India is set to significantly strengthen its position in the global artificial intelligence race with the upcoming India AI Impact Summit 2026, which is emerging as the largest international AI conference to date. Scheduled for February 2026, the summit will witness the launch of more than 200 sector-specific AI models, reflecting the scale and ambition of India’s rapidly expanding AI ecosystem.
Organisers said the summit has received an overwhelming response from across the world and is being positioned as a key platform to showcase India’s AI capabilities on the global stage. The event is expected to play a critical role in shaping future collaborations, investments and policy frameworks in artificial intelligence.
The summit will be held from February 16 to 20, 2026, at Bharat Mandapam in the national capital. It is being described as the first large-scale international AI summit of the Global South, bringing together policymakers, industry leaders, startups and researchers under one roof. AI solutions across sectors such as healthcare, education, agriculture, finance, logistics and governance will be showcased during the five-day event.
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According to sources associated with the summit, India has already attracted around $70 billion in investments in AI infrastructure, a figure that could rise further by the conclusion of the event. The investments span critical areas such as data centres, high-performance computing, cloud platforms and large-scale skill development initiatives, aimed at accelerating the real-world deployment of AI-based products and services.
One of the major highlights of the summit will be the AI Impact Expo, which will feature over 840 exhibitors. These include country pavilions, government departments, startups, research institutions and private enterprises. Organisers said the summit will also host more than 500 curated events, including panel discussions, technical sessions, live demonstrations and high-level networking engagements.
The scale of global participation is expected to be unprecedented. As per preliminary estimates, the summit may see the presence of heads of state or government from 15 countries, over 40 ministers, more than 100 CEOs and CXOs, and over 100 professors and academic leaders. Beyond technology, discussions are likely to focus on AI governance, ethics, data protection and global regulatory frameworks.
The presence of major global technology players is adding to the summit’s significance. Industry leaders such as Jio, Qualcomm, OpenAI, NVIDIA, Google, Microsoft, Adobe and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation are expected to participate. Their involvement is likely to centre on advanced AI models, semiconductor technologies, cloud infrastructure and enterprise-grade AI solutions.
Skill development has been identified as a key priority area. The agenda includes plans to roll out industry-approved AI courses and infrastructure across more than 500 universities, ensuring a steady pipeline of trained talent aligned with industry requirements and reducing India’s dependence on imported expertise.
Experts note that India’s AI strategy is focused not merely on experimentation but on deployable, impact-driven solutions. This approach is expected to transform public services, boost agricultural productivity, improve healthcare delivery and strengthen digital governance, while also opening new opportunities for startups and innovation-led enterprises.
Overall, the India AI Impact Summit 2026 is being viewed as a defining moment in the country’s technology journey. By bringing together global investment, policy dialogue and innovation on a single platform, the summit is expected to shape India’s AI roadmap and reinforce its emerging role as a key global AI hub in the years ahead.
About the author – Ayesha Aayat is a law student and contributor covering cybercrime, online frauds, and digital safety concerns. Her writing aims to raise awareness about evolving cyber threats and legal responses.
