India is set to host the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi on September 12–13, 2026, marking its fourth time chairing the grouping. Under the theme “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability”, the summit will convene heads of state and government from BRICS member and partner countries at Bharat Mandapam, Pragati Maidan.
Dates, venue, and key side events
The main Leaders’ Summit runs over the weekend of September 12–13 at Bharat Mandapam. Preceding it, the BRICS Business Forum and a Women’s Business Alliance meeting are scheduled for September 11 at the same venue. In parallel, the inaugural iBRICS 2026 sovereign-capital summit will gather over 500 institutional investors and finance officials at The Oberoi on September 12–13, focusing on a $1 trillion pool of sovereign capital and non‑dollar settlement corridors.
To accommodate security and logistics, both the Delhi and central governments have declared September 11 a holiday for offices in the capital, with traffic restrictions and heightened security expected around key corridors.newsable.
Agenda priorities under India’s chairship
India’s 2026 BRICS agenda emphasizes innovation, digital cooperation, and inclusive technology, aligned with the “Humanity First” vision. Expected priorities include:
- Trade, investment, and economic cooperation, including mechanisms to deepen intra‑BRICS commerce and project finance.infobrics
- Digital public infrastructure, startups, AI governance, and scientific research collaboration.aninews
- Energy transition and sustainable development, building on earlier ministerial and youth energy dialogues.vajiramandravi+1
- Global governance reform, with BRICS positioning itself as a platform for the Global South amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.livemint+1
UN Secretary‑General António Guterres is confirmed to attend, underscoring the summit’s diplomatic weight.
High‑stakes diplomacy and participation
The summit arrives at a sensitive moment for India’s foreign policy, offering a stage to engage both China and Russia while showcasing New Delhi’s convening power. Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to make his first visit to India since 2019, though Beijing has not yet formally confirmed his participation. Indonesia, the bloc’s newest member, has publicly backed India’s chairship and pledged support.
Alongside leaders, the event will draw representatives from around 30 BRICS member, partner, and outreach countries, plus heads of international organizations and business delegations.newsable.
Why this summit matters for Think BRICS readers
For audiences tracking multipolarity, the Delhi summit is a litmus test for how BRICS translates rhetoric into concrete financial and technological cooperation—from payment‑system linkages (e.g., UPI, Pix) and CBDC interoperability to sovereign‑capital compacts for infrastructure and energy. It also highlights the grouping’s evolving identity: no longer just an economic club, but a diplomatic platform where Global South priorities on development, security, and governance are negotiated in real time.
As final preparations unfold in Delhi—from road cleaning to security drills—the coming days will clarify attendance details, bilateral sidelines, and any joint declarations that could shape trade, finance, and tech cooperation across the expanded BRICS family.
On the ground in Delhi: Think BRICS is accredited and reporting live
Think BRICS is proud to announce that we have secured official media accreditation for the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi. Our team will be on the ground at Bharat Mandapam and across the city’s summit corridors, delivering real-time analysis, verified updates, and exclusive insights from the heart of this pivotal gathering.
Expect live dispatches, fact-checked briefings, and deep-dive coverage that cuts through the noise to bring you what really matters: the deals, declarations, and diplomatic moves shaping the future of BRICS and the Global South.
Follow us closely over September 12–13. This is where the story breaks first.
