India AI Impact Expo 2026 draws startups and global partners

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the India AI Impact Expo 2026 was a “powerful convergence of ideas, innovation and intent” that showcased Indian talent’s potential to shape the future of Artificial Intelligence for global good.

“Our country’s Expo showcased the extraordinary potential of Indian talent in shaping the future of Artificial Intelligence for global good,” the prime minister wrote on X on Tuesday, referring to the event he inaugurated on Monday.

The prime minister also said that above all, the Expo reaffirmed India’s commitment to harnessing AI responsibly, inclusively and at scale for human progress.

India AI Impact Expo 2026 was a powerful convergence of ideas, innovation and intent.

It showcased the extraordinary potential of Indian talent in shaping the future of Artificial Intelligence for global good.

Above all, it reaffirmed our commitment to harnessing AI… pic.twitter.com/jfVWCP4BHh

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 17, 2026

Expo showcases startups, global partners

The Expo, part of the India AI Impact Summit 2026, brings together global technology firms, academia and research institutions, central and state governments, and international partners. Spread across 10 arenas covering more than 70,000 square metres at Bharat Mandapam, it features more than 600 high-potential startups and more than 300 curated exhibition pavilions and live demonstrations. The exhibits are structured across three thematic chakras — people, planet and progress — and many of the startups are demonstrating working solutions already deployed in real-world settings.

The Expo also includes 13 country pavilions, highlighting international collaboration in Artificial Intelligence. These represent Australia, Japan, Russia, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Serbia, Estonia, Tajikistan and Africa.

Broader summit sees organisational issues

The Expo is being held alongside the India AI Impact Summit 2026, scheduled from February 16–20 in New Delhi. The summit, which officials are positioning as a platform for developing nations to assert their voice in global AI governance, drew hundreds of thousands of participants and global technology leaders.

However, on its opening day on Monday, the summit was marred by long queues, overcrowding and confusion, with attendees reporting poor signage, unclear entry instructions and organisational lapses at the venue.

Security sweeps ahead of high-level arrivals, including that of the prime minister, led to abrupt venue clearances that forced participants to leave belongings behind, according to delegate accounts. Some startup founders took to social media to say they were unable to access their own exhibition booths because gates were closed during the disruption.

The reported organisational challenges led to criticism online from frustrated participants, including entrepreneurs and journalists who said unclear badge collection processes added to confusion. The India IT ministry had not issued a response to these accounts at the time of the Reuters report.

Positioned as global AI forum

Despite the organisational setbacks on Day 1, the Expo and summit together draw significant global attention, joining government policymakers, research institutions and private sector innovators to discuss and showcase advances in artificial intelligence.

The India AI Impact Expo 2026 serves as a platform for collaboration and deployment-focused innovation, while the broader summit carries India’s ambition to play a central role in shaping responsible, equitable global AI development.