“Every November, half of Bengaluru's LinkedIn moves to Tumkur Road for three days. The other half posts about it from Koramangala.”
• Tariq Sallam, on the city's annual lanyard migration
Next week, the Bangalore International Exhibition Centre turns into the biggest tech show-and-tell in the country. Bengaluru Tech Summit 2026 runs from Tuesday 17 to Thursday 19 November, it is the 29th edition, and the theme this year is AI & Beyond, which in practice means robots waving at you from every second booth.
I get asked the same three questions about it every year. Do I need to pay? How do I get to BIEC without spending more time in traffic than inside? And is it actually worth a working day? So here is my guide to the Bengaluru Tech Summit 2026: the passes (including the free one), the timings, the metro route that makes Tumkur Road painless, and an honest take on who should go.
Everything below comes from the summit's official pages as of 12 November. Organisers do tweak timings and programmes in the final week, so check the official site or the BTS 2026 app before you set out.
Quick Information
Over 1,800 exhibitors, one pair of feet. Your step counter is about to have the best week of its life.
What is the Bengaluru Tech Summit?
The Bengaluru Tech Summit is the Karnataka government's annual technology conference and exhibition, organised by the state's Department of Electronics, IT, BT and S&T with industry partners. It brings together startups, big tech, government, investors, universities and foreign delegations for three days at BIEC.
It has been around far longer than most of the startups exhibiting at it. The event began life as Bangalore IT.com, became Bangalore IT.in in 2005 and was renamed the Bengaluru Tech Summit in 2018. Last year's 28th edition ran from 18 to 20 November 2025 with more than 1,600 exhibitors and participation from over 75 countries.
This year the organisers are listing 1,800+ exhibitors, including 175+ international exhibitors, 1,000+ startups from about 100 cities, 20+ country pavilions and 15+ Indian states and union territories. The conference runs across 16 tracks, from IT and deeptech to health and biotech, electric mobility, cybersecurity, fintech and the creative economy.
Which Bengaluru Tech Summit pass do I need?
If you only want to walk the exhibition, the free Business Visitor pass for 18 and 19 November is enough. If you want the first day too, plus free metro rides, pay Rs 1,000 for the Premium Business Visitor pass. Only buy a Delegate pass if you want the conference sessions, the lunches and the networking dinners.
Visitor passes (exhibition only)
- Business Visitor: free, valid on 18 and 19 November, exhibition halls only. No metro tickets, no conference.
- Premium Business Visitor: Rs 1,000 plus 18% GST (listed down from Rs 2,000), valid all three days, exhibition halls only, with free metro tickets on 17 and 18 November.
Delegate passes (conference plus exhibition)
- Silver: Rs 5,000 early bird (Rs 8,000 standard), all three days. Conference sessions, lunches and the exhibition.
- Gold: Rs 10,000 early bird (Rs 14,000 standard), all three days, adds the inaugural and networking dinner.
- Platinum: Rs 16,000 early bird (Rs 20,000 standard), all three days, adds VIP lounge, CEO gala dinner, priority seating and the STPI IT Export Awards function.
- India-USA Tech Conclave or GCC India Leaders Dialogue: Rs 5,000 early bird (Rs 7,000 standard), 18 November only.
- All delegate prices are plus 18% GST. Three or more delegates from one organisation get 10% off. Every delegate pass includes free metro tickets. Masterclasses are booked separately.
The official delegate page lists the early bird prices as valid till 14 November. If you are going to buy a delegate pass at all, buy it this week. If you are a student or a curious first-timer, the free visitor pass on 18 or 19 November is the smart move.
How do I register and collect my badge?
Register online on the official site, bengalurutechsummit.com, choosing the visitor or delegate option. A QR code comes to your registered email and phone before the event, and you swap it for a physical badge at the registration counters at BIEC.
Onsite registration may be possible if passes are still available, but the organisers recommend registering in advance, and anyone who has seen the counter queue on the first morning will agree. There is also an official BTS 2026 app on Google Play and the App Store for the agenda, the venue map and metro tickets.
How do I get to BIEC by metro?
Take the Namma Metro Green Line towards Madavara and get off at the last station, Madavara, which serves BIEC. The 3.14 km extension from Nagasandra to Madavara opened in November 2024, and it is by far the least painful way to reach Tumkur Road during an expo week.
- From the city centre: board the Green Line at Nadaprabhu Kempegowda station (Majestic) heading north-west and ride to Madavara.
- From the Purple Line: change at Majestic.
- From South Bengaluru: the Green Line runs straight up from Silk Institute, Jayanagar and Banashankari, no change needed.
- Delegates and Premium Business Visitors get complimentary metro tickets; the steps are on the official site and app.
- Shuttle services between designated pick-up points and the venue are promised, with timings announced closer to the dates.
BIEC has visitor parking, but it is subject to capacity, and Tumkur Road is a national highway that also carries trucks, buses and everyone heading to Nelamangala. Leave very early, or park near a Green Line station and ride the last stretch.
What can I see at the Bengaluru Tech Summit 2026?
The exhibition is the main event for most visitors: hall after hall of startups, big tech, research labs, universities and country pavilions, with AI and robotics front and centre this year. Reports ahead of the event mention a large AI and robotics pavilion and a new robotics and autonomous systems zone with drones, mobile robots and vision systems.
- Sector pavilions: IT and deeptech, biotech and health tech, electronics and semiconductors, telecom, defence and space tech, energy and climate, mobility, edtech, BFSI and fintech, animation and gaming.
- Special zones: startup pavilion, country pavilions, R&D lab-to-market, Leading States of India and the Karnataka showcase.
- Conference: 16 tracks, including Focus GCC, Embedded World India, Electric Mobility, Data and Cybersecurity, Assistive Tech and Skilling and Edutech.
- Future Makers Conclave on 19 November: the organisers expect more than 15,000 founders and entrepreneurs.
- Global Innovation Alliance sessions, with partner countries presenting their tech ecosystems.
“Go with a list of ten booths you must see. Leave with business cards from forty you never planned to visit. That is the BTS experience.”
• Tariq Sallam
Who should actually go to the Bengaluru Tech Summit?
Founders, students, job seekers, small business owners selling to tech companies and anyone curious about where AI and robotics are heading will get real value. If you just want to look at shiny robots, go on the free day and keep your expectations at shiny-robot level.
- Startup founders: investor meetings, pitch sessions and the startup pavilion. Bring a one-page profile and a short demo video on your phone.
- Students: entry is 14 and above, and universities run curated student visits from noon to 4pm. Carry your college ID.
- Job seekers: hiring booths for engineering, autonomy and testing roles have been reported; carry a printed CV and a QR code to your LinkedIn.
- SME owners and service providers: walk the halls on 18 November, when the crowd is most business-minded.
- Parents of tech-curious teenagers: a free visitor day is an excellent, if exhausting, school holiday substitute.
What are the Bengaluru Tech Summit 2026 timings?
The exhibition opens at 11am on 17 November and 10am on 18 and 19 November. It closes at 6pm on the first two days and at 5pm on the final day, with last entry at 4pm on 19 November.
Conference session timings are in the official programme and detailed agenda, which also lists the inaugural ceremony on day one. If you have a pass for a single conclave, check its exact slot the night before.
What should I carry and wear to BIEC?
Wear comfortable shoes, carry your QR code and a photo ID, and keep a power bank. You will walk several kilometres between halls, and your phone will be doing triple duty as ticket, map and business card scanner.
- QR code and photo ID (college ID for students)
- Power bank and charging cable
- Water bottle; there are food and beverage outlets on site, but queues peak at lunch
- Business cards or a QR code to your profile
- A light jacket: the halls can be chilly, and November evenings on Tumkur Road are cool
- Small bag only; lockers and baggage storage are limited
Bengaluru Tech Summit 2026: Frequently Asked Questions
When and where is Bengaluru Tech Summit 2026?
From 17 to 19 November 2026 at the Bangalore International Exhibition Centre (BIEC), 10th Mile, Tumkur Road, Bengaluru.
Is Bengaluru Tech Summit free?
The Business Visitor pass is free and covers the exhibition on 18 and 19 November. The conference needs a paid Delegate pass, and the Premium Business Visitor pass costs Rs 1,000 plus GST for all three days.
How much is the Bengaluru Tech Summit delegate pass?
Early bird prices are Rs 5,000 (Silver), Rs 10,000 (Gold) and Rs 16,000 (Platinum), plus 18% GST. Standard prices are Rs 8,000, Rs 14,000 and Rs 20,000.
Which metro station is nearest to BIEC?
Madavara, the last station on the Namma Metro Green Line, serves BIEC. Delegates and Premium Business Visitors get complimentary metro tickets.
What is the theme of Bengaluru Tech Summit 2026?
The theme is AI & Beyond. It is the 29th edition of the summit.
Can students attend Bengaluru Tech Summit?
Yes. Entry is for ages 14 and above, the free visitor pass works for the exhibition on 18 and 19 November, and universities organise curated student visits from noon to 4pm.
Can I register on the spot at BIEC?
Onsite registration may be available if passes remain, but the organisers recommend registering online in advance to get your QR code before the event.
Is there parking at BIEC?
Yes, visitor parking is available at BIEC, subject to capacity. The metro to Madavara is the easier option.
Contact Details
For pass problems, group bookings or anything not on the website, the event secretariat is the place to call.
Going to BTS 2026? Tell Me What You Find
If you are exhibiting, launching something or spot a booth Bengaluru should know about, click the WhatsApp icon at the bottom right of your screen and send me the details. That is also the quickest way to reach The City 24/7 with event listings, startup news or a story idea.
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Same city, new stories, always.
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