New Delhi will host the AVPN Global Conference 2026 for the first time. This major event brings together social and impact investors from across Asia. The conference will run from August 25 to August 27, 2026. It will take place at the Bharat Mandapam in India's capital city.
A Blueprint for Action in Asia
The thirteenth edition of this annual conference carries the theme "A Blueprint for Action in Asia." It will gather global leaders from various sectors. Corporate philanthropy experts, family offices, private foundations, and impact organizations will all participate. This year's conference aligns with India's transformative Viksit Bharat Vision 2047. That government vision aims to make India a developed nation by 2047.
The event presents a significant opportunity for global delegates. They will experience India's leadership in social innovation firsthand. It also provides a platform for India's achievements to join Asia's social investment growth story.
Asia's Wealth and Social Needs
Asia today presents a stark contrast. The region holds immense private wealth alongside deep, underfunded social needs. Asia is home to nearly 40% of the world's billionaires. In 2025 alone, the region added 61 new billionaires. Their combined wealth reached USD 124.4 billion.
This wealth exists alongside a massive financing gap. The Asia Pacific region faces an annual shortfall of USD 1.5 trillion to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. Traditional development funding has decreased globally. The world is experiencing a turning point in resources and leadership.
Amid these challenges, Asia's leaders are stepping up. They are launching bold, people-first social development initiatives. Cross-sector collaboration, catalytic capital, and digital transformation power these efforts. The AVPN Global Conference 2026 will spotlight these global and Asian leaders. It will leverage philanthropy, impact investing, and blended finance as key tools. The goal is to channel capital toward collaborative opportunities for action.
Leadership Voices
Achal Agarwal, Chair of AVPN, shared his perspective. "Asia stands at a defining point where leadership must be measured not by aspiration, but by action," he said. "The AVPN Global Conference 2026 is intentionally designed as a platform where those who influence capital, policy, and institutions come together to shape practical pathways forward."
He emphasized the significance of hosting the conference in India. "Hosting the Conference in India for the first time reflects Asia's growing confidence in designing solutions at scale, grounded in local realities and relevant to the world. This is about moving from dialogue to execution, and from promise to progress."
Naina Subberwal Batra, Chief Executive Officer of AVPN, highlighted the critical need. "Even as Asia becomes home to some of the world's fastest-growing pools of private wealth, we continue to face an annual SDG financing gap of well over a trillion US dollars," she stated. This gap leaves critical needs in health, education, climate resilience, and livelihoods unmet.
"The AVPN Global Conference 2026 is about changing that trajectory," Batra explained. "It brings together philanthropic leaders, funders, investors, policymakers, and enterprises from across Asia to move capital more boldly and more collaboratively into solutions that can transform communities at scale."
She issued a powerful call. "In a decade that will define the future of our people and our planet, we can no longer afford for Asia's wealth and Asia's social needs to exist in parallel worlds. This Conference is where those worlds must finally converge."
Prominent Speakers
The conference will feature an impressive lineup of speakers. Confirmed participants include:
- Ajay Piramal, Chairman of the Piramal Group
- Boon Heong Ng, Executive Director & Chief Executive Officer of Temasek Foundation
- Prof. Larry Kramer, President & Vice-chancellor of the London School of Economics & Political Science
- Neerja Birla, Founder & Chairperson of the Aditya Birla Education Trust
- Piyush Gupta, Chairman of Singapore Management University
- Tony Tan, Executive Director of CapitaLand Hope Foundation
Organizers will announce more speakers in the coming months.
Spotlight on Impact Investing
The conference will dedicate a full day to impact investing. Themed "A Blueprint for Action in Impact Investing and Blended Finance," this day will showcase specific opportunities.
Attendees will see projects ready for investment or blended-finance structures. The day will focus on the design and activation of catalytic capital. Global investor dialogues will link asset owners with regional pipelines. Sessions will provide transition roadmaps from philanthropy to concessional or market-rate investments.
The day will also highlight several signature multilateral and ecosystem initiatives. It offers delegates unique opportunities. Leading Limited Partners, General Partners, development finance institutions, and multilateral development banks can unlock investment capital for impact.
Be a Part of the Action
Early bird registrations are now open for the conference. Organizers anticipate around 2,000 delegates. They have scheduled more than 100 sessions over the three days.
The AVPN Global Conference 2026 aims to be more than just a meeting. It plans to become a platform for genuine collaboration. It will serve as a site for concrete action. Ultimately, it hopes to provide a blueprint for a positive, prosperous, and inclusive future for Asia.
