The India Convention Promotion Bureau (ICPB) kicked off the 15th Convention India Conclave (CIC) 2026 on August 19 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, bringing together key stakeholders from India’s MICE ecosystem. The first day recorded participation from 112 domestic buyers, 25 foreign nationals and more than 400 registrations.
The conclave brought together convention centres, hotels, destinations, Professional Conference Organisers (PCOs), DMCs, event management companies, corporates, industry associations, government organisations, tourism boards, and leading international and domestic buyers on a common platform.
The event was inaugurated by Union Tourism and Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and Delhi Tourism Minister Kapil Mishra, along with other dignitaries. CIC 2026 is being organised in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, with Delhi Tourism as the host state partner and India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO) as the venue partner.
Chander Mansharmani, Chairman, 15th Convention India Conclave Organising Committee, highlighted the importance of bringing the entire MICE ecosystem together to facilitate meaningful business connections and strengthen India’s position in the global MICE landscape.
He further added, “NITI Aayog has recently launched a good initiative encouraging states to establish their own MICE bureaus. The response has been encouraging, with several states stepping forward. While Maharashtra has established a bureau, it is yet to become fully operational. I have been directly involved in Andhra Pradesh, where the bureau structure is already formed and established. ICPB acts as an advisory body guiding states in setting up these bureaus, and we are currently addressing requests from multiple regions. Furthermore, a significant policy push from the Government of India is actively encouraging the development of state-level bureaus.”
The inauguration day featured a theme panel discussion, ‘Powering the Future of Innovation’, which explored the future of business events, innovation and India’s growing role in the global MICE landscape. Dr Senthil Gopinath, CEO, ICCA, delivered a keynote address titled “Convening the Future: How Global Business Events Drive Innovation, Knowledge Exchange, and Sustainable Economic Growth.”
A key highlight of CIC 2026 is its curated hosted buyer programme, which is designed to facilitate direct interactions between exhibitors and influential decision-makers from India and overseas.
The domestic hosted buyer programme confirmed the participation of more than 100 hosted buyers representing over 90 leading associations, scientific bodies, academic institutions, healthcare organisations, corporates and industry chambers. The international hosted buyer programme further adds a global dimension to the conclave, bringing senior professionals and decision-makers from key MICE source markets across Europe, Asia, Africa, the Americas and Australia.
The 15th Convention India Conclave is expected to serve as a platform for business generation, knowledge sharing, destination promotion, international networking and industry collaboration. It will also provide stakeholders with opportunities to explore new partnerships and expand their presence in India’s rapidly growing MICE market.
