Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the India AI Impact Summit 2026 on 19 February at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, having welcomed participating world leaders at the venue on the evening of 18 February and scheduled bilateral meetings on the sidelines. The opening ceremony is scheduled for around 9:40 am and will feature addresses from the President of France, the Secretary-General of the United Nations and senior industry leaders. The programme aims to set the tone for national and international collaboration on artificial intelligence.

At around 11 am the Prime Minister will visit the India AI Impact Expo 2026 with other leaders to tour country pavilions and examine demonstrations and national showcases. The Leaders' Plenary is scheduled from around 12 noon and will bring together heads of state, ministers and senior representatives from multilateral institutions to outline priorities on governance, infrastructure and international cooperation for AI. The schedule is intended to enable immediate dialogue on policy and strategic alignment.

In the evening the Prime Minister will join a CEO roundtable from 5:30 pm to convene senior executives from global technology and industry firms with government leadership, focusing on investment, research collaboration, supply chains and deployment of AI systems. The summit theme is described as welfare for all and happiness of all and seeks to position India as a leader in artificial intelligence while promoting inclusive growth and planetary safeguarding. Organisers expect concrete outcomes that demonstrate AI's positive impact across sectors.

Seven working groups will anchor the summit, aligned to the three pillars of People, Planet and Progress, and will focus on AI for economic growth and social good, democratising AI resources, inclusion for social empowerment, safe and trusted AI, human capital, science, and resilience, innovation and efficiency. The event will bring together more than 500 global AI leaders, including around 100 CEOs and founders, 150 academicians and researchers and 400 chief technology officers, vice presidents and philanthropists, engaging over 100 government representatives, including more than 20 heads of state and government and around 60 ministers and vice ministers.