Twenty heads of state and government, alongside ministerial delegations from over 45 countries, are scheduled to arrive in New Delhi for the India-AI Impact Summit 2026 held from February 16 to 20. Hosted at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the event is positioned as the first major global gathering on artificial intelligence to be held in the Global South. The summit aims to establish a multilateral framework for AI governance, safety, and inclusive technological growth.
The Ministry of External Affairs confirmed a high-profile guest list including French President Emmanuel Macron, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, and Spanish President Pedro Sánchez. Other notable attendees include the Prime Ministers of Bhutan, the Netherlands, Greece, and Mauritius, as well as the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi. United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres will lead a contingent of senior international officials to deliberate on the global socio-economic shifts triggered by rapid AI advancement.
Beyond political leadership, the summit will feature over 100 global CEOs, including Sundar Pichai (Google), Sam Altman (OpenAI), and Jensen Huang (Nvidia). Discussions are structured around three guiding \”Sutras\”—People, Planet, and Progress—with seven thematic working groups focusing on data governance, sustainable computing, and social inclusion. An exhibition spanning 70,000 square metres will showcase practical AI applications from more than 300 exhibitors representing 30 countries.
\”The summit will bring together global leaders, policymakers, innovators, and experts from across the world to deliberate on the way forward for AI,\” the Ministry of External Affairs stated.
The five-day program includes the release of an AI Compendium on February 17, documenting cross-sectoral case studies in healthcare and agriculture. The proceedings will culminate in the GPAI Council meeting on the final day. Union Minister for Electronics and IT Ashwini Vaishnaw characterized the international response as \”phenomenal,\” noting that participation is expected from nearly 100 countries in total.
