Not An Event. An Experience in Motion

By Pickle March 5, 2026

In the new experience economy, Bengaluru GAFX stands apart—blending art, technology, and community into motion. By Oum Pradutt, Phase 1

Our association with Bengaluru GAFX has not been transactional. It has been organic. Six years of evolution — not just of a partnership, but of an idea.

At Phase 1, we have grown with the times. We understand something fundamental: today, a conference, festival, or celebration cannot simply be an event. It must be an experience.

Audiences no longer attend. They immerse.

Delegates no longer listen. They participate.

Brands no longer sponsor. They belong.

That is why our journey with ABAI feels aligned at a deeper level.

ABAI is not just an industry association. It is a platform for storytellers — creators, technologists, producers, educators — who gather not merely to showcase, but to shape what comes next. It is a space where we derive value and contribute value in equal measure.

Across the year, we see global majors and Indian giants host powerful sector-specific forums. Those are important. They are focused. They are influential.

But Bengaluru GAFX is different.

It is where the aesthetic of the arts meets the innovation of technology.

Where policy meets pipeline.

Where imagination meets infrastructure.

Working alongside Biren Ghose and the ABAI leadership has been a dynamic collaboration — one that constantly challenges us to rethink scale, storytelling, and sensory impact. Equally energising is the active partnership of the Government of Karnataka under the leadership of Shri Priyank Kharge and Dr. Manjula. This is not a passive endorsement. It is engaged participation.

Each year, the benchmark rises. Each year, the expectation expands. And each year, we return to ask a harder question: “How do we make GAFX not just memorable — but unforgettable?”

Our shared ambition is clear: to see Bengaluru GAFX listed as a must-visit on the global AVGC-XR and entertainment calendar.

Our brief from the ABAI President for this year was: “The events of the past are still photos in an album. The events of the future are video reels embedded in our memory.”

Phase I has bagged several awards including Wow Asia Awards Gold