New Delhi is preparing for a week of heightened activity as the India AI Impact Summit 2026 gets underway from February 16 to 20 at Bharat Mandapam, with parallel arrangements in place for CBSE board examinations and routine court functioning. Authorities have outlined access norms, security procedures and travel advisories as more than two lakh participants are expected to attend the five-day event themed ‘Sarvajan Hitaya, Sarvajan Sukhaya’ (Welfare for All, Happiness for All).
Summit venues and schedule
Bharat Mandapam will function as the main hub, hosting plenary sessions and the large-scale AI Expo. According to the General Advisory for Registered Delegates , plenary and thematic discussions will also take place at Sushma Swaraj Bhawan, while the Expo will operate from the Exhibition Halls.
Key venue-wise access details are as follows:
• February 16: Bharat Mandapam Convention Centre and Sushma Swaraj Bhawan open 9:30 AM–6:00 PM; Expo Arena closed.
• February 17: Convention Centre, Expo Arena and Sushma Swaraj Bhawan open 9:30 AM–6:00 PM; cultural event at 6:30 PM.
• February 18: Convention Centre and Expo Arena 9:30 AM–4:30 PM; Sushma Swaraj Bhawan 9:30 AM–6:00 PM.
• February 19: “Restricted access” at the Convention Centre; Expo Arena open 11:00 AM–6:00 PM. The advisory notes, “Events on 19 February 2026 (Inaugural Ceremony) are by-invite only. Delegates through QR codes will not have access to the venue on this date.”
• February 20: All main venues open 9:30 AM–6:00 PM; cultural event at 6:00 PM.
Sessions are scheduled to begin from 9:30 AM, subject to venue-wise access. The Summit will include “over 700 exhibitors and 100+ high-level sessions daily,” the advisory states .
Registration, QR access and security checks
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has kept participation free. Registration is available through the official portal and the summit mobile application. As per the advisory , “There is no registration or invitation fee.”
Access to venues is strictly digital. “Access to all venues as per above mentioned program shall be through valid QR code only,” the document specifies . QR codes are issued via email and the official mobile app and must be shown at Bharat Mandapam Gate No. 04 and 10 and Sushma Swaraj Bhawan Gate No. 02.
Authorities have underlined that “Invitation cards, badges, and QR codes are non-transferable and must be displayed at all times.” Participants must carry a government-issued photo ID; international visitors are required to carry passports. Multiple layers of identity verification and screening will be in place, and “Cooperation with security agencies, venue authorities, and Liaison Officers (LOs) where applicable is mandatory” .
A Summit Helpdesk, cloakroom facilities at Gates 04 and 10, paid food courts and on-site medical support will operate throughout the event .
Movement and gate protocol
With limited on-site parking, registered delegates are “strongly advised to use Public Transport, Metro services, or cabs".
For Bharat Mandapam:
• Metro users: Entry through Gate No. 10.
• Car and cab drop-offs: Gate No. 04.
• Self-drive parking: Designated spaces at Purana Qila (1.6 km), Zoo Parking (3 km), and JLN Stadium (4.8 km), with shuttle services to Gate No. 04.
• On February 19, “Bharat Mandapam Gate No. 10 shall be closed. However, Gate No. 04 shall be open post 11am.”
Delegates are advised to use designated golf carts within the complex for movement between halls .
For Sushma Swaraj Bhawan, entry on all session days will be “through Gate No. 02 only” for pedestrians, metro users, drop-offs and self-drive vehicles .
The site layout shared in the advisory shows multiple access points including Gates 1, 4, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11, with helpdesks at Gates 4, 7 and 10. The Convention Centre spans multiple levels, while Exhibition Halls 1 to 6 and Hall 14 are spread across the complex, alongside amphitheatres and food courts .
Traffic restrictions and diversions
Delhi Police have issued a traffic public advisory in view of the summit and the commencement of CBSE examinations from February 17. Authorities anticipate increased vehicular pressure across central Delhi.
Traffic may be regulated or restricted along key stretches, including:
• Mathura Road and Bhairon Marg
• Janpath, Akbar Road and Safdarjung Road
• Sher Shah Road, Subramania Bharti Marg and Rajesh Pilot Marg
• Teen Murti Marg, Mother Teresa Crescent and Sardar Patel Marg
• Firoz Shah Road, Shanti Path and Satya Marg
Passengers travelling to Indira Gandhi International Airport have been advised to use NH-48 and the Sector-22 Dwarka Tunnel. Railway passengers heading to New Delhi, Old Delhi or Hazrat Nizamuddin stations are encouraged to use Ring Road, Ashram Chowk and Vande Mataram Marg. Vehicles not bound for Delhi will be diverted to the Eastern and Western Peripheral Expressways.
Police field staff have been directed to assist students appearing for board examinations. Students must reach centres by 10 AM for a 10:30 AM start, and passes are being facilitated through school principals to allow transport through restricted zones. Commuters are urged to keep buffer time in their travel plans, especially during peak hours and VIP movements.
CBSE exams and court functioning
Given the overlap with the CBSE examination schedule, the police and the education department have coordinated to minimise disruption. Monitoring teams will oversee busy corridors, and diversions may be introduced dynamically.
Separately, the Supreme Court issued a circular dated February 14, 2026, noting anticipated congestion near the court complex during the “AI Impact Summit.” The notice stated that advocates may “appear through video conferencing” if they face difficulty attending proceedings physically between February 16 and 20.
It clarified that “appearance through video conferencing shall be optional” and that all Benches “shall function in hybrid mode” during the specified period.
CCTV monitoring and city preparations
The New Delhi Municipal Council has activated an Integrated Command and Control Centre, described as the “third eye,” to monitor the area round-the-clock through more than 730 CCTV cameras integrated from multiple agencies.
The capital has also undergone extensive beautification, with decorative plants, floral fountains and a Tulip Festival at Shanti Path. Mechanical road sweepers and GPS-tracked waste vehicles have been deployed, and air quality sensors installed to monitor atmospheric parameters.
With layered security, digital-only access and dynamic traffic management in place, authorities say the focus remains on ensuring that the summit, examinations and court proceedings proceed with minimal inconvenience to the public while maintaining stringent safety standards.
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