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Come February 2026, the RK Beach at Visakhapatnam will host the largest ever and billed as historic maritime convergence with International Fleet Review 2026.

According to the details released by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) on Friday the 31st of October 2025, India will host three major international maritime events in Feb 2026 at Visakhapatnam, namely, the International Fleet Review (IFR) 2026, Exercise MILAN 2026, and Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) Conclave of Chiefs.

All are scheduled to be conducted from 15th of February to 25th of February 2026.

This marks India’s maiden conduct of these major maritime events simultaneously.

The event realises the Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s often stated MAHASAGAR vision (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions)as announced in 2025.

MAHASAGAR extends India’s SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) philosophy from the Indian Ocean to across regions, emphasizing sustainability, resilience, and collective responsibility of the maritime commons.

Invitations have been extended to navies from across the globe to participate in this historic gathering at Visakhapatnam, India’s eastern maritime gateway and home to the Eastern Naval Command.

The event will reflect India’s commitment to free, open and inclusive seas, anchored in strategic frameworks including MAHASAGAR, the Act East Policy, IONS, and the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI).

The event will feature a Presidential Fleet Review at Sea by President Murmu, showcasing indigenous platforms including INS Vikrant (India’s first domestically built aircraft carrier), Visakhapatnam-class destroyers, Nilgiri-class stealth frigates, and Arnala-class anti-submarine warfare corvettes—reflecting India’s transformation into a ‘Builder’s Navy’.

The Indian Navy ships would be joined by a diverse congregation of ships from friendly foreign countries, the Indian Coast Guard and the Merchant Marines.

Exercise MILAN’s Sea and Harbour Phases will focus on interoperability, maritime domain awareness, anti-submarine warfare, air defence, and search-and-rescue operations.

The International City Parade will feature contingents from participating navies, Indian Army, and Indian Air Force marching through Visakhapatnam’s iconic beachfront, the RK Beach, showcasing maritime diplomacy directly to citizens.

An International Maritime Seminar will gather maritime strategists, defence officials, academics, and industry leaders to discuss contemporary issues including maritime collaboration, technology and humanitarian support.

The IONS Conclave of Chiefs, during which the Indian Navy would assume Chairmanship for the second time (2025-2027), will bring together Naval Chiefs from 25 members, 9 observers, and specially invited nations to deliberate on maritime security, HADR, and information sharing.

India’s IFR tradition began with the 2001 Mumbai edition hosting 20 foreign navies and reached greater heights with the 2016 Visakhapatnam IFR welcoming navies from around the world.

Exercise MILAN, launched in 1995 with four navies at Port Blair, has evolved into a premier Multilateral Exercise with partner navies across the globe participating in 2024.

India’s forthcoming IONS Chairmanship and the MAHASAGAR vision reinforce its role as a convenor of regional maritime security cooperation.

would strengthen India’s position as a responsible maritime power committed to mutual advancement, holistic security, and growth across regions.