen nearly 70 billion dollars in AI-related investments, a figure expected to grow as the summit progresses. The government plans to use the closing GPAI Council meeting on February 20 to finalise actionable outcomes. By hosting this summit at a world-class facility like Bharat Mandapam, the administration aims to demonstrate its capacity for managing large-scale global events while advocating for a democratic and inclusive technological future.