The ChaT International Youth Summit 2026, one of the city’s major youth leadership platforms, is set to return to Jaipur on Wednesday, September 2, 2026, bringing together more than 600 students and young delegates for conversations around leadership, empowerment, entrepreneurship and social change.
To be held at the Rajasthan International Centre, Jaipur, from 10 am to 2 pm, this year’s summit will focus on the theme “Women in Leadership and Their Empowerment & Start-up Culture.”
Over its past seven editions, ChaT has impacted more than 25,000 students and hosted over 70 speakers and changemakers from diverse fields including entrepreneurship, public service, social impact, entertainment, sports, arts and innovation.
The 2026 edition will follow ChaT’s interactive format of curated talks, fireside chats, conversations and networking, aimed at giving young people an opportunity to hear directly from individuals whose journeys have challenged conventions and created an impact.
Diverse Voices Take Centre Stage
Among the confirmed speakers is acclaimed dancer and social activist Mallika Sarabhai, one of India’s best-known voices at the intersection of performing arts and social change. A leading exponent of Bharatanatyam and Kuchipudi, Sarabhai has used theatre and dance extensively to address issues including gender equality, human rights and women’s empowerment. She is also associated with the Darpana Academy of Performing Arts and is a recipient of the Padma Bhushan.
Joining her will be Bindabasini Kansakar of Nepal, an acid-attack survivor who transformed her personal experience into advocacy for stronger protections and support for survivors. Kansakar has served as a member of Nepal’s House of Representatives and has been involved in efforts to strengthen laws dealing with acid attacks and other forms of burn violence. Recent reports describe her as a former lawmaker and a prominent advocate for survivors’ rights.
Aruna Roy, social activist and professor, will bring a strong perspective on grassroots democracy, social accountability, citizens’ rights and public participation, adding depth to the summit’s conversations on leadership and responsible citizenship.
Bringing a very different voice to the stage will be Mumbai-based stand-up comedian Punit Pania, known for observational humour and social commentary. Having moved from a corporate career into comedy, Pania’s work frequently explores everyday life, politics, cities, careers and contemporary social issues through satire.
The diversity of the speaker line-up reflects ChaT’s larger idea of leadership, not as a single career path, but as the ability to question, create, persevere and influence society in different ways.
A Legacy of Influential Speakers
Over the years, the ChaT platform has featured an eclectic list of business leaders, entrepreneurs, public figures, artists, sportspersons and social changemakers.
Past speakers have included Amit Jain, CEO & Co-Founder of CarDekho; Ritesh Agarwal, Founder & CEO of OYO; Sanjeev Bikhchandani, Founder of Naukri.com; Phanindra Sama, Co-Founder of redBus; Anshu Gupta, Founder of Goonj and Ramon Magsaysay Award recipient; Kiran Bedi, former IPS officer and former Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry; Diya Kumari, Deputy Chief Minister of Rajasthan; Sachin Pilot, former Deputy Chief Minister of Rajasthan; Javed Jaaferi, actor and choreographer; Raveena Tandon, actor and producer; Raghavendra Rathore, fashion designer; Varun Grover, lyricist and writer; Luke Coutinho, nutrition and lifestyle expert and master coach; Gursimran Khamba, comedian and former AIB member; Amit Tandon, stand-up comedian; and mountaineer Arjun Vajpai, among several others.
By exposing students to people from widely different backgrounds, the summit seeks to move beyond conventional motivational speeches and encourage conversations around real journeys, setbacks, choices, resilience and responsibility.
Focus on Women Leadership and Start-up Culture
With women’s leadership, empowerment and start-up culture forming the central themes this year, the summit comes at a time when young Indians are increasingly looking beyond traditional career paths towards entrepreneurship, social enterprise, creative industries and purpose-driven careers.
Sessions are expected to encourage students to think about leadership not merely in terms of position or authority, but through initiative, independent thinking, empathy and the ability to create meaningful change.
The organisers expect participation from schools, colleges and educational institutions, with 600 plus delegates attending the one-day programme. Participation has been kept limited to maintain an interactive environment, with institutions being encouraged to nominate students who can benefit most from the experience.
With its mix of activism, entrepreneurship, art, humour and lived experience, ChaT International Youth Summit 2026 aims to give Jaipur’s young audience something increasingly valuable an opportunity not only to hear successful people speak, but to engage with ideas that can influence how they think about their own future.
