Bengaluru GAFX 2026 Reinforces Karnataka’s AVGC Policy

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah inaugurated the seventh edition of Bengaluru GAFX 2026 on Feb 27, 2026, at Hotel Lalit Ashok, positioning Karnataka’s AVGC-XR policy at the center of India’s creative technology expansion. The three-day summit runs through Mar 1, 2026, under the theme “Evolution Reloaded.”

Calling it “a matter of great pride,” Siddaramaiah addressed the gathering and marked the opening of the conference. He said Bengaluru is not only India’s technology capital but also a city where creativity, engineering, and innovation drive investment.

He added the AVGC-XR sector could create “20 lakh jobs” in five years, with growth extending beyond Bengaluru.

AI and Industry Scale Define Bengaluru GAFX 2026

The summit hosts over 200 speakers across more than 100 sessions, workshops, and masterclasses, with participation from global studios. 

Dedicated AI tracks cover AI-assisted storyboarding, generative assets, world-building, rigging, motion synthesis, rotoscoping, and real-time rendering. Meanwhile, case studies and live demonstrations will assess how machine learning tools are shortening production cycles and optimizing resources.

Deputy Chief Minister, D.K. Shivakumar, said Karnataka introduced Asia’s first dedicated AVGC policy in 2016. He added that the sector is expanding at 25-30% annually and has attracted over ₹2,000 crore (~$219M USD) in investments. It also holds the potential to create 1.5L jobs.

By 2028, the state aims to train 50K students and create 13K high-quality roles, alongside generative AI skilling for 6.5L employees.

Industry Participation and Ecosystem Expansion

The speaker lineup reflects the summit’s global and cross-industry focus. It features Indian novelist and columnist Anand Neelakantan, leaders from Industrial Light & Magic, Sean Hyunil Sohn of KRAFTON India, and filmmaker Suresh Eriyat. 

The program also includes sessions examining major productions such as Kantara Chapter 1, Netflix’s Kurukshetra, Mahavatar Narasimha, Dhurandhar, and Lokah.

Karnataka accounts for close to 20% of India’s media and entertainment sector and is home to more than 300 AVGC-XR studios employing around 15K professionals. Under the AVGC-XR Policy 2024-2029, the Centre of Excellence has completed over 200 projects and supported more than 100 startups. 

Together, they are expanding infrastructure and partnerships beyond Bengaluru, reinforcing the state’s global ambitions.