India’s Bharat Tex 2026 drew nearly 95,000 business visitors, 11,315 buyers and participants from 138 countries in its first three days.
The show generated over 28,500 buyer-seller meetings, about $2.8 billion in enquiries and around ₹143 billion (~$1.7 billion) in textile investment commitments.
Manufacturers, exporters and MSMEs saw sourcing, investment and European Union partnership openings.
The event has attracted remarkable participation from Indian states, with Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu participating as State Partners, while several other states and Union Territories showcased their textile strengths through dedicated pavilions. The presence of Hon’ble Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Dr. Mohan Yadav, and Hon’ble Chief Minister of Punjab, Shri Bhagwant Singh Mann, along with senior ministers from Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Assam, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, further highlighted the importance of Bharat Tex as India’s premier textile platform.
International participation has been equally impressive, with ministerial delegations from New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Russia, Cambodia and Portugal, alongside representatives from the European Union, and over 30 industry and international business delegations from countries including the United States, Japan, United Kingdom, Spain, Italy, South Korea, UAE, Australia, France and Germany, among others.
Knowledge sharing remained a defining feature of the event, with 100 high-impact knowledge sessions featuring more than 600 policymakers, global experts, industry leaders, CXOs and academicians. Panel discussions, roundtables and masterclasses addressed key themes including global trade dynamics, sustainability, circularity, technological innovation, artificial intelligence, responsible sourcing, investment opportunities, technical textiles, and more. One of the standout attractions was the Sanrachna Hackathon at the TBD Pavilion, whichshowcased the ingenuity of India’s young innovators in technical textiles. Students and innovators from across the country presented practical solutions ranging from protective garments for farmers and advanced diabetic wound-care products to lightweight insulated mattresses for extreme climates. Recognised by Union Minister of Textiles Shri Giriraj Singh and Union Minister of State for Textiles and External Affairs Shri Pabitra Margherita, the initiative demonstrated the transformative role of collaboration between academia, industry and government in advancing next-generation technical textile solutions. In a significant initiative promoting inclusive growth, Bharat Tex 2026 organised specialised exposure visits for more than 250 entrepreneurs and weavers from Aspirational Districts across India. The programme enabled MSMEs to engage directly with buyers, exhibitors and industry experts, providing valuable insights into international quality standards, branding, product innovation and export opportunities, thereby strengthening grassroots entrepreneurship. Further reinforcing India’s growing influence in global apparel manufacturing, the Board Meeting of the International Apparel Federation (IAF) was hosted alongside Bharat Tex 2026.
A landmark milestone during the event was the signing of a Letter of Intent (LoI) between the Bharat Tex Trade Federation (BTTF) and Première Vision Paris, one of the world’s most prestigious textile and fashion sourcing platforms. The strategic collaboration aims to deepen India–European Union textile partnerships by enhancing market access, sustainable sourcing, design intelligence and buyer-seller engagement, creating new global opportunities for Indian manufacturers, exporters and MSMEs. Bharat Tex 2026 also hosted meaningful discussions on positioning India’s heritage textiles as premium global brands. Renowned designers Rahul Mishra and Vaishali Shadangule, along with industry leaders, emphasised that India’s rich heritage of handlooms, handicrafts and traditional weaving can become the country’s strongest differentiators in international markets through craftsmanship and cultural storytelling.
The exhibition floor continued to buzz with business activity across specialised thematic pavilions. CMAI’s Brands of India Pavilion in Hall No. 4 emerged as one of the major attractions, bringing together more than 70 leading Indian apparel brands and offering buyers an unparalleled showcase of India’s vibrant fashion and apparel ecosystem. For the first time, the pavilion also featured a dedicated showcase of India’s rapidly growing Intimate & Innerwear segment, with leading brands from Mumbai and Delhi presenting the latest product innovations. Global and Indian brands, including Westside, Tommy Hilfiger, Calvin Klein, US Polo Assn, Arrow, Flying Machine, Louis Philippe, Van Heusen, Allen Solly, Peter England, Reebok, American Eagle, Ralph Lauren, Sabyasachi, Tarun Tahiliani, Jaypore, W for Woman, Bewakoof, Dollar, Bodycare, Duke and several others, attracted buyers and retailers.Sustainability remained at the core of Bharat Tex 2026 through the Eco-Stitch Sustainability & Circularity Hub, jointly presented by CMAI and the Global Alliance for Textile Sustainability (GATS). Built around the theme “Sustainable, Circular and Competitive Bharat,” the pavilion brought together recyclers, manufacturers, brands, innovators, technology providers and ecosystem partners across dedicated thematic zones including India Impact Wall, Circularity at Scale, From Waste to Global Wardrobe, Made in Circular Bharat, Material & Innovation Library, and the Circular Bharat Forum, showcasing practical pathways towards a more sustainable textile future.
With bustling exhibition halls, packed conference sessions, vibrant networking opportunities, and strong business engagement throughout the venue, Bharat Tex 2026 continues to reinforce India’s vision of becoming the world’s preferred destination for textile manufacturing, sourcing, innovation and responsible growth while further strengthening the country’s leadership in the global textile and apparel value chain.
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Fibre2Fashion News Desk
