ARISE Learning Festival 2026: Shaping Future-Ready Schools
The ARISE Learning Festival 2026, in collaboration with FICCI, brings together global experts and educators to redefine school education and AI adoption.
The landscape of Indian school education is undergoing a massive transformation. The ARISE Learning Festival 2026, organized by the Association for Reinventing School Education (ARISE) in partnership with FICCI, recently concluded in New Delhi, marking a significant milestone in the journey toward building connected and future-ready learning environments.
Moving away from the rigid structure of traditional conferences, this year's festival adopted the theme ‘Connected Schools – Building Communities. Inspiring Futures.’ It offered an immersive experience that blended practical school visits with high-level intellectual discourse, aiming to bridge the gap between current educational practices and the needs of the future.
From Classrooms to Global Insights
The festival kicked off with a hands-on approach, featuring curated school tours designed to showcase real-world excellence. On September 24, delegates toured six host schools across India, followed by visits to 11 schools across the Delhi-NCR region on September 25. These tours allowed educators and policymakers to witness firsthand how institutions are fostering collaborative cultures and resilient learning spaces.
The core discussions then moved to the Dr. Ambedkar International Centre in New Delhi. Here, the focus shifted to specialized masterclasses and breakout sessions. Key areas of exploration included:
- Technology and AI: Navigating digital resilience and purposeful integration.
- Leadership: Developing institutional culture and effective school management.
- Student Wellbeing: Prioritizing mental health and emotional growth.
- Curriculum Innovation: Preparing students for an unpredictable global landscape.
A Roadmap for AI in K12 Education
One of the most critical outcomes of the festival was the unveiling of the FICCI–ARISE–EY-Parthenon Knowledge Report. Titled "AI Adoption Plan for K12: Moving beyond Experimentation," this report provides a strategic framework for schools. It aims to guide educators in transitioning from merely playing with Artificial Intelligence to implementing it in a responsible, purposeful, and structured manner within the classroom.
Voices of Leadership and Resilience
The festival featured a diverse array of speakers who brought unique perspectives to the educational dialogue:
Deepak Bagla, Mission Director at Atal Innovation Mission, NITI Aayog, emphasized the need for schools to evolve into connected ecosystems. He argued that innovation should not be a standalone project but a deeply embedded part of school culture that connects students to entrepreneurship and real-world problem-solving.
In a unique crossover, former Indian international cricketer Shikhar Dhawan shared insights from the world of high-performance sports. He spoke about the importance of resilience, discipline, and confidence, reflecting on how schools can help young people translate their potential into meaningful life achievements.
Patrick Derham OBE, a veteran of prestigious institutions like Westminster School, reminded attendees that despite technological shifts, the fundamentals of education remain unchanged. He highlighted the enduring importance of purpose, shared values, and the strength of the school community.
Adding a technological lens, Nikole Blanchard from LSU Laboratory School discussed the intersection of humanity and tech. She noted that as AI advances, uniquely human traits—such as empathy, curiosity, judgment, and imagination—will become even more vital for students to master.
Putting Students at the Heart of Change
Breaking the mold of student-as-spectator, the festival ensured that student voices were central to the conversation. A main-stage panel featured students from both government and private schools. They shared their raw perspectives on learning, belonging, and creativity, offering a blueprint for what the next generation truly wants from their schooling.
By treating students as active participants rather than mere recipients of knowledge, the ARISE Learning Festival 2026 has set a new benchmark for how educational reform should be discussed and implemented in India.