India AI Impact Summit 2026 starts tomorrow: What the five-day global AI gathering could mean for India

The wait is almost over. From February 16 to February 20, New Delhi will host the India AI Impact Summit 2026, a five-day global gathering that brings artificial intelligence to the forefront of policy, innovation and enterprise transformation. At a time when AI is reshaping industries and governance frameworks worldwide, the summit arrives at a pivotal moment.

Organised under the Government of India’s IndiaAI Mission, the summit is structured as more than a conventional technology conference. It is a curated platform where infrastructure leaders, policymakers, researchers and industry decision-makers converge to examine how AI systems can be responsibly scaled across sectors. The conversations will span public digital infrastructure, connectivity, healthcare, sustainability, research ecosystems and regulatory alignment.

The Economic Times will be on the ground in New Delhi, delivering full coverage across the five days, tracking key announcements, capturing insights from global participants and unpacking what the discussions mean for India’s AI trajectory and the broader international landscape.


This year’s summit features a diverse international presence. Among the many prominent attendees are Erik Ekudden, Chief Technology Officer (CTO), Ericsson; Tony Blair, Executive Chairman, Tony Blair Institute for Global Change; Shobana Kamineni, Executive Chairperson, Apollo HealthCo; Roshni Nadar Malhotra, Chairperson, HCLTech; Alison Noble, Professor of Engineering, University of Oxford; and Natalie Black, Group Director (Infrastructure and Connectivity) and Executive Board Member, Ofcom, among many others from global technology, academia, enterprise and regulatory bodies.

Their participation reflects the breadth of the summit’s scope. Artificial intelligence today influences telecom networks, healthcare systems, digital infrastructure, public policy and enterprise strategy. Bringing together voices from each of these domains ensures that the dialogue remains grounded in real-world complexity rather than abstract potential.

A central thematic focus of the summit is “People, Planet and Progress,” highlighting the role AI can play in sustainable growth and long-term societal resilience. The framing signals that conversations will extend beyond productivity gains toward broader developmental and environmental considerations. As AI capabilities accelerate, questions of responsible deployment and inclusive access are increasingly shaping global discourse.

Over five days, the summit will host plenary discussions, curated exchanges and ecosystem showcases designed to foster collaboration rather than isolated commentary. The aim is to connect global expertise with India’s scale and digital infrastructure strengths, creating pathways for shared learning and practical implementation.

For India, the summit reinforces its emerging role as a convener in the global AI conversation. With one of the world’s largest digital user bases and expanding investments in AI capability, the country represents both a significant market and a testing ground for large-scale innovation. Hosting international leaders in New Delhi underscores India’s intent to actively shape the direction of AI governance and adoption.

As the India AI Impact Summit 2026 begins tomorrow, attention turns to the conversations that will unfold over the next five days. The Economic Times will bring readers comprehensive coverage, offering insight into the ideas, collaborations and perspectives that could define the next phase of AI impact.

Follow https://ai.economictimes.com/ai-summit for comprehensive coverage.