The eyes of the global tech community are firmly fixed on New Delhi this week. As the India AI Impact Summit 2026 kicks off at the iconic Bharat Mandapam, it isn’t just another tech conference—it’s a historical pivot point. For the first time, a global AI summit of this magnitude is being hosted in the Global South, signaling India’s ascent as the “back office” and the “brain” of the world’s AI revolution.
From February 16 to 20, 2026, over 200,000 attendees are converging to discuss a future where intelligence is not just artificial, but “Sarvajan Hitaya”—for the welfare of all.
If you’re looking for the heavy hitters, the visionaries, and the policymakers attending, you’ve come to the right place. Here is your definitive guide to the India AI Summit 2026 speaker list and delegate profile.
The Titans of Tech: Keynote Speakers to Watch
The 2026 summit is unique because it brings together the “AI Godfathers” and the CEOs of the world’s trillion-dollar companies under one roof. The theme, “Human-First Intelligence,” is the focal point of these high-stakes addresses.
1. The Global Visionaries
- Sundar Pichai (CEO, Google & Alphabet): Expected to discuss Google’s Gemini integration within India’s Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI).
- Jensen Huang (Founder & CEO, NVIDIA): At the heart of the global compute race, Huang is set to talk about India’s sovereign AI factories.
- Sam Altman (CEO, OpenAI): His keynote is highly anticipated for insights into AGI safety and collaborative governance.
- Yann LeCun (Chief AI Scientist, Meta): Known for his “open-source” advocacy, LeCun will likely challenge the status quo on AI model accessibility.
- Demis Hassabis (CEO, Google DeepMind): Focusing on AI for science, from drug discovery to climate modeling.
2. The Indian Powerhouse
- Nandan Nilekani (Chairman, Infosys): The architect of Aadhaar will be sharing his vision for “Population-Scale AI.”
- Mukesh Ambani (Chairman, Reliance Industries): Driving the narrative on how AI will transform 5G/6G and India’s energy sector.
- Sridhar Vembu (Founder, Zoho): A key voice on building AI for rural empowerment and self-reliance (Atmanirbhar Bharat).
India AI Summit 2026 Delegate List: Who is Attending?
The summit is expecting over 500 key stakeholders, including 50+ Global Ministers and 20+ Heads of State. The delegate profile is a melting pot of policy, capital, and code.
A Breakdown of Delegate Categories
| Category | Representation | Key Focus Areas |
|---|---|---|
| Heads of Government | 15–20 Leaders (e.g., France, Brazil, UAE) | Global AI Ethics & Trade |
| Industry Titans | 50+ Global CEOs | Compute, Data Center, & Scaling |
| Research & Academia | 500+ Scientists (MIT, IIT, Stanford) | Frontier Research & Safety |
| Startups & Unicorns | 1000+ Founders | Disruption & Local Applications |
| Civil Society | NGOs & Ethics Committees | Inclusivity & Job Protection |
World Leaders in Attendance
Invitations sent by Prime Minister Narendra Modi have confirmed attendance from several high-profile leaders, including:
- Emmanuel Macron (President, France)
- Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (President, Brazil)
- Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan (Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, UAE)
- Tshering Tobgay (Prime Minister, Bhutan)
The 3 Sutras and 7 Chakras: The Summit Framework
The 2026 summit isn’t just a series of talks; it’s organized around a philosophy. India has introduced the Three Sutras (Pillars) and Seven Chakras (Focus Areas) to guide the global AI dialogue.
The Three Sutras
- People: AI for inclusive growth and social empowerment.
- Planet: Using AI to tackle climate change and optimize energy.
- Progress: Driving economic efficiency and governance.
The Seven Chakras (Discussion Tracks)
- Human Capital: Reskilling the workforce for an AI-first world.
- Inclusion for Social Empowerment: AI for the “last mile” (multilingual models, healthcare).
- Safe and Trusted AI: Building frameworks to prevent misinformation and deepfakes.
- Democratizing AI Resources: Ensuring the Global South has access to compute and datasets.
- Science & Innovation: Accelerating breakthroughs in physics and medicine.
Expert Tips for Virtual and On-Site Attendees
If you are attending the summit at Bharat Mandapam or following the livestream on the IndiaAI portal, keep these tips in mind:
- Network via the App: Use the official India AI Impact Summit App to connect with delegates.
- Focus on the Expo: With over 300 exhibitors from 30 countries, the AI Impact Expo is where the real “hands-on” innovation happens.
- Watch the “AI by HER” Pitch: This challenge highlights women-led AI solutions and is often the birthplace of the next big unicorn.
- Security & Traffic: If you’re in Delhi, note that February 19th will have restricted movement due to VIP/Heads of State sessions.
Why This Summit Matters for India (and You)
In the words of Arundhati Bhattacharya (CEO, Salesforce India), “AI is the great equalizer, but only if the rules of the game are fair.” This summit is where those “fair rules” are being written. India is positioning itself as the bridge between the West’s technological might and the East’s demographic dividend. For professionals, this is the time to identify which sectors—HealthTech, AgriTech, or EdTech—will see the most government funding and policy support in the coming years.
Summary: The India AI Summit 2026 is a masterclass in global collaboration. With a speaker list featuring Sundar Pichai and Jensen Huang, and a delegate list spanning the most powerful nations, it’s clear: the future of AI is being coded in New Delhi.
Disclaimer: Speaker availability and session timings are subject to change by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY). For live updates, visit the official summit portal.
