India to host landmark AI Impact Summit 2026, drawing tech giants and delegates from nearly 100 countries

New Delhi: The Ministry of External Affairs on Friday unveiled the list of international leaders and technology executives set to attend the India–AI Impact Summit 2026, scheduled to take place in the national capital from February 16 to 20. Convened at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the summit is set to become the first major global artificial intelligence conclave to be hosted in the Global South. The five-day gathering will be held at Bharat Mandapam, bringing together heads of state, ministers, global CEOs, researchers, and representatives from international organisations to debate the future direction of AI, its economic implications, and emerging governance frameworks. Officials said the summit will revolve around three guiding “Sutras”—People, Planet, and Progress—aimed at ensuring inclusive, sustainable, and growth-oriented AI development.

Global tech leaders converge in New Delhi

A strong lineup of technology heavyweights is expected, including OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, Google and Alphabet chief Sundar Pichai, and NVIDIA founder and CEO Jensen Huang. They will be joined by Adobe CEO Shantanu Narayen, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon, Microsoft President Brad Smith, Ericsson CTO Erik Ekudden, and Cloudflare CEO Matthew Prince.

From India’s corporate sector, confirmed participants include Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani, Tata Sons Chairman Natarajan Chandrasekaran, HCL Technologies Chairperson Roshni Nadar Malhotra, and Bharti Enterprises Chairman Sunil Bharti Mittal.

The MEA said ministerial delegations from more than 45 countries will participate, alongside senior officials from the United Nations and other multilateral bodies.

People, Planet, Progress: Shaping AI’s global future

The summit comes amid rapid shifts in global AI ecosystems. While large language models have advanced quickly, policymakers and experts are increasingly emphasising the need for robust data governance, diversified AI architectures, and sector-specific deployment strategies.

Structured around its three core pillars, the event will feature seven thematic working groups addressing AI skilling, social inclusion, safety, scientific research, sustainable computing, democratising access, and economic growth. Organisers said more than 700 session proposals have already been received. On February 17, the government will release an AI Compendium showcasing case studies of AI applications across healthcare, agriculture, education, and energy. The summit will also host innovation challenges such as AI for ALL and AI by HER, offering top prizes of Rs 2.50 crore, alongside youth-focused initiatives including YUVAi and India AI Tinkerpreneur. An expansive exhibition spanning 70,000 square metres will feature over 300 exhibitors from 30 countries.

Union Minister for Electronics and IT Ashwini Vaishnaw described the response to the summit as “phenomenal,” noting that participation is expected from nearly 100 countries and more than 100 global CEOs.

Additional technology leaders likely to attend include Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei and DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis. The summit will conclude on February 20 with the GPAI Council meeting, marking a significant milestone in positioning India and the Global South at the centre of global AI governance discussions.