A major Indian AI summit in Delhi ran into serious operational problems on its opening day this week. Attendees reported a laundry list of issues; hours-long queues, overcrowding, evacuations and even theft. Some exhibitors reported losing access to their stands for hours.
The India AI Impact Summit opened on Monday 16 February 2026 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, a leading Indian venue. Organisers billed it as a flagship international AI gathering, with delegates from more than 100 countries and senior political and tech leaders due to attend.
Issues quickly arose. Delegates described a slow entry process, blocked gates and unclear instructions – with some people reportedly waiting for hours outside the venue. Social media complaints spread quickly during the day, and congestion around central Delhi also affected arrival times.
PM Modi’s arrival triggered more confusion
Security changes then added disruption. Parts of the venue were evacuated for sweeps ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit, pushing exhibitors and founders away from stalls and kit. Several founders later alleged that items went missing during the disruption.
Limited access to food and water
On-site services became another flashpoint. Some attendees reported limited access to food and water, and complaints also surfaced about payment arrangements at food stalls.
The scale of the event helped drive the strain. Indian media and organisers have cited very high registration numbers, and the IT minister said more than 70,000 people attended early in the summit. That footfall translated into pinch points at gates, overlapping checks and slow movement between zones.
Organisers sought to remedy the situation
Organisers said they took steps to stabilise operations after day one. Measures included tighter coordination and a “war room” approach to handling issues as they were reported. Reports from day two suggested queues had eased somewhat, although diversions and security procedures still affected travel to the venue.
Allegations of false IP
The summit also faced a separate reputational distraction inside the expo hall. Galgotias University was asked to vacate its stall after a staff member was filmed describing a robot dog branded “Orion” as a product developed at the university, before online users identified it as a commercially available Unitree Go2 made by a Chinese firm. Some reports claimed power was cut to the stand as staff packed up.
India’s government has since extended the summit by one day, moving the close to Saturday 21 February 2026, citing demand and turnout. For delegates still travelling in, the extra day offers more time to attend sessions and visit the expo, though it also increases accommodation and staffing costs for exhibitors already on site.
