World Hindu Congress 2026 to Draw Delegates From 60 Countries
World Hindu Congress 2026 to Bring Global Hindu Leaders to Mumbai in December
Mumbai will host the fourth World Hindu Congress (WHC) from December 18 to 20, 2026, with more than 4,500 participants expected from over 60 countries. The three-day gathering will take place at the Jio World Convention Centre and will be chaired by Piramal Group Chairman Ajay Piramal.
The theme for WHC 2026 is Samānaṃ Vrataṃ Saha Cittam, translated by the organisers as “Shared Commitment: Collective Resolve”. The World Hindu Congress says the meeting will focus on cooperation among Hindu leaders, professionals, educators, policymakers, media representatives, entrepreneurs and activists.
The event will have seven parallel conferences covering economic, educational, media, political, organisational, women’s and youth issues. They are the World Hindu Economic Forum, Hindu Education Conference, Hindu Media Conference, Hindu Political Conference, Hindu Women Conference, Hindu Youth Conference and Hindu Organisational Conference.
Ajay Piramal has been named Chairperson, while Vishad Mafatlal and Mahesh Bhagchandka will serve as Co-Chairpersons. The organisers say the different forums are intended to give participants space to discuss issues affecting Hindu communities and consider areas where cooperation may be possible.
Piramal said the congress would bring together Hindu thought, business and public leadership. “The World Hindu Congress is a platform unlike any other. It is where Hindu thought meets global ambition. As we gather in Mumbai this December, I look forward to channelling the collective enterprise and intellectual energy of Hindus worldwide toward building a more prosperous, just, and Dharmic world. We anticipate over 4,500 participants from more than 60 countries, a testament to the growing momentum and global reach of this movement. The opportunity before us has never been greater, and the responsibility to seize it has never been more pressing.”
The choice of Mumbai gives the 2026 congress a different setting from its previous editions. The first World Hindu Congress was held in New Delhi in 2014, followed by Chicago in the United States in 2018 and Bangkok in Thailand in 2023. The World Hindu Congress is held once every four years. The 2023 meeting was held from November 24 to 26 and was the first edition after the COVID-19 pandemic caused the schedule to move from 2022.
The Bangkok meeting brought together delegates from more than 60 countries. Earlier editions also attracted sizeable international participation. The 2014 Congress in New Delhi had about 1,800 delegates from 53 countries, according to contemporary reports, while organisers expected more than 3,000 delegates from over 60 countries for Bangkok.
The Mumbai edition is therefore expected to continue a conference model that has been used since 2014. Rather than holding all discussions under one subject, WHC divides its programme into seven areas. The World Hindu Congress website describes these forums as a way for people working in different fields to meet, exchange ideas and discuss challenges and opportunities facing Hindu communities around the world.
The political and social discussions are expected to be among the more closely watched parts of the Mumbai programme. The World Hindu Democratic Forum, which will conduct the Hindu Political Conference, says the forum will include elected representatives, policy experts and other participants discussing issues affecting Hindus at local, national and international levels.
Women and young people will also have dedicated forums. The Hindu Women Forum has announced a three-day Hindu Women Conference at the same venue, while the Hindu Students and Youth Network says its youth conference will bring together young leaders, students and representatives of youth organisations.
Swami Vigyananand, the ideator of the World Hindu Congress, said the Hindu community needed to respond to present challenges with unity and determination.
“Hindus today are more visible, accepted, and respected than ever in the past century. With a strong commitment to protecting and advancing Hindu interests, we must also accelerate the realisation of global Hindu aspirations. Simultaneously, we need to confront immense challenges with unity, determination, and collective resolve.”
The organisers have also pointed to the wider role of Hindu communities in business, education, technology, media, governance and culture. Their stated mission is to provide a platform for Hindus to work together for justice and the welfare of all. The organisation uses the Sanskrit phrase Yato Dharmastato Jaya, which it translates as “Where there is Dharma, there is victory”.
The congress has previously featured figures including the Dalai Lama, Mata Amritanandamayi, RSS Sarsanghchalak Dr Mohan Bhagwat, RSS Sarkaryawah Shri Dattatreya Hosabale, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, economist Dr Bibek Debroy, scientist Dr Vijay Bhatkar, ZOHO founder Sridhar Vembu, filmmaker Vipul Shah, historian Vikram Sampath and Swami Govind Dev Giri, among others.
For Mumbai, the event will also bring a large international conference to the Jio World Convention Centre in Bandra Kurla Complex. The centre has large exhibition and conference facilities, with its three exhibition pavilions together covering about 15,000 square metres and a reception capacity of up to 16,500 people.
With the organisers expecting more than 4,500 attendees, WHC 2026 will be the largest planned edition in India since the inaugural Congress in New Delhi. Its December programme will test how effectively the various groups represented at the Congress can turn discussions across business, education, media, politics, women’s leadership, youth and organisational work into practical plans.
The World Hindu Congress 2026 will run from December 18 to 20 at the Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai.