Terms & Conditions | AGORA ’26

These Terms & Conditions (“Terms”) govern registration for and participation in AGORA ’26, organised by Asianet News (“AGORA”, “the Festival”, “we”, “us” or “our”).

By registering for AGORA ’26, accessing the Festival website, obtaining an entry pass, or attending the Festival, you acknowledge that you have read, understood and agreed to these Terms, together with the Privacy Policy and any applicable Registration, Cancellation & Refund Policy.

Where applicable law requires a separate consent or notice for processing of personal data, such consent will be obtained and/or the required notice will be provided separately and will not be treated as having been given merely by accepting these Terms.

1. About AGORA ’26

AGORA ’26 is scheduled to take place from 27–29 November 2026 at Kanakakkunnu Palace, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.

The Festival brings together speakers, thinkers, writers, scientists, artists, policymakers, technologists and other participants for conversations, sessions and activities across multiple areas of public interest.

The programme, speakers, sessions, venues and timings may be updated or modified by the organisers.

2. Registration

Registration must be completed through the official AGORA ’26 website or through an officially authorised registration channel.
Participants are responsible for providing accurate, complete and current information during registration.
Each registration is intended for the individual whose details are provided during registration.
The organiser may request valid identification at the venue to verify the identity of a registered participant.
A registration confirmation, digital pass, QR code or other entry credential may be issued following successful registration.
The organiser reserves the right to refuse, suspend or cancel a registration where information provided is inaccurate, fraudulent, misleading or in violation of these Terms.

3. Entry Pass / Digital Pass

Where applicable, each registered participant will receive a digital entry pass or QR code associated with their registration.
The pass is personal and non-transferable, unless the organiser expressly permits otherwise.
Participants must present their valid digital or physical pass when requested by authorised Festival personnel.
The organiser may deny entry where a pass is found to have been duplicated, altered, misused or obtained fraudulently.
Participants may be required to carry a valid government-issued photo ID for verification.

4. Festival Entry and Access

Registration does not necessarily guarantee access to every individual session, workshop, performance or activity.
Certain sessions or areas may have limited capacity, separate access requirements or priority arrangements.
Entry to the Festival and its venues is subject to applicable security and safety procedures.
Participants must follow instructions issued by Festival organisers, security personnel, venue personnel and authorised volunteers.
The organiser reserves the right to restrict or refuse entry where necessary for safety, security, capacity or operational reasons.

5. Programme and Schedule Changes

The organiser may modify, postpone, replace or cancel a speaker, session, programme, venue, timing or other Festival activity due to operational requirements, speaker availability, safety concerns, government directions, weather, technical issues or circumstances beyond the organiser's reasonable control. Reasonable efforts will be made to communicate significant changes through the official website, email, social media or other appropriate channels.

6. Code of Conduct

AGORA ’26 is intended to provide a respectful environment for open discussion and exchange of ideas.

Treat speakers, attendees, staff, volunteers and venue personnel with respect.
Refrain from harassment, intimidation, threats or abusive behaviour.
Refrain from discriminatory, hateful or sexually inappropriate conduct.
Follow venue rules and safety instructions.
Avoid behaviour that disrupts sessions, performances or other participants' experience.
Respect the privacy and personal space of other attendees.

The organiser may remove a participant from the venue, suspend their access or cancel their registration where their conduct violates these Terms or creates a safety or security concern.

7. Prohibited Activities

Carry prohibited or dangerous items into the venue.
Damage Festival or venue property.
Interfere with Festival operations or security procedures.
Misuse another person's registration credentials or entry pass.
Engage in harassment, abuse, stalking or threatening behaviour.
Record or distribute restricted content where such recording is prohibited.
Engage in any activity that violates applicable law.

8. Photography, Videography and Recording

AGORA ’26 may be photographed, filmed, livestreamed or otherwise recorded by the organiser, its media partners, authorised photographers, broadcasters or production teams. By attending the Festival, you acknowledge that you may appear in photographs, video recordings or other Festival-related media. Where processing of an identifiable participant’s image, voice or other personal data is subject to the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 (“DPDP Act”) or other applicable data-protection law, the organiser will process such data in accordance with the applicable legal requirements and the AGORA ’26 Privacy Policy. Such material may be used for editorial, archival, promotional, advertising, social media, broadcast, digital and other Festival-related purposes, subject to applicable law. Where a separate consent is legally required for a particular use, the organiser will seek that consent separately. If specific areas or activities have additional recording restrictions, participants must follow the instructions provided by the organisers.

9. Intellectual Property

All Festival-related content, including but not limited to:

AGORA branding and logos
Website content
Graphics and visual identity
Photographs and videos
Session materials
Recorded conversations
Presentations and other Festival materials

may be protected by applicable intellectual property laws.

Participants must not reproduce, distribute, commercially exploit or publish protected Festival materials without the appropriate permission.

