Feb 14: The India-AI Impact Summit 2026 is set to mark a historic milestone in global cooperation on Artificial Intelligence, becoming the first global AI summit to be hosted in the Global South. The five-day summit will take place in New Delhi from 16th to 20th February, positioning India at the forefront of shaping a responsible and inclusive AI future.
The Summit highlights India’s expanding role in advancing people-centric and ethical AI governance. Leaders from twenty countries are scheduled to attend the high-level gathering, alongside ministerial delegations from over 45 nations.
Global Participation at the Highest Level
Among the prominent leaders expected to attend are Emmanuel Macron, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Pedro Sánchez, Guy Parmelin, Dick Schoof, UAE Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Mauritius Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam, Sri Lanka President Anura Kumara Dissanayaka, Seychelles Vice President Sebastien Pillay, and Bhutan Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay.
Leaders from Bolivia, Croatia, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Guyana, Kazakhstan, Liechtenstein, Serbia and Slovakia will also participate. The United Nations Secretary-General and senior officials from several international organisations are expected to join the deliberations.
Concrete Deliverables and AI Governance Focus
The Summit will bring together representatives from both the Global North and Global South to present concrete deliverables. These include proposals for AI Commons, trusted AI tools, shared compute infrastructure and sector-specific compendiums of AI use cases.
More than 700 sessions will be organised during the event, covering key themes such as AI safety, governance frameworks, ethical deployment, data protection and India’s vision of sovereign AI. Discussions are expected to contribute toward global standards and collaborative AI models that prioritise transparency and inclusivity.
Skilling and Inclusive Growth
The Summit will also showcase national skilling initiatives such as Yuva AI for All, a free and accessible programme aimed at building foundational AI awareness among students and professionals. The initiative reflects India’s focus on preparing its workforce for the AI-driven future while ensuring equitable access to knowledge.
By hosting the first global AI summit in the Global South, India aims to strengthen global collaboration, promote shared standards and establish itself as a reliable partner in leveraging Artificial Intelligence for sustainable development.
The India-AI Impact Summit 2026 is expected to serve as a platform for dialogue, partnership and actionable outcomes that will shape the global AI landscape in the years ahead.
