Rhythm of Brilliance – A Preview of the 42nd Edition of IIJS Premiere in India
The world’s second-largest B2B jewellery gathering returns for its 42nd edition. From 5–10 August 2026, Mumbai will once again host IIJS Premiere. In a country where jewellery is such an organic and deeply rooted part of everyday culture, this is an event of extraordinary scale and significance. IIJS Premiere is the perfect place to discover the richness of India’s jewellery landscape alongside an international community of industry professionals.
In India, jewellery is an inseparable part of culture. It accompanies life’s most important moments and celebrations, carrying layers of symbolism and spiritual meaning. Last year, I had the pleasure of speaking with a true authority on the subject – Dr. Usha R. Balakrishnan, historian, curator and specialist in India’s jewellery traditions. In an interview for Blingsis, Usha said: “To be unadorned is to be invisible. Jewels complete the human persona – they signify gender, caste, religion, and status. Adornment gives an individual a place in the social and cosmic order.”
Brilliant Bharat – A Celebration of Culture
It is no coincidence that I begin this preview of IIJS Premiere with this broader context. Through the “Brilliant Bharat” initiative, the organisers of the show, GJEPC (Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council), demonstrate how jewellery intersects with other areas of Indian culture. Indian music will be the central theme of this year’s edition of IIJS. “India does not merely create music, India lives through it,” write the organisers. “Indian music is a timeless expression of soul, emotion, rhythm, and cosmic vibration.” Last year I experienced first-hand how compelling this concept is, revealing the ways different cultural disciplines connect, influence and inspire one another. In 2025, the show’s theme was architecture. This year, music will provide the lens through which India’s jewellery scene is presented – “the ornaments of sound and rhythm.” Exhibitors are also invited to submit creations inspired by this concept to the Jewellery Crafts Design Competition. I’ll be sharing more about this year’s creative theme in my next article. Today, let’s focus on the key facts about the upcoming show in Mumbai.
3,600 Stalls Across Mumbai
It can be difficult to imagine what it really means when IIJS Premiere is described as the world’s second-largest B2B jewellery exhibition. So let’s look at the numbers: 2,100 exhibitors, an impressive 3,600 booths, more than 50,000 visitors, including guests and official delegations from as many as 80 countries. The show will span two vast venues: Jio World Convention Centre (5–9 August) and Bombay Exhibition Centre (6–10 August), together covering more than 135,000 square metres (will I manage to see it all in high heels…? Watch me!). This year, the organisers have announced the expansion of one of the show’s most exciting sections: The Select Club, a dedicated space showcasing luxury jewellery and couture jewellery design. I’m also especially looking forward to visiting the Craft Pavilion, where traditional jewellery-making techniques from different regions of India will be presented. Running alongside IIJS Premiere is the specialised India Gem & Jewellery Machinery Expo (IGJME), dedicated to Loose Diamonds (natural & colour stones), Lab-Grown Diamonds as well as technology and innovation in jewellery manufacturing. Be sure to explore the Innov8 Talks educational programme as well, featuring presentations by industry leaders and experts covering trends, trade, technology and many other topics shaping the jewellery sector.
I am honoured to once again have the opportunity to attend such an extraordinary and inspiring event, and above all, to immerse myself once again in the fascinating culture of India.
✨ IIJS Premiere 2026 – 42nd Edition of India International Jewellery Show
📍 Jio World Convention Centre (JWCC), BKC 🗓️ 5–9 August 2026
📍 Bombay Exhibition Centre (BEC), Goregaon 🗓️ 6–10 August 2026
👋 Organiser: GJEPC India (Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council)
🔗 https://gjepc.org/iijs-premiere/
