The Election Commission of India (ECI) is set to host the inaugural India International Conference on Democracy and Election Management (IICDEM) 2026, a three-day global forum organised by the India International Institute of Democracy & Election Management (IIIDEM). The conference will be held from 21 January at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.

Positioned as the largest international conference of its kind hosted by India, IICDEM 2026 will bring together nearly 100 international delegates representing over 70 countries, alongside representatives of international organisations, foreign missions and leading academic and electoral experts.

Chief Election Commissioner Shri Gyanesh Kumar, along with Election Commissioners Dr Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Dr Vivek Joshi, will formally inaugurate the conference and welcome delegates at the opening session.

The programme will feature plenary and general sessions of Election Management Bodies (EMBs), including an EMB Leaders’ Plenary, working group meetings and thematic discussions on global electoral challenges, international electoral standards, innovations and best practices.

A total of 36 thematic groups, led by CEOs of States and Union Territories and supported by national and international experts, will undertake detailed deliberations. Leading academic institutions, including four IITs, six IIMs, 12 National Law Universities and IIMC, will participate in the discussions.

ECI will also conduct over 40 bilateral meetings with EMBs to strengthen international cooperation and will launch ECINET, its integrated digital platform for election-related information and services. An exhibition highlighting the scale and complexity of India’s electoral process, along with initiatives to strengthen electoral rolls and election conduct, will run alongside the conference.

The docuseries India Decides, showcasing the conduct of the Lok Sabha 2024 elections, will be screened on the opening day.