ABP Network’s grand conference ‘Ideas of India 2026’ is now just three days away. This fifth edition, to be held on 27th and 28th February at Grand Hyatt Hotel, Mumbai, will celebrate the ideas, talents and future of India. Big personalities from all over the world will openly discuss global politics, economy, Bollywood, music and sports here. This event will also be shown live on ABP channels, website and YouTube.
Day 1: Starting with global debates and ending with Bollywood
This program will start with the lighting of the lamp on 27th February at 9:50 am. Immediately after this Meghna Mishra will sing Saraswati Vandana. From 10:05 am, Chief Editor of ABP Network Atideb Sarkar will deliver the welcome address.
Then will come the turn of experts from abroad. From 10:20 am, Professor John Mearsheimer of the University of Chicago will face questions from Dr. Shashi Tharoor. The topic will be ‘US and India: A very rocky relationship’. After this, at 10:55 am, Yan Xuetong of Tsinghua University will talk to Vir Sangivi on China’s perspective.
At 11:30 am Monica Duffy Toft will discuss the challenges of leadership in a world of turmoil. At 12:05 pm, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal will tell the tricks of negotiation in the ‘Master of the Deal’ session, although some of these guests are still pending.
After lunch, Armaan Malik will talk on Indipop and playback. At 2:45 pm, former Ambassador Ranjit Rai, Ashok K. Kantha and Veena Sikri will discuss the tensions in neighboring countries. Sunil Shetty and son Ahaan Shetty will talk about the legacy of talent.
John Mearsheimer, Yan Xuetong and Monica Toft will return to ‘New World Order’ in the evening. Shreya Ghoshal International Music, Paralympian Praveen Kumar, Avani Lekhara and Sumit Antil will narrate stories of courage. U-19 cricketers Ayush Mhatre and Vihaan Malhotra on youth successes.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis will discuss infrastructure at 7:30 pm. Shahrukh Khan will discuss in ‘King of Bollywood’ session at 8 pm, then there will be dinner. However, Shahrukh Khan has not given any confirmation yet.
Day two: India’s future and the dominance of stars
On the second day at 10 am, Harsh V. Pant of King’s College London will talk to Vir Sangivi on ‘Advantage India’. At 10:30, directors Kanu Behal, Aranya Sahay and Christo Tomi will tell the audience the winning formula. Adnan Sami will discuss healing music, Mrinal Thakur will discuss acting across the border.
Special session on Artificial Intelligence (AI) at 12:15 pm Dr. Pratyush Kumar, Prof. Tushar will be with Ganesh Ramakrishnan (Pending) and Dr. Samit Rai. Mona Singh will be on center stage. Longevity will be discussed with Dr. Ambrish Mithal Hormones.
After lunch A.S. Dulat and Asad Darrani will talk with Dr. Tharoor on India-Pak relations, Amitabh Kant on self-reliant economy, Nara Lokesh of Andhra and Harsh Sanghvi of Gujarat on good governance.
At 4 pm, Dr. Udayakumar Shirurkar, Rohan Mahajan and Arunachalam Muruganantham will talk about the great success of the common people. Kangana Ranaut will share the stage with ‘Queen of the Screen’ at 5 pm. Dr. Shashi Tharoor will give history lessons. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav on AI race (pending). Pankaj Tripathi Heartland Stories, Anil Kapoor on 40 years of stardom. Sumanta Dutta will give vote of thanks at 8:20, then the program will end with dinner.
