Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday welcomed the world leaders at the AI Impact Summit 2026 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, positioning India as a key player in shaping the global artificial intelligence agenda.

Ahead of the opening sessions, the Prime Minister took to X and wrote, "Bringing the world together to discuss AI! Starting today, India hosts the AI Impact Summit at Bharat Mandapam in Delhi. I warmly welcome world leaders, captains of industry, innovators, policymakers, researchers and tech enthusiasts from across the world for this Summit.”

He further added, “The theme of the Summit is Sarvajana Hitaya, Sarvajana Sukhaya or welfare for all, happiness for all, reflecting our shared commitment to harnessing Artificial Intelligence for human-centric progress."

The five-day summit, being held from February 16 to 20, has brought together world leaders, policymakers, industry executives and researchers to deliberate on the future of AI and its economic and social impact.

The theme, drawn from an ancient Indian ethos meaning welfare for all and happiness for all, sets the tone for discussions around responsible innovation and inclusive growth.

In a separate post, the Prime Minister said, "The AI Impact Summit will enrich global discourse on diverse aspects of AI, such as innovation, collaboration, responsible use and more," adding that the event "will help shape a future that is progressive, innovative and opportunity-driven".

Highlighting India’s digital progress, he thanked the country’s 1.4 billion citizens and said India stands at the forefront of the AI transformation. "From digital infrastructure to a vibrant StartUp ecosystem and cutting-edge research, our strides in AI reflect both ambition and responsibility," he wrote.

He also expressed "immense pride" that India is hosting the summit, calling it a reflection of the country’s scientific capabilities and the strength of its youth. 

"This occasion is further proof that our country is progressing rapidly in the field of science and technology and is making an important contribution to global development," he added.

Global participation and expo

Alongside the summit, an India AI Impact Expo is being organised, featuring pavilions from 13 countries including Australia, Japan, Russia, United Kingdom, France, Germany and Italy, among others.

The summit will host around 300 pavilions and live demonstrations, structured across three thematic pillars described as people, planet and progress. Organisers expect strong participation from startups, global technology firms and academic institutions, underlining AI’s expanding role across sectors such as healthcare, agriculture, education, governance and enterprise.

Prominent attendees

Among the prominent attendees are French President Emmanuel Macron and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. Other invitees include Bhutanese Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay, Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković, Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo, Spanish President Pedro Sánchez Pérez-Castejón and Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

“We are honoured to welcome the distinguished delegates of the India AI Impact Summit 2026. We look forward to supporting conversations that will help shape the future of technology and its impact on society. It is a privilege to play a role in hosting this landmark gathering in New Delhi,” said Abhishek Sadhoo, General Manager, Shangri-La Eros New Delhi.