The opinions expressed by individual speakers are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of AGORA or Asianet News.

10. Personal Information and Privacy

The organiser may process personal data collected in connection with registration, participation and administration of AGORA ’26. Personal data may include, depending on the registration and participation arrangements, identifiers such as name; contact details such as email address and telephone number; registration details; entry-pass/QR information; identification or verification information where required for access or security; payment-related information where registration is paid (with payment details handled as applicable by authorised payment service providers); and photographs, video, audio or other event-related media in accordance with Section 8 and the Privacy Policy. Personal data will be processed only for specified purposes communicated to participants and as otherwise permitted or required by applicable law. These purposes may include:

processing and managing registration;
issuing entry passes and registration confirmations;
communicating Festival-related information and responding to enquiries;
providing event updates and schedule changes;
managing venue access, identity verification and security;
providing customer or registration support;
processing payments and related reconciliation, where applicable;
maintaining event records and addressing complaints, disputes or legal requirements;
event photography, videography, recording, broadcasting and related Festival communications, subject to Section 8 and applicable law; and
complying with applicable legal obligations.

The organiser may use authorised service providers, including registration, technology, communications, security, payment, hosting, event-production and other vendors, to process personal data on its behalf where required for the above purposes or as otherwise permitted by applicable law. Such processing will be subject to appropriate contractual, organisational and technical safeguards.

Personal data will be retained only for as long as reasonably necessary for the stated purpose, to comply with applicable legal or regulatory requirements, to establish or defend legal claims, or as otherwise permitted by law. When retention is no longer necessary, personal data will be securely erased or otherwise disposed of in accordance with applicable law.

Where processing is based on consent, the participant may withdraw consent in the manner specified in the relevant consent notice or Privacy Policy. Withdrawal of consent will not affect the lawfulness of processing carried out before withdrawal and may not apply where processing is otherwise permitted or required by law.

Subject to applicable law, participants may have rights in relation to their personal data, including the right to access information about personal data being processed, request correction or erasure where applicable, withdraw consent where processing is based on consent, raise a grievance, and exercise any other rights available under the DPDP Act and applicable rules.

Requests relating to personal data, including requests to exercise applicable rights or raise a grievance, may be made using the privacy/grievance contact provided in Section 17 and the process described in the AGORA ’26 Privacy Policy.

The organiser will implement reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect personal data against unauthorised or unlawful processing, accidental loss, destruction, alteration or disclosure, and will handle personal-data breaches in accordance with applicable law. Personal data may be processed or transferred outside India where permitted by applicable law and subject to any restrictions or requirements prescribed by the Central Government or other competent authority.

The Privacy Policy contains further information about the categories of personal data, purposes and legal basis/grounds for processing, data-sharing arrangements, retention, security, participant rights, grievance handling and contact details.

11. Event Cancellation or Postponement

In circumstances beyond the organiser's reasonable control, including natural disasters, severe weather, government restrictions, public safety concerns, venue-related issues, technical failures or other force majeure events, the organiser may postpone, modify or cancel the Festival. Where reasonably possible, participants will be informed through the official website or registered contact details.

Any refund or transfer arrangements arising from cancellation or postponement will be handled in accordance with the applicable Cancellation & Refund Policy and applicable law.

12. Health, Safety and Personal Belongings

Participants are responsible for taking reasonable care of their own health and safety while attending the Festival.

Participants should inform authorised Festival personnel if they require emergency assistance.

The organiser will take reasonable measures to maintain a safe Festival environment but cannot guarantee that all risks associated with attending a large public event can be eliminated.

Participants are responsible for their personal belongings. The organiser is not responsible for loss, theft or damage to personal property except where liability cannot legally be excluded.

13. Liability

To the extent permitted by applicable law, AGORA, Asianet News, its organisers, partners, employees, contractors, volunteers and venue partners shall not be responsible for indirect or consequential loss arising from participation in the Festival.

Nothing in these Terms excludes or limits any liability that cannot legally be excluded or limited under applicable law.

14. Third-Party Services and Links

The Festival website may contain links to third-party websites, services or payment platforms.

These third-party services are governed by their own terms and privacy policies. AGORA does not control and is not responsible for the content, availability or practices of third-party websites or services, except as required by applicable law.

15. Changes to These Terms

The organiser may update these Terms from time to time to reflect changes to the Festival, registration process, applicable requirements or legal obligations. The latest version will be published on the official AGORA ’26 website. Continued use of the website or participation in the Festival after an updated version is published constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms, to the extent permitted by applicable law. Where a change requires fresh notice or consent under applicable law, the organiser will provide the required notice or obtain the required consent.

16. Governing Law and Jurisdiction

These Terms shall be governed by and interpreted in accordance with the laws of India.

Any dispute arising in connection with these Terms or participation in AGORA ’26 shall be subject to the jurisdiction of the courts of Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, unless otherwise required by applicable law.