KINLEY KHANDU CHODEN | Thimphu
More than a dozen areas of human development, technology and environmental sustainability will feature in the Asia Visionary Summit 2026, which is scheduled to bring fewer than 500 invited participants to Bhutan from November 6 to 8.
Held under the theme “Enlightened Prosperity,” the summit will bring together government leaders, business executives, scientists, technology entrepreneurs and representatives from cultural and spiritual communities to discuss the future of Asia.
The programme will explore how societies can advance technologically while maintaining human well-being, ethical responsibility and ecological balance. Participants are expected to include heads of state and ministers, Fortune 500 chief executives, Silicon Valley founders and sovereign wealth leaders.
Rather than focusing on a single sector, the summit will cover three broad areas: human development, artificial intelligence and the environment. These will be addressed through programme themes titled The Inner Frontier, The Age of Intelligence and The Living Earth.
The discussions on artificial intelligence will examine its implications beyond technological innovation, including questions of ethics, human cognition and the changing relationship between people and machines.
The theme The Age of Intelligence will consider AI as a force shaping civilisation, while The Inner Frontier will focus on human vitality, medicine, longevity and purpose. The programme will also explore the relationship between people and the natural world.
Environmental issues will feature under The Living Earth, with discussions covering ecology, conservation, clean energy and climate action. The theme places the relationship between humanity and the planet among the central subjects of the summit.
The organisers intend to bring together contributors from different professional and cultural backgrounds, including experts and practitioners in science, medicine, architecture, entrepreneurship, philanthropy, technology and the arts.
The three-day gathering will conclude with the Raven Concert on November 8 at Changlimithang, bringing the summit’s programme to a close through music, dance and cultural performances.
The concert will feature Bhutanese and international artists performing a combination of folk, pop and sacred music. Inspired by Bhutan’s national guardian, the raven, the event is intended to celebrate cultural diversity and bring together musical traditions from across Asia.
A drone show, described by the organisers as Bhutan’s first-ever, is also planned for the concert. The programme will include a piano performance by a world-renowned pianist, alongside performances by other Bhutanese and international artists. The announcement did not identify the pianist or provide a complete list of performers.
The concert will provide a cultural component to the summit, which will otherwise focus on discussions spanning technology, human development and environmental sustainability.
Tickets for the Raven Concert are available online through Dash Tickets. Summit passes are also available through the event’s official website, with a subsidised rate of Nu 5,000 for Bhutanese nationals.
The organisers have not specified in the announcement the complete list of invited speakers or participating institutions. Further details on the individual sessions and their schedules were also not provided.
The Asia Visionary Summit 2026 seeks to bring together perspectives from different sectors to examine prosperity through the combined lenses of technological progress, human values and environmental responsibility.
The event will conclude on November 8 with the Raven Concert, linking the summit’s discussions with a programme of artistic and cultural expression
