PM Modi to inaugurate India AI Impact Expo 2026 at Bharat Mandapam on Feb 16

PM Modi

• PM Modi to inaugurate India AI Impact Expo 2026 on Feb 16
• Expo showcases 300+ pavilions, 600 startups, 13 country pavilions
• Event aims to position India as a global AI innovation hub

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the India AI Impact Expo 2026 on February 16 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, marking the start of a five-day showcase aimed at positioning India at the centre of the global artificial intelligence conversation.

The Expo, scheduled from February 16 to 20 alongside the India AI Impact Summit, is being pitched as a large-scale demonstration of AI in action where policy, innovation and public use converge, according to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office.

Spread across 10 arenas covering more than 70,000 square metres, the event will bring together global technology companies, startups, academic and research institutions, Union Ministries, State Governments and international partners under one roof.

Thirteen country pavilions — including Australia, Japan, Russia, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Serbia, Estonia, Tajikistan and representatives from Africa — are expected to highlight cross-border collaboration within the AI ecosystem.

Organisers say the Expo will feature over 300 curated exhibition pavilions and live demonstrations structured around three broad themes: People, Planet and Progress. More than 600 startups are set to participate, many of them already deploying population-scale and globally relevant AI solutions in real-world settings.

The event is projected to draw over 2.5 lakh visitors, including international delegates, while also serving as a networking and deal-making platform within the global AI industry. Over 500 sessions with more than 3,250 speakers and panellists are planned, focusing on AI’s transformative impact across sectors and future frameworks to ensure inclusive and responsible adoption.

For India, which is projected to see its AI market cross USD 17 billion by 2027, the summit is being framed as both an economic signal and a strategic statement. With an internet user base of over 800 million, a rapidly expanding startup ecosystem and robust digital public infrastructure, the country is positioning itself as a bridge between large-scale innovation and everyday impact.