India Hosts First Global South AI Impact Summit 2026 at Bharat Mandapam
The India AI Impact Summit 2026, a five-day international gathering on artificial intelligence (AI), opened in New Delhi under the auspices of the Government of India’s IndiaAI Mission, drawing global political leadership, technology executives, policymakers, researchers and industry stakeholders to Bharat Mandapam and adjoining venues from February 16 to 20, 2026.
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| Credit: AFP |
Official government releases state that the summit, billed as the first of its kind hosted in the Global South, convenes over 20 Heads of State, 60 ministers, and more than 500 AI sector leaders from around the world to address applications of artificial intelligence across public service delivery, innovation and sustainable development.
The event’s agenda is structured around three foundational principles labeled “People, Planet and Progress” and encompasses a broad set of policy panels, plenaries, knowledge launches, research sessions and a large-scale expo featuring hundreds of exhibitors and thematic zones on health, agriculture, safe AI, inclusion and economic development.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi officially inaugurated the summit at Bharat Mandapam, emphasising India’s hosting role and signalling a focus on “inclusive, responsible and development-oriented artificial intelligence.”
In a government press release, Modi said:
“Artificial intelligence (AI) is a key enabler of India’s development journey, strengthening governance and transforming public service delivery.”
Global technology leaders from major firms including Alphabet’s Google, OpenAI, Amazon, Microsoft and Anthropic are reported to be in attendance alongside heads of state and government officials.
The summit programme includes deployment-oriented casebooks and thematic seminars on AI integration in sectors such as healthcare, education and agriculture, with planned partner workshops and high-level roundtables set for later in the week.
Official government communications also highlight associated initiatives connected to the summit, including efforts to scale AI accessibility through infrastructure and partnerships, and the participation of national and international organisations in working groups tied to the event’s priorities.
The summit runs through February 20, 2026, with ongoing sessions focused on translating international dialogue into operational frameworks for AI deployment among participating nations.
