The 7th edition of Global Fintech Fest (GFF) 2026 is currently underway in Mumbai, bringing together policymakers, regulators, financial institutions, fintech companies, startups and investors from 8–11 September across Jio World Centre and Trident BKC.
Organised by the Payments Council of India (PCI), National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) and Fintech Convergence Council (FCC), the festival is being held under the theme “Potential to Impact: Trusted, Connected, Global Systems for Inclusive Finance.” The 2026 edition places Agentic AI, Tokenisation and Quantum at the centre of discussions around the future of financial infrastructure.
A key highlight has been Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s inauguration and address on September 8, where he called on the fintech industry to translate emerging technologies into real-world applications. He also pushed for expanding the global footprint of UPI, which currently operates across 11 countries.
The conversation has since moved from technology potential to practical implementation. UPI credit for Kisan Credit Card and PM MUDRA borrowers, new approaches to fraud detection and AI-powered lending are among the developments emerging from the ongoing festival.
Another significant development came from Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who announced plans for Maharashtra to become India’s first “tokenised state,” signalling the growing role of tokenisation in public and financial infrastructure.
Meanwhile, industry leaders are debating the next phase of AI-led finance, financial inclusion, cybersecurity and responsible innovation. With participation from 100+ countries, GFF 2026 continues to position Mumbai as a major global meeting point for fintech innovation.
With the festival continuing through September 11, the focus now shifts from what fintech can do to how quickly these technologies can create measurable impact.
