After three power-packed days of consecutive sessions featuring stalwarts from the animation, visual effects, gaming, and comics sectors, Bengaluru GAFX 2026 concluded with state officials and industry leaders reaffirming the importance of skill development, robust infrastructure, and talent cultivation to harness cutting-edge technology and drive creative excellence.

The seventh edition of the event organised by the ministry of IT & BT, Karnataka Government, and ABAI at the Lalit Ashok, has reinforced its leadership in India’s AVGC-XR sector, accelerating its shift toward original IP creation and global production maturity. Through structured global consultations, curated investor engagement, and high-impact creative showcases, the summit aligned policy, capital, and talent under a unified growth roadmap.

“AI is fundamentally reshaping the AVGC sector, reducing production cycles and redefining creative workflows. Karnataka will lead this transition with foresight. Through the Nipuna program, we will support large-scale reskilling with 50 per cent government assistance, establish a Responsible Use of AI Committee, and set up India’s first Innovation Authority with a regulatory sandbox to enable innovation,” said Karnataka Government electronics, information technology & biotechnology and rural development & panchayat raj minister Priyank Kharge.

He further mentioned, “We will strengthen IP protection through a dedicated AVGC framework, enhance Elevate grants for original IP creators, expand global market access via the Global Innovation Alliance, and develop creative clusters across the state. As the first state to introduce an AVGC policy, Karnataka will continue to lead in building a globally competitive, AI-powered creative economy.”

“Bengaluru GAFX 2026 has exceeded expectations in both scale and strategic depth. Over the past three days, we witnessed high-impact showcases, strong investor participation, meaningful global collaborations, and an extraordinary response from creators across the country. The dedicated AI tracks this year sparked critical conversations around responsible adoption, AI-led production pipelines, and the future of immersive storytelling. This edition clearly demonstrated that India is not only contributing to the global AVGC-XR industry but actively shaping its evolution. The partnerships forged and momentum generated here will continue to drive original IP creation and innovation well beyond this summit.”, commented Astra Studios founder & CEO, Bengaluru GAFX chairman, and ABAI president  Biren Ghose.

The final day started with the session, Blue Zoo – Creative with character : Building global blockbuster animated IPs. This session was conducted by Blue Zoo Animation Studio senior communications manager Grace Lane. She shared insights into the studio’s approach to developing animated IPs with global appeal, highlighting the importance of strong character design, compelling storytelling, and creative innovation.

This was followed by Upgrading your cognitive OS in the age of AI led by Evivve founder & CEO Mohsin Memon. His company drives behavioural changes, merging immersive game-based learning with neuroscience to build future-ready teams and accelerate transformations. He explained their working methodology and how they can help to think faster and perform better in stress environments.

Additionally, during the valedictory, ten original IPs from Karnataka were launched, exemplifying the state’s growing strength in creator-owned content and transmedia storytelling. These IPs included Arena Animation Originals by Arena Animation; Niko by Studio Jatayu; Garuda and Sacred Legacy by Neo Entertainment Studios; Nina – The Girl with the Magic Pot and Wild Bound by Quixotics Creative Limited; Gurucool and Devi Katha by Sanskriti; Nayanar: Origins by Plangle Studio; and Lacher (brand) by Aesuloid Media. Together, these projects reflected a strong focus on culturally rooted narratives, mythology-inspired storytelling, youth-oriented animation, and globally adaptable content emerging from Karnataka’s AVGC-XR ecosystem.

Bengaluru GAFX 2026 brought together over 200 speakers representing India and 10 international countries across close to 100 sessions, including panel discussions, masterclasses, workshops, policy dialogues, investor forums, and six high-impact industry roundtables. The summit saw participation from 15+ State AVGC-XR associations and hosted the AVGC Women Leaders Mixer, which convened 30 women leaders to discuss returnships, leadership pathways, and entrepreneurship in the sector. Dedicated tracks covered AAA gaming, console development, animation pipelines, immersive media, IP monetisation, distribution strategies, AI-driven production workflows, and education-led talent development. The event garnered 10,000+ footfalls over three days, 300 curated B2B meetings, and 35 live investor pitches underscored measurable ecosystem momentum.

The event facilitated collaborations, investments, and technological advancements, propelling the industry forward. Ministers and other dignitaries concluded Bengaluru GAFX 2026 during the valedictory session, promising a bigger edition next year, scheduled to be held from 29 to 31 January 2027.