New Delhi is poised to become the epicenter of global AI discourse as the India AI Impact Summit 2026 kicks off today at Bharat Mandapam, drawing an elite roster of tech titans including OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, Google CEO Sundar Pichai, and Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei. Running from February 16 to February 20, the event promises high-stakes discussions on AI's future amid participation from AI researchers, policymakers, and government officials from major countries worldwide.
Among the confirmed high-profile attendees are Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon and DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis, alongside senior executives from major tech firms, startups, and research organizations. Notably, NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang is confirmed to skip the summit this year, though the lineup remains robust with global leaders converging on the Indian capital.
The summit's agenda features a packed schedule of keynote speeches, panel discussions, closed-door meetings, and research presentations. Key topics include safe and trusted AI, building AI infrastructure, real-world use cases, and international collaboration on regulation and standards, setting the stage for pivotal conversations shaping AI governance.
India is leveraging the event to cement its status as a premier global hub for AI services, development, and talent. A concurrent large-scale AI expo will highlight innovations from startups, companies, and research labs, offering delegates and select public visitors a glimpse into cutting-edge advancements.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to address the summit and engage directly with global tech leaders during key sessions, underscoring India's ambitious vision in the AI landscape. The presence of such high-level delegates has prompted stringent security measures, with restricted access to certain sessions and areas.
Only registered attendees will gain entry to major plenary events, while public access to sections like the expo will roll out in phases throughout the week. Delegates from governments, tech companies, and academia will participate in discussions and networking opportunities, fostering potential partnerships and policy alignments.
