Maharashtra emerging as leading AI hub, says Fadnavis, announces Mumbai Tech Week

Maharashtra is emerging as a leading hub for artificial intelligence innovation, with the upcoming Mumbai Tech Week 2026 expected to attract over 10,000 attendees and global AI companies.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday said that the state is emerging as a leading hub for artificial intelligence (AI) innovation in the country, asserting that the upcoming Mumbai Tech Week 2026 will be larger and more impactful than last year's edition.

Announcing the event at Sahyadri Guest House, Fadnavis said AI would be the most transformative force in the future and stressed the need to adopt the technology across sectors.

Mumbai Tech Week 2026, scheduled on May 29 and 30 at the Jio World Convention Centre, will see participation of leading global AI companies, including OpenAI, Meta, Anthropic and Google Cloud.

More than 10,000 developers and technology enthusiasts are expected to attend the event, organised by the Tech Entrepreneurs Association of Mumbai (TEAM) in association with the Maharashtra government, IDFC FIRST Bank and Meta, an official release said.

''Platforms like Mumbai Tech Week will help take opportunities in AI to the youth and establish Maharashtra as the country's leading centre for AI innovation,'' the chief minister said.

He pointed out that the state government was already using AI in several departments to improve governance and administrative efficiency.

''The government is playing the role of the biggest stakeholder in this transformation,'' Fadnavis said, noting that Tech Week should also showcase the government's AI initiatives through experiential presentations.

He praised the growing scale of TEAM and said an increasing number of young professionals and entrepreneurs were joining the initiative.

''Let us organise a bigger and more effective Mumbai Tech Week than last year and connect Maharashtra's youth with new opportunities in the AI sector at the global level,'' he said.

The event, themed ''India: AI in Action'', will showcase practical applications of AI across industries.

TEAM co-chair and governing council member Harsh Jain said Mumbai Tech Week 2026 would focus not only on discussions but also on demonstrating how AI is transforming industries and creating economic opportunities.

''With the Maharashtra government as our partner, we have an opportunity to make this a landmark moment for Mumbai and Maharashtra's AI economy,'' Jain said.

He said the event would also host AI Excellence Awards 2026, an early-stage startup showcase and an AI-based job fair.

More than 25 companies are expected to participate in the recruitment drive, offering over 250 job opportunities to more than 30,000 candidates, he said.

According to organisers, the event will also feature masterclasses, ''Stories Unplugged'' sessions and 14 satellite events across Mumbai ahead of the main conference.

TEAM is a non-profit industry body working to strengthen Mumbai's technology ecosystem. Its governing council includes entrepreneurs such as Harsh Jain, Aakrit Vaish, Naia Saggi, Dhruvil Sanghvi, Akanksha Hazari, Vishal Gondal, Mayank Kumar and Vivek Khemka.