AI Summit 2026 Day 3: From timings to entry gates to parking, all you need to know before you visit Bharat Mandapam

With the 2026 edition of the India AI Impact Summit underway, the central government on Tuesday issued an advisory detailing the entry and exit timings of the next day of the heavily-attended event in the national capital. Wednesday will mark the third day of the five-day summit, which has already witnessed the participation of thousands of people, including ministers, global leaders and technology czars.

The advisory comes in the backdrop of several visitors reportedly complaining about long queues due to overcrowding with limited access to basic facilities.

Here are key things to know about Wednesday's (February 18) schedule at New Delhi's Bharat Mandapam convention centre, where the AI Summit has been organised:

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• Timings: Convention Centre 9:30 am-4:30 pm (visitors must vacate by 3:30 pm)
  • Expo Arena will be open till 8 pm
  • Sushma Swaraj Bhawan will be open till 6 pm

• Entry will be from Gates 4 and 10 with a shuttle or golf cart service
• While Gate No. 4 will be operational for entry from 8:00 am onwards for drop offs by cars or cabs, Gate No. 10 will be in use for entry from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm; for delegates arriving by Delhi Metro.
• Traffic curbs: 4-11 pm

The advisory also mentioned the possibility of intermittent traffic restrictions between the hours of 4:00 pm and 11:00 pm in and around the ITPO area.

For media personnel, Gate 5A will be the designated entry from 8:00 am onwards.

Access through other designated gates, said the advisory, will remain subject to security clearance and movement restrictions as per protocol.

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Limited parking space at Purana Quila, Zoo & JLN Stadium

The advisory also stated that self-drive vehicles will have limited parking space in the following spots:

• Purana Qila Parking (1.6 km from Bharat Mandapam)
• Zoo Parking Space (3 kms)
• JLN Stadium Parking (4.8 kms)

Shuttle services will be operated from all three locations to Bharat Mandapam Gate No. 4, according to the IT ministry. Separately, shuttles will also be available between Gates 4, 7 and 10.

For pedestrians, Delhi Metro users as well as drop-off and self-drive vehicles, the entry will be from Gate No. 2 of Sushma Swaraj Bhawan.

"All registered delegates, including invitees, speakers, attendees, and other stakeholders are requested to take note of this revised access protocol and plan their arrival accordingly. All concerned are advised to cooperate fully with security and traffic personnel and to strictly adhere to the instructions issued on-site to ensure smooth and secure conduct of the event," noted the ministry.

On Monday, the first day of the five-day event, Union minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said that the central government will "very soon" launch a 'Create in India' mission, which will be in line with its Semiconductor Mission. Leaders across the world, he said, would discuss the impact of AI for the coming week.

Authorities are promoting the five-day summit as the first major international AI meeting hosted in the Global South.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the event on Monday, February 16.