Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced plans to visit India in December 2026, travelling with a business delegation and describing the bilateral economic partnership as underutilised despite a rapidly deepening personal rapport with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Albanese disclosed the plans on 28 September during a discussion at the Asia Society in New York, alongside former Australian prime minister Kevin Rudd.

What the Visit Will Include

The itinerary, as outlined by Albanese, will include a business event in Mumbai modelled on the 'G'day LA' format held in partnership with the Business Council of Australia. A delegation of Australian companies will accompany the prime minister for the occasion.

The visit is set to conclude in Chennai with a cricket match involving teams from the Australian states of Victoria and Western Australia. 'It will finish with, as things in India always does, with a cricket match,' Albanese said, drawing audience laughter.

The India leg is timed around Albanese's travel to the G20 summit — hosted by President Donald Trump in Florida — scheduled for 14 and 15 December. 'On the way, I'm going to India,' he said.

Modi-Albanese Personal Bond

Albanese spoke warmly of his personal ties with Prime Minister Modi, noting that each leader had visited the other's country twice during Albanese's tenure. He recalled joining Modi at a large gathering of the Indian diaspora in Australia and the enthusiasm it generated.

'He is someone who we have a strong relationship with. I think there's a lot more that can be done in our economic partnership,' Albanese said. He added, with levity, that Modi had asked the crowd to cheer for him at the community event.

Albanese also credited Modi with an unprecedented expansion of energy access in India. 'More people have been connected with access to energy in India under his reign than has occurred in any decade, in any country or any region in human history,' he said.

Economic and Strategic Context

Albanese underscored India's growing global weight as a driver of the relationship. 'India will be the third largest economy in the world. They already have the largest population in the world,' he said, framing closer ties as strategically essential for Canberra.

Both countries are members of the Quad alongside Japan and the United States, cooperating on maritime security, critical technologies, resilient supply chains, health, and disaster response. Australian universities are also reportedly establishing a presence in India, adding an educational dimension to the partnership.

Rudd said Australia's relationship with India had gone 'from strength to strength,' highlighting expanding bilateral cooperation and the deepening Quad framework. Albanese placed the India relationship within Australia's broader Indo-Pacific engagement, which also includes strengthened ties with the US, Japan, Indonesia, South Korea, and Pacific island nations — even as Canberra manages its major trading relationship with China.

Partnership Described as Underutilised

Despite the diplomatic warmth, Albanese was candid that the economic relationship has not matched its potential. 'There's a lot more we can do though. It has been underutilised, the relationship and partnership, but both PM Modi and myself are very keen on rectifying that,' he said.

The December visit will be closely watched as a signal of how quickly the two governments can translate personal goodwill into tangible trade and investment outcomes — particularly in sectors such as critical minerals, clean energy, and education.