India is set to host the 18th BRICS Summit at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, on September 12–13, 2026, bringing together leaders of BRICS member and partner countries along with outreach invitees.
The summit will be the culmination of India’s 2026 BRICS Chairship, which began on January 1.
India is leading the grouping under the theme “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability”, reflecting a people-centric approach rooted in “Humanity First.”
18th BRICS Summit 2026: India to Host Major Global Meeting
- The announcement of the 18th BRICS Summit 2026 is a major development in India’s international diplomacy. The two-day summit will provide an opportunity for leaders to discuss ways to strengthen cooperation within BRICS and exchange views on important regional and global developments.
- India is a founding member of BRICS and is holding the chairship for the fourth time, after previously leading the grouping in 2012, 2016 and 2021. The current chairship began on January 1, 2026.
18th BRICS Summit 2026: Key Details
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Summit | 18th BRICS Summit |
| Host Country | India |
| Venue | Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi |
| Dates | September 12–13, 2026 |
| BRICS Chair | India |
| India’s Chairship | Fourth |
| Chairship began | January 1, 2026 |
| Theme | Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability |
| Approach | People-centric, “Humanity First” |
| Year | 2026 |
The summit is scheduled to bring together leaders of BRICS member and partner countries, along with outreach invitees.
What Is the Theme of BRICS 2026?
India’s BRICS Chairship is guided by the theme:
“Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability.”
The theme reflects India’s emphasis on a people-centric and “Humanity First” approach to international cooperation. The same overarching theme has been used across India’s BRICS ministerial tracks during 2026.
The theme places emphasis on four broad areas:
- Resilience in economies and institutions
- Innovation and technological development
- Cooperation among BRICS countries
- Sustainability and inclusive development
India’s Fourth BRICS Chairship
- The BRICS Chairship 2026 is India’s fourth opportunity to lead the grouping. India previously held the chair in 2012, 2016 and 2021.
- During its 2026 chairship, India has organised an extensive programme of ministerial meetings, working groups and other engagements across the country. According to News On AIR, more than 350 meetings and high-level engagements have been held across more than 25 cities.
These engagements have focused on three broad pillars:
- Political and security cooperation
- Economic and financial cooperation
- Cultural and people-to-people exchanges
The upcoming leaders’ summit in New Delhi will serve as the culmination of these activities.
Why Is the 18th BRICS Summit Important?
- The BRICS Summit in New Delhi comes at an important time for the grouping and the global economy.
- BRICS cooperation increasingly covers areas such as trade, finance, technology, education, energy, climate action, health and people-to-people exchanges.
- India’s 2026 chairship has already included meetings dealing with education, trade, ICT, labour and employment and other areas of cooperation.
- For example, the BRICS Education Ministers’ Meeting in Bhubaneswar focused on early childhood education, foundational literacy, skills, research and innovation, mutual recognition of qualifications and academic capacity building.
- Similarly, the BRICS Trade Ministers’ Meeting in Jaipur discussed issues including resilient global value chains, MSME access to trade finance and the Strategy for BRICS Economic Partnership 2030.
BRICS 2026 and Technology Cooperation
Technology is another important area under India’s chairship.
The BRICS ICT Track held in Pune focused on digital transformation and cooperation in areas including:
- Sustainable and resilient digital infrastructure
- Cybersecurity
- Digital skills
- Artificial intelligence
- Innovation and startups
- Digital public infrastructure
The ICT Track adopted the theme “Innovate, Cooperate and Transform (ICT) for a Resilient Future.”
This demonstrates how BRICS cooperation is expanding beyond traditional economic issues into emerging technologies and digital development.
2026 Marks 20 Years of BRICS
- The year 2026 is particularly significant because BRICS completes 20 years since its establishment. India is therefore hosting the 18th summit during an important anniversary year.
- The grouping has evolved considerably since its early years and now represents a broader platform for cooperation among emerging economies and developing countries.
What Can Be Expected at the BRICS Summit?
- At the September summit, leaders are expected to discuss ways to strengthen cooperation on shared priorities and exchange views on major regional and global issues.
- The summit is also expected to provide an opportunity for India to highlight its priorities under the 2026 chairship and seek practical, development-oriented outcomes from BRICS cooperation.
- The presence of member countries, partner countries and outreach invitees will also give the meeting wider diplomatic significance.
History of BRICS
BRICS is a grouping of major emerging economies that promotes cooperation in areas such as economics, trade, finance, development, technology and global governance. The name originally came from Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.
BRICS Timeline
| Year | Major Development |
|---|---|
| 2001 | Economist Jim O’Neill of Goldman Sachs coined the term “BRIC” for Brazil, Russia, India and China. |
| 2006 | BRIC countries began formal political cooperation during a meeting of foreign ministers on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. |
| 2009 | The first BRIC Summit was held in Yekaterinburg, Russia, bringing together the leaders of Brazil, Russia, India and China. |
| 2010 | South Africa was invited to join the grouping. |
| 2011 | South Africa participated in its first BRICS Summit, held in Sanya, China, transforming BRIC into BRICS. |
| 2014 | At the Fortaleza Summit in Brazil, BRICS countries established the New Development Bank (NDB) and agreed to create the Contingent Reserve Arrangement (CRA). |
| 2015 | The New Development Bank began operations, headquartered in Shanghai, China. |
| 2016 | India hosted the 8th BRICS Summit in Goa. |
| 2017 | China hosted the 9th BRICS Summit in Xiamen. |
| 2019 | Brazil hosted the 11th BRICS Summit in Brasília. |
| 2020 | Russia hosted the 12th BRICS Summit virtually because of the COVID-19 pandemic. |
| 2021 | India hosted the 13th BRICS Summit virtually. |
| 2022 | China hosted the 14th BRICS Summit virtually. |
| 2023 | South Africa hosted the 15th BRICS Summit in Johannesburg. Leaders agreed on a major expansion of the grouping. |
| 2024 | Russia hosted the 16th BRICS Summit in Kazan. The expanded BRICS format became operational with new members. |
| 2025 | Brazil hosted the 17th BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro, focusing on global governance, climate change and cooperation among developing countries. |
| 2026 | India holds the BRICS Chairship and is scheduled to host the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi on September 12–13, 2026. |
New Development Bank: A Major BRICS Achievement
- One of BRICS’ most important institutional achievements came in 2014, when the five members agreed to establish the New Development Bank (NDB).
- The bank finances infrastructure and sustainable-development projects in BRICS countries and other developing economies.
- Its headquarters is in Shanghai, China.
- The Contingent Reserve Arrangement (CRA) was also created to provide financial support in response to balance-of-payments pressures.
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