IITF 2026 will open at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi on 13 November, with the 14-day India International Trade Fair expected to attract more visitors than last year’s 18 lakh turnout. The fair will be open to business visitors from 14 to 18 November and to the general public from 19 to 27 November.
The event will bring together participants from 31 states and Union territories, 51 central government departments, ministries, public-sector organisations and banks, as well as 10 countries. According to India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO) chairman Javed Ashraf, around 3,500 exhibitors will showcase products and services across an exhibition area of approximately 1.05 lakh square metres. A large share of the exhibitors will be micro, small and medium enterprises.
This year’s theme is ‘Development and Heritage’. The opening ceremony will take place on the evening of 13 November at the convention centre in Bharat Mandapam. Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal is scheduled to inaugurate the fair. The ceremony will also include a one-hour classical dance performance by Padma Shri awardee and dancer Guru Madhavi Mudgal. The inauguration was advanced by a day from the earlier plan of holding it on the morning of 14 November, with organisers citing exhibition preparations and arrangements for VIP guests.
Visitors will be able to buy tickets online through the official ITPO website and mobile application. Tickets will also be sold at around 50 Delhi Metro stations. ITPO has not yet released the official ticket prices, according to the report. The public opening on 19 November is expected to bring a sharp increase in visitor movement around Bharat Mandapam compared with the business-only opening phase.
Several new attractions have been planned for the fair. The Hall of Inspiration will feature around 600 startups working in deep technology and other emerging sectors. The One District, One Product pavilion will present products, handicrafts, food and cultural heritage from districts across India. A 1,000-square-metre FutureVerse pavilion will offer experiences linked to artificial intelligence, augmented reality and virtual reality. The fair will also include more than 90 food outlets and 87 cultural performances across four amphitheatres, along with performances in the auditorium.
Transport arrangements will be central to managing the expected crowds. Shuttle services will operate from different Bharat Mandapam gates, linking parking areas and major Metro stations. Delhi Metro is expected to increase train frequency during the fair, while organisers have appealed to visitors to use public transport to reduce traffic and environmental pressure. Parking for around 4,000 cars will also be available.
The arrangements reflect the operational challenge posed by a high-footfall exhibition in central Delhi, where access depends on coordination between the venue, Metro services, parking facilities and shuttle routes. A new digital application will be introduced for visitors and exhibitors. Visitors will be able to use it to navigate the exhibition site, while exhibitors will be able to schedule business meetings. The fair will continue until 27 November, with public access available from 19 November.
