Overview

The Association for Reinventing School Education (ARISE), in collaboration with FICCI, concluded the ARISE Learning Festival 2026 in New Delhi. The festival was designed as an immersive, delegate‑centred experience that moved beyond a conventional conference format, combining school visits, keynotes, masterclasses, student voices, school showcases, partner and exhibitor engagements, peer learning and networking.

Event Structure

  • School Tours: Curated tours were conducted across India on 24 September and across Delhi‑NCR on 25 September, allowing delegates to experience first‑hand how schools are building collaborative cultures and future‑ready learning environments. The initiative involved 6 host schools PAN India and 11 schools in Delhi‑NCR, totaling 17 schools.
  • Host Schools – Delhi‑NCR: Pathways World School (Gurugram, Haryana), Healthy Planet School (Noida, Uttar Pradesh), Khaitan World School (Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh), Heritage International Xperiential School (Gurugram, Haryana), The Shri Ram School, Aravali (Gurugram, Haryana), The Ardee School (New Delhi), Delhi Public School (Sector‑45, Gurgaon, Haryana), Silverline Prestige School (Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh), Vasant Valley (New Delhi), Nehru World School (Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh), Shiv Nadar School (Noida, Uttar Pradesh).
  • Host Schools – PAN India: The Ardee School (Sangolda, Goa), Valistus International School (Whitefield, Bangalore, Karnataka), Walnut School (Pune, Maharashtra), The Newtown School (Kolkata, West Bengal), Sagebrook International School (Hyderabad, Telangana), Grassroots Global Early Years (Patna, Bihar).
  • Masterclasses & Breakout Sessions: Held at the Dr. Ambedkar International Centre, covering teacher development, school leadership, institutional culture, technology and AI, digital resilience, student wellbeing, curriculum leadership and future readiness.

Key Announcements

  • AI Adoption Report: The festival launched the FICCI–ARISE–EY‑Parthenon Knowledge Report titled "AI Adoption Plan for K‑12: Moving beyond Experimentation", aimed at guiding schools to transition from experimental AI use to purposeful and responsible adoption.
  • ARISE Excellence Awards: The 4th edition of the FICCI‑supported ARISE Excellence Awards was presented, celebrating exemplary and innovative practices across school education. Entries were evaluated by an Interim Jury and a Grand Jury, with EY serving as the official tabulator. An ARISE Excellence Awards Compendium was released, showcasing the winning practices.

Notable Speakers & Perspectives

  • Deepak Bagla, Mission Director, Atal Innovation Mission, NITI Aayog, discussed how schools can evolve from standalone innovation initiatives into connected ecosystems that link young people with creativity, entrepreneurship, problem‑solving, partnerships and real‑world opportunities.
  • Shikhar Dhawan, Chairman, Da One Group and former Indian international cricketer, shared insights on resilience, discipline, confidence and purpose, drawing parallels between high‑performance sport, entrepreneurship and community initiatives.
  • Patrick Derham OBE, former Head Master of Westminster School, Rugby School and Solihull School, reflected on enduring fundamentals of education such as purpose, service, shared values, relationships and community strength.
  • Nikole Blanchard, Head of Educational Technology and Innovation, LSU Laboratory School, highlighted the human capabilities—curiosity, creativity, empathy, judgement, collaboration, courage and imagination—that students will need alongside technological advances.
  • Dr. Arunabh Singh, President, ARISE and Co‑founder & Director of Healthy Planet Schools & Nehru World School, emphasized that connected schools are about people—students, teachers, leaders and communities—learning from and strengthening one another.

Student Participation

  • A main‑stage student panel featured students from government and private schools discussing learning, wellbeing, belonging, creativity, purpose and their vision for the next generation of schooling.
  • Students also presented projects and showcased creative work throughout the festival, ensuring their voices were integral to the experience.

Awards & Publications

  • The Excellence Awards ceremony highlighted equal representation of government and private schools, underscoring the breadth and diversity of India’s school education ecosystem.
  • The accompanying ARISE Excellence Awards Compendium was published to disseminate exemplary practices to the wider education community.

Conclusion

The ARISE Learning Festival 2026 reinforced the need for schools to remain connected, adaptive and deeply human‑centred as they prepare young people for a rapidly evolving world. By bringing together ideas, lived experiences and on‑ground practices, the festival aimed to translate conversations about the future of education into tangible opportunities for learning, collaboration and action.