The Election Commission of India (ECI) will host the inaugural India International Conference on Democracy and Election Management (IICDEM) 2026 from January 21 to 23 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.
Nearly 100 delegates from over 70 countries will participate in the three-day event, making it the largest global conference of its kind organised by India in the field of democracy and election management. Representatives from international organisations, foreign missions, and leading academic institutions will join the deliberations.
Chief Election Commissioner Shri Gyanesh Kumar, along with Election Commissioners Dr Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Dr Vivek Joshi, will welcome the delegates and inaugurate the proceedings.
The programme will feature plenary sessions, EMB Leaders’ Plenary, and EMB Working Group Meetings. A total of 36 breakout sessions will focus on global electoral issues, international standards, innovations, and best practices. CEOs of States and Union Territories, supported by national and international experts, will lead thematic discussions. Institutions such as IITs, IIMs, NLUs, and IIMC will also contribute.
ECI will hold over 40 bilateral meetings with Election Management Bodies (EMBs) to strengthen cooperation and address global electoral challenges. The Commission will also launch ECINET, a digital platform offering comprehensive election-related information and services.
An exhibition will showcase India’s electoral scale and recent initiatives to improve electoral rolls and conduct elections. Additionally, the docuseries “India Decides”, highlighting the Lok Sabha 2024 elections, will be screened on day one.
IICDEM 2026 underscores India’s leadership in advancing democratic practices and election management worldwide.
