Piyush Goyal to inaugurate mega trade fair on Nov 13

 

THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

NEW DELHI, NOVEMBER 12, 2026

India's growth story, rich cultural heritage and expanding entrepreneurial ecosystem will take centre stage at the 45th India International Trade Fair (IITF) 2026, which will bring together more than 3,500 exhibitors from India and abroad at Bharat Mandapam here from November 14 to 27.

Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal will inaugurate the mega trade fair as the chief guest on November 13, with an Odissi performance by Padma Shri awardee Guru Madhavi Mudgal and her group marking the occasion.

Organised by the India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO), this year's fair will be held under the theme 'Vikas aur Virasat', reflecting India's development journey while celebrating its diverse cultural and traditional strengths.

Spread across more than 1 lakh square metres of exhibition space in 17 halls, IITF 2026 will witness participation from 32 states and Union Territories, besides 51 central ministries, government departments, public sector undertakings and public sector banks.

Bihar, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh have been designated as Partner States, while Assam, Delhi, Jharkhand and West Bengal will participate as Focus States. Their pavilions will showcase regional products, traditional crafts, local industries, tourism potential, cultural heritage and development initiatives.

The international segment will feature participation from 11 countries, including Thailand, Iran, Ghana, Nepal, Afghanistan, the UAE, Turkey, China, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, offering a platform for cross-border business engagement, trade partnerships and market linkages.

A major attraction of this year's edition will be the Hall of Inspiration in Hall 14, featuring around 600 Indian start-ups working across emerging sectors such as deep technology, agriculture technology, drones, space, healthcare and education technology.

The initiative aims to provide young enterprises with greater visibility, market access and opportunities to connect with potential investors, buyers and business partners.

The One District One Product (ODOP) Pavilion will bring together participants from 21 states, showcasing distinctive crafts, cuisine, culture and products from districts across the country. The initiative will highlight the role of local enterprises, traditional artisans and indigenous skills in strengthening India's economic landscape.

ITPO Chairman Jawed Ashraf said IITF 2026 would celebrate India's progress, diversity and heritage, with a special emphasis on youth entrepreneurship and the country's growing start-up ecosystem.

He said the fair would provide a significant platform for businesses, particularly micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), start-ups and small traders, to showcase their products, interact with potential buyers and explore new markets.

The fair will also feature Playverse@Mandapam, an immersive digital experience combining entertainment and education, particularly aimed at young visitors and families.

In terms of exhibition arrangements, country pavilions will be housed in Hall 1, while Partner and Focus States, central ministries, PSUs and public sector banks will occupy Halls 2 to 5. Consumer products across electronics, textiles, footwear, kitchen equipment, processed food, spices, agricultural produce, handicrafts, furniture, cosmetics and jewellery will be showcased in Halls 8 to 14.

The organisers have also planned a world-class food court with more than 90 outlets serving Indian and international cuisines, with an emphasis on food quality, hygiene, zero-waste practices and reduced plastic consumption.

Beyond the domestic exhibition platform, ITPO is working to expand opportunities for Indian start-ups in international markets by facilitating their participation in global events such as VivaTech in Paris and the upcoming Singapore FinTech Festival. The initiative is aimed at encouraging entrepreneurship and international collaboration, including among emerging start-up hubs in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities.

The fair will also showcase Bharat Mandapam's expanding technological infrastructure, with LED mesh installations measuring approximately 1,000 square metres each at Halls 1 and 14. Around 100 LED screens are planned across the complex, with more than 30 expected to be installed during the event.

ITPO is also working towards developing Bharat Mandapam as a year-round destination for exhibitions, cultural programmes and public engagement, including a proposed cultural hub with a seating capacity of around 2,000.

Complementing the business exhibition, 87 cultural performances, recitals and shows will be organised across seven venues, showcasing India's classical and folk traditions and featuring established performers as well as emerging talent.

The cultural line-up will include The Manganiyar Seduction, Tal Fry, Hariharan and Prithvi Gandharva, Shahzad Ali, Salim-Sulaiman and Ruhaniyat, featuring performers from Nigeria. Tickets for select programmes will be available through BookMyShow, while other performances representing 19 states and organisations will be free for visitors with valid IITF entry tickets.

To facilitate business engagement, the first five days of the fair, from November 14 to 18, will be reserved as Business Days for B2B visitors. The general public will be able to visit the exhibition from November 19 to 27.

The fair will remain open from 10 am to 7.30 pm, with general public entry permitted until 5.30 pm. Tickets can be booked through the official website, booking.indiatradefair.com, the IITF 2026 mobile application and offline counters at 55 Delhi Metro stations. Season tickets will be available for both Business Days and General Days.

Senior citizens and persons with disabilities will be allowed free entry on General Days on production of valid government-issued identification.

Visitors can enter the venue through Gates 3 and 4 on Bhairon Road and Gates 6 and 10 on Mathura Road.

The IITF mobile application, available on Google Play and the Apple App Store, will provide ticket booking, registration, an interactive venue map, navigation and shuttle route information, pavilion and exhibitor directories, a cultural events calendar and business networking facilities. It will also offer access to the ITPO helpdesk and a one-touch SOS facility.

ITPO has coordinated with the Delhi Metro and other transport service providers to facilitate visitor movement through shuttle services, designated app-based cab and auto pick-up points, parking facilities and wheelchair assistance.

Dedicated facilities, including a Media Lounge, Protocol Lounge, B2B networking areas, exhibitor assistance services, internal mobility support and lost-and-found services, have also been arranged.

Security arrangements involving Delhi Police and ITPO, particularly around the international pavilions, will be supplemented by medical centres, first-aid facilities and emergency response services. Food court operations will remain under round-the-clock monitoring to ensure compliance with prescribed food safety and hygiene standards.

One of India's leading multi-product trade exhibitions, the India International Trade Fair has emerged as a major platform for government institutions, industries, businesses, start-ups, MSMEs and artisans from India and abroad to promote trade, investment, entrepreneurship and commercial partnerships through B2B and B2C engagement.