Why creators and founders will share the same stage at Rajasthan DigiFest × TGS 2026

Most tech summits follow a predictable pattern: keynote speakers, startup pitches, investor meetings, and panel discussions. Rajasthan DigiFest X TiE Global Summit 2026 is doing something different. Alongside the traditional entrepreneurship programming, the three-day event in Jaipur will feature a full-scale international film festival, a comic con zone, a 48-hour game development marathon, and a craft bazaar showcasing Rajasthan's heritage industries.

The decision to integrate creative sectors into a flagship entrepreneurship summit reflects a strategic recognition, that India's next wave of economic growth will stem from the convergence of technology and creativity. Gaming, animation, visual effects, extended reality, and content creation represent massive opportunities that traditional tech conferences often overlook.

Why creative-tech matters now

India's creative economy is experiencing a structural shift. Streaming platforms have democratized content distribution. Gaming has become a legitimate career path. Animation and VFX studios are servicing global productions. Digital creators are building sustainable businesses. And extended reality technologies are creating entirely new categories of experience.

Rajasthan is positioning itself at the center of this transformation. In December 2024, the state government officially notified its AVGC-XR Policy, aiming to transform Rajasthan into a leading global hub for animation, visual effects, gaming, comics, and extended reality. The policy focuses on infrastructure development, skill enhancement, industry growth, and funding support.

Under the broader iStart Rajasthan initiative, the state has already registered over 7,200 startups, created more than 42,500 jobs, and facilitated investments exceeding Rs 1,000 crore. This includes 2,600+ women-led startups, 288 student startups, and more than 116,000 students exposed to entrepreneurship across the state. Now, with focused attention on the creative economy, Rajasthan is building the ecosystem to support a new generation of creator-entrepreneurs.

The film festival: Where storytelling meets technology

The film festival will run across all three days of the summit at Hotel Novotel Jaipur, featuring multiple screening halls dedicated to different programming tracks. The festival goes beyond typical film screenings to integrate masterclasses, workshops, and practical skill-building sessions.

Attendees can expect sessions on producing world-class content, the role of artificial intelligence in filmmaking, and voice performance for films and podcasts. There will be pitching workshops focused on universal storytelling, live pitch sessions where emerging filmmakers present to industry professionals, and discussions on how Rajasthan's regional cinema is reaching global festival circuits.

The festival features a dedicated "Rajasthan in Focus" track, highlighting local filmmakers and their stories, alongside international short film screenings. Running parallel is the iStart AVGC Challenge, where youth create videos around Rajasthan's creative landscape, with the top 50 entries being awarded and recognized.

The integration of technology and storytelling will be evident in sessions exploring AI applications in scriptwriting, editing, VFX, and sound design. These aren't theoretical discussions but practical demonstrations of how creators can leverage emerging tools without compromising artistic integrity.

Comic con: Building India's creator culture

The Comic Con Zone represents more than fan entertainment. It's a three-day celebration of Indian creativity across comics, animation, cosplay, and pop culture. Daily programming includes creator conversations, brand activations, live performances, and the Jaipur Comic Con Cosplay Contest.

What makes this integration significant is the economic opportunity it represents. India's comic and animation industry is growing, but it lacks the infrastructure and visibility that exists in markets like Japan, Korea, or the United States. By embedding Comic Con within an entrepreneurship summit attended by investors and business leaders, TGS 2026 creates opportunities for creators to be seen as entrepreneurs, not just artists.

Sessions will feature creators from across continents sharing their journeys, comedy showcases, musical performances, and the Indian Championship of Cosplay 2026 Jaipur qualifier. The variety of programming ensures that attendees experience the full spectrum of creative expression, from traditional illustration to digital art, from independent comics to mainstream animation.

Game jam: 48 hours to build the next big game

Game Jam Jaipur 2026 is a 48-hour game development marathon scheduled for January 5-6 at the JECC convention center. Teams of 2-4 developers will conceptualize, design, and build playable game prototypes from scratch, competing for a prize pool of Rs 1.75 lakh.

The event is open to students, indie developers, and hobbyists across all skill levels. Participants can use any game engine or framework, including Unity, Unreal, Godot, or custom engines. Beyond cash prizes, teams gain exclusive access to the TiE Global Summit, networking opportunities with global entrepreneurs and investors, and the chance to showcase their games on an international platform.

AVGC-XR Pavilion: The future of immersive experiences

The AVGC-XR Pavilion will showcase cutting-edge work in animation, visual effects, gaming, comics, and extended reality. This dedicated space allows creators and studios to demonstrate their capabilities, connect with potential clients and collaborators, and explore how emerging technologies like AR, VR, and mixed reality are creating new storytelling possibilities.

The pavilion serves as a bridge between creative talent and commercial opportunity. Production houses can discover animation studios. Brands can find VFX partners. Developers can explore XR applications. And investors can identify promising creative-tech startups that might not fit traditional investment theses but represent significant growth opportunities.

Craft bazaar: Heritage meets innovation

The Craft Bazaar brings Rajasthan's heritage industries into conversation with technology and entrepreneurship. Exhibitors showcasing traditional crafts like block printing, miniature paintings, pottery, textiles, and jewelry will have access to the summit's 10,000+ delegates, including international buyers, design professionals, and e-commerce platforms.

This isn't just about sales. It's about exploring how technology can scale heritage crafts without compromising authenticity. How can digital marketplaces reach global audiences? How can design partnerships elevate traditional techniques? How can young artisans build sustainable businesses around ancestral skills? These conversations happen naturally when craft meets commerce meets technology.

Why this integration matters

By bringing creators, gamers, filmmakers, and artisans into the same space as startup founders, investors, and policymakers, TGS 2026 is doing something rare: acknowledging that innovation isn't confined to SaaS products and fintech apps. Culture is an industry. Creativity is a career. And the future of India's economy will be shaped as much by its storytellers and designers as by its engineers and entrepreneurs.

The summit proves that Rajasthan is building an ecosystem that values diverse forms of innovation. From soil and sand to silicon and storytelling, the state is redefining what a tech hub can look like.

The question is whether the rest of India's entrepreneurship ecosystem is ready to follow.