Bengaluru, India | 5 February 2026

As India’s education ecosystem navigates a decisive moment marked by rapid advances in artificial intelligence, widening access imperatives and an urgent demand for future-ready skills, EDNXT Bengaluru 2026 is set to bring the country’s most influential education leaders together for a day of high-impact dialogue and direction-setting. Organised by ETEducation, the education vertical of The Economic Times, the summit will take place on 5 February 2026 at Conrad, Bengaluru, convening policymakers, institutional leaders, school heads, education innovators and industry stakeholders from across India.Curated around the theme “The Education Transformation: AI, Access & Acceleration”, EDNXT Bengaluru 2026 will examine how emerging technologies, digital infrastructure and pedagogical innovation can be harnessed to deliver equitable, scalable and outcome-driven learning across school and higher education. At a time when AI-powered tools are rapidly reshaping classrooms, campuses and governance models, the summit will focus on translating innovation into meaningful, ethical and learner-centric impact.

A timely platform for India’s education priorities

India’s education sector is witnessing unprecedented change, with institutions adopting digital solutions at scale while grappling with questions of quality, access and relevance. EDNXT Bengaluru 2026 is designed as a strategic platform to move the conversation beyond experimentation towards sustainable transformation. The summit will explore how education leaders can align policy intent, institutional strategy and classroom practice to ensure that technological progress strengthens learning outcomes rather than widening existing gaps.

By bringing together leadership from both school education and higher education, the summit will foster cross-sector learning and collaboration, recognising that the future of education depends on shared thinking, system-wide alignment and strong leadership capacity.

Government leadership and policy perspectives

EDNXT Bengaluru 2026 will be graced by senior government leaders from Karnataka, reinforcing the state’s commitment to advancing education reform and innovation. Distinguished guests expected at the summit include V Rashmi Mahesh, Additional Chief Secretary, Department of School Education and Literacy; Mohammad Mohsin, Principal Secretary, Labour and Medical Education Department; Manoj Kumar Meena, Secretary, Skill Development, Entrepreneurship and Livelihood Department; Khushboo Goel Chowdhary, Secretary, Higher Education Department, Government of Karnataka; and Prof S R Niranjana, Vice Chairman, Karnataka State Higher Education Council.

Their participation will provide critical policy insights into how state-level vision is translating into on-ground implementation across schools, universities and skill development institutions.

Leading voices from higher education

The summit will feature an influential lineup of higher education leaders representing India’s premier universities and institutions. Speakers include U Dinesh Kumar, Director, IIM Bangalore; Dr S Vidyashankar, Vice Chancellor, Visvesvaraya Technological University; Prof B Ravi, Director, NIT Surathkal; Prof Lingaraja Gandhi, Vice-Chancellor, Bengaluru City University; Dr Sekar Viswanathan, Vice President, Vellore Institute of Technology; Ch Preeti Reddy, Vice Chairman, Malla Reddy Vishwavidyapeeth; Salman Ahmed, Vice President, Presidency University; Prof Amit Banerjee, Chancellor, Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan University; Dr G Pardha Saradhi Varma, Vice Chancellor, KL University; Prof MR Gangadhar, Vice Chancellor, Chamarajanagara University; Dr K Kathiravan, Director, SRM University; and D P Nagaraj, Pro Chancellor, RV University, Bengaluru, among many others.

Together, they will share perspectives on leadership, governance, curriculum reform and the role of AI in shaping the future of higher education.

Influential school education leaders on the future of learning

EDNXT Bengaluru 2026 will also bring together some of India’s most respected school education leaders, reflecting the summit’s commitment to system-wide dialogue. Speakers include LR Shivarame Gowda, Chairman, Royale Concorde International Group of Schools; Dr Chandrashekar DP, CEO, JGI Schools; Sandeep Pai S, Principal, Surana Vidyalaya, Bangalore; Dr Nafeesa Ahmed, Director, Presidency Group of Institutions; Dr Pritam Kumar Agrawal, Founder & CEO, Hello Kids Chain of Preschools & Riverstone Schools; Saahil Ahmed, Vice Chairman TCIS Group of Schools; Dr Manjula Raman, Director – Academics, Sherwood High; Brian Irving, Head of School, Trio World Academy; Joe Lumsden, Head of School, Stonehill International School; Dr Shivananda CS, Head of School, Bangalore International School; and Sailaja Vittalde, Head of School, The School of Raya, along with other distinguished voices from the K–12 ecosystem.

What the summit will deliver

Designed to be insight-led and action-oriented, EDNXT Bengaluru 2026 will feature keynote addresses, leadership conversations, panel discussions and curated networking forums focused on real-world challenges and solutions. Discussions will span the integration of AI in teaching and assessment, strategies to expand digital access, reimagining pedagogy for hybrid and immersive learning environments, strengthening leadership capacity, and aligning institutional practices with evolving workforce and policy demands.

The summit will also provide a platform for education solution providers and EdTech innovators to showcase next-generation technologies supporting teaching, learning and institutional efficiency.

Who should attend

EDNXT Bengaluru 2026 invites participation from education policymakers, vice chancellors, directors and senior university administrators; school founders, principals and academic leaders; EdTech innovators and industry partners; CSR leaders, education consultants and thought leaders committed to shaping India’s education future.

About EDNXT Bengaluru 2026

EDNXT Bengaluru 2026 is not merely a conference but a strategic convening for those driving India’s education transformation. As artificial intelligence, access imperatives and acceleration agendas redefine learning across the country, the summit aims to catalyse ideas, partnerships and pathways that translate vision into lasting impact.

On 5 February 2026, Bengaluru will host conversations that will help define the next chapter of India’s education journey.

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