The Election Commission of India has initiated formal preparations for the India International Conference on Democracy and Election Management (IICDEM) 2026 by convening a conference of Chief Electoral Officers on Thursday. The three-day global event is scheduled to be held from January 21 to 23 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi and is expected to draw wide international participation.
The meeting was held at the India International Institute of Democracy and Election Management, where Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, along with Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, outlined the overall framework, objectives and operational roadmap for IICDEM 2026. The Chief Electoral Officers were briefed on their roles and responsibilities in the run-up to the conference, which is positioned as a major international platform for dialogue on democratic practices and election administration.
During the deliberations, the CEOs discussed the structure of 36 thematic groups that will form the backbone of the conference discussions. Each thematic group will be led by a designated Chief Electoral Officer during the event. The themes cover a wide range of issues related to election management and democratic processes, with the aim of creating a comprehensive and experience-driven knowledge base by drawing on practices followed by Election Management Bodies from different parts of the world.
IICDEM 2026 is being described as the largest international conference hosted by India in the field of democracy and election management. Nearly 100 international delegates representing Election Management Bodies are expected to participate. The conference will also see the presence of representatives from international organisations, foreign missions based in India, and academic and professional experts specialising in electoral systems and democratic governance.
The programme will include general and plenary sessions such as the inaugural session, an Election Management Body leaders’ plenary, working group meetings of EMBs, and the launch of ECINET. In addition, several thematic sessions will focus on global electoral challenges, international electoral standards, and emerging innovations and best practices in election administration.
Academic institutions will play a significant role in the conference. Participants will include experts from four Indian Institutes of Technology, six Indian Institutes of Management, 12 National Law Universities, and the Indian Institute of Mass Communication. These institutions will support the thematic groups alongside national and international academic specialists, contributing research-based perspectives and comparative insights.
The Election Commission views the conference as an opportunity to strengthen global cooperation in election management and to position India as a key contributor to international democratic discourse. The preparatory meeting of Chief Electoral Officers marks an important step in coordinating efforts across states and Union Territories to ensure the smooth conduct and substantive outcomes of IICDEM 2026.
