Union Minister Giriraj Singh Inaugurates Bharat Tex 2026 as Global Textile Event Opens with Record International Participation

More than 6,000 buyers from over 130 countries, 1.3 lakh trade visitors and over 20,000 textile products mark the opening of Bharat Tex 2026 in New Delhi.

Bharat Tex 2026 commenced on 14 July 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, with Union Minister of Textiles Shri Giriraj Singh inaugurating the event. Organised by the Bharat Tex Trade Federation (BTTF) with the support of the Ministry of Textiles, Government of India, the exhibition features more than 6,000 buyers from over 130 countries, over 1.3 lakh trade visitors, exhibition space spanning more than 1.6 million sq. ft., and over 20,000 textile products.

The inauguration ceremony was attended by Shri Pabitra Margherita, Union Minister of State for Textiles; Ms. Neelam Shami Rao, Secretary, Ministry of Textiles; senior Government of India officials; Shri Naren Goenka, Chairman, and Shri Bhadresh Dodhia, Co-Chairman, Organising Committee, Bharat Tex; Ministers and officials from partner States; international buyers, sourcing heads, exporters, investors and representatives from the global textile industry.

The event also witnessed participation from international delegations, including the Russian Federation delegation led by Timur Gavaev, Minister of Agriculture, and the New Zealand delegation led by Mark Patterson, Associate Minister of Agriculture and Minister for Rural Communities, along with the High Commissioner, reflecting the event's focus on international trade and policy engagement.

Eight Sponsor States—Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu—are participating alongside Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Jammu & Kashmir, Odisha, Manipur, Rajasthan and West Bengal, showcasing their industrial infrastructure, investment opportunities and policy initiatives.

The event was also attended by Punjab Chief Minister Shri Bhagwant Mann, Bihar State Industries Minister Ms Shreyasi Singh, Tamil Nadu Minister of Handlooms, Textiles and Khadi Thiru M. Vijay Balaji, and Industries, Investment Promotion and Commerce Minister Ms. Selvi S. Keerthana.

As part of the programme, State Investor Connect Sessions are being organised for Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Bihar, Maharashtra, Telangana and Tamil Nadu, along with a dedicated PM MITRA Master Developer Session for Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh, focusing on investment opportunities.

Across four days, Bharat Tex 2026 will host more than 350 speakers from over 20 countries, including international experts, policymakers, CXOs and industry leaders. Business delegations from the United States, Japan, Spain, United Kingdom, Portugal, Russia, South Africa, New Zealand, the UAE, Thailand, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Myanmar, among others, are participating. Special bilateral sessions include discussions on the India-US cotton partnership, India-New Zealand wool ecosystem, India-UK FTA, a Japan delegation engagement, and Russia-focused textile discussions.

The exhibition covers India's complete textile ecosystem, featuring fibres, yarns, fabrics, apparel, fashion, home textiles, technical textiles, handlooms, handicrafts, machinery and ancillary industries, along with textile clusters such as Tirupur, Ichalkaranji and Ahmedabad. International exhibitors from 14 countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, Japan, Portugal, Spain, New Zealand, South Korea, South Africa and Nepal, are participating. Institutional representation includes the United Nations and European Union, while industry sponsors include Trident, Vardhman Textiles, RSWM, Shahi Exports, Colorjet, Arvind, PDS Limited and Sattva.

Addressing the gathering, Shri Giriraj Singh said that Bharat Tex has, within three editions, become a recognised platform for trade, investment, innovation and policy dialogue, reflecting global confidence in India's manufacturing capabilities and textile ecosystem. Referring to the Prime Minister's 5F Vision—Farm to Fibre to Factory to Fashion to Foreign, he said the platform connects Indian enterprises with international markets while strengthening India's role in global textile value chains.

During the inauguration, the Bharat Tex Trade Federation (BTTF) and Première Vision Paris exchanged a Letter of Intent (LoI) to strengthen collaboration between the two organisations. The agreement was signed by Ms. Florence Rousson, Chief Executive Officer, Fashion Division, Première Vision SA, and Shri Naren Goenka, Chairman, BTTF, in the presence of Shri Giriraj Singh.

The partnership provides a framework covering an exhibition partnership between Bharat Tex and Première Vision Paris, joint export promotion initiatives and the formation of a Joint Steering Committee to oversee implementation. The collaboration aims to strengthen institutional cooperation, encourage reciprocal participation in textile events, promote sustainable sourcing and expand business engagement between Indian manufacturers and international fashion markets.

Speaking on the partnership, Shri Giriraj Singh said, “This partnership is another significant step in positioning Bharat Tex as a truly global platform. It will help Indian MSMEs, first-time exporters and manufacturers connect with leading European buyers, while showcasing India's strengths as a reliable, innovative and sustainable sourcing destination. It also reinforces India's growing role as a trusted partner in the global textile value chain.”

The event will also feature more than 100 knowledge sessions, including 39 panel discussions, 16 roundtables, 37 masterclasses and 8 State sessions, with participation from over 50 knowledge partners. The sessions will cover trade, investment, sustainability, Industry 5.0, innovation, technical textiles, fashion, policy and global sourcing.

In addition, the event is expected to facilitate more than 4,000 curated B2B meetings, over 100 B2G meetings, and the signing of more than 30 MoUs related to trade, investment, technology, sustainability and market access.

The programme also includes the CITI Textile Sustainability Awards 2026, recognising achievements across Resource Efficiency, Energy & Emissions, Circular Economy, Sustainable Materials, Social Responsibility, Responsible Business and Industry Collaboration.

To support business engagement, Bharat Tex 2026 is using a mobile application and Pre-Fair Directory that offer exhibitor discovery, meeting scheduling, QR-based lead capture, digital badge access, AI-assisted support and buyer-seller matchmaking.

Bharat Tex 2026 is being held from 14–17 July 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, bringing together governments, manufacturers, exporters, investors, buyers and industry organisations on a common platform focused on trade, investment, innovation, sustainability and international collaboration.