New Delhi, August 2026: The inaugural Film Expo India 2026, held from 26–30 August 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, marked a significant new chapter for India’s rapidly evolving film, media and entertainment ecosystem. Bringing together filmmakers, actors, producers, production houses, OTT platforms, technology companies, startups, investors, government bodies and creative professionals, the five-day exposition created a comprehensive platform for dialogue, collaboration, innovation and investment across the entertainment sector.
The scale of the inaugural edition reflected the growing importance of India’s creative economy. Film Expo India 2026 featured 17,000 sq. m. of exhibition space, 200+ exhibitors and more than 35,000 visitors. The Expo featured 62 speakers across sessions, workshops and conclaves and witnessed the participation of 100+ celebrities. It also showcased 50+ startups, 35+ film screenings, 25+ AI films and hackathon entries, and the participation of 20+ government bodies and associations, alongside fashion, culture, concerts and theatre.
A significant highlight was the presence of Shri Nayab Singh Saini, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Haryana, as Chief Guest. Addressing the gathering, Shri Saini underlined India’s immense storytelling potential and described the occasion as a celebration of “a new India, an India that is writing its own story.” He further emphasised that a nation possessing some of the world’s greatest stories should aspire to become “the world’s most influential storytelling power.”
The Expo also witnessed distinguished participation from the film and creative industries, including Vindu Dara Singh, Sandeep Marwah, Nandita Das, Pankaj Parashar, Vivek Vaswani, Rajesh Tailang, Mukesh Rishi, Rohitashv Gour, Deepak Mukut, Aseem Bajaj and several other prominent industry professionals. The opening programme brought together leading voices from filmmaking, production, exhibition, media and creative entrepreneurship.
The event carried an important international and diplomatic dimension, with the presence of H.E. the Ambassador of Namibia, along with distinguished diplomats and representatives from Armenia, China, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iraq, Nepal, Poland and Russia, as well as representatives associated with UNESCO. Their participation reinforced the role of cinema as a powerful medium for cultural diplomacy, people-to-people relations, tourism promotion and international cooperation.
Among the most significant industry conversations was “The Next 5000 Screens”, part of the Silver Screen Summit, which brought together Chandran Rutnam, Nandita Das, Pankaj Parashar, Rahul Rawail and Rahul Nehra, moderated by Ashish Singh of ABP News. The discussion examined the future of theatrical exhibition, evolving audience behaviour, screen expansion and emerging formats of storytelling. Other sessions explored entertainment marketing, filmmaking, acting, content creation, entrepreneurship and the changing business models of the media industry.
Vindu Dara Singh, Mentor and Curator of Film Expo India, also highlighted the importance of stronger government-industry collaboration, encouraging States to provide greater support to filmmakers and production houses through film-friendly policies and incentives. He emphasised that increased support for filmmaking could contribute significantly to employment and economic activity across the wider ecosystem.
Technology and innovation emerged as another defining theme, with AI filmmaking, virtual production, animation, VFX, digital platforms, OTT, advanced studio technologies and new-age creative tools receiving significant attention. The participation of startups and AI film and hackathon entries demonstrated the expanding intersection between creativity, technology and entrepreneurship.
The Global Trade & Technology Council (India) participated as the Global Outreach Partner, adding an international business and diplomatic dimension to the Expo. Dr. Gaurav Gupta, Founder President, GTTCI, participated in the event, representing GTTCI’s continued efforts to facilitate international business and institutional partnerships.
GTTCI’s engagement reflects the growing recognition of the creative economy as an important avenue for trade, investment, technology, tourism, co-production and cultural exchange. Film Expo India 2026 demonstrated that cinema today extends well beyond entertainment—it can serve as a bridge connecting nations, industries, technologies and communities.
The inaugural edition thus established a promising foundation for a globally connected platform where Indian creativity can meet international markets, investment, technology and audiences, opening new pathways for collaboration and strengthening India’s position in the global creative economy.