The national capital has been adorned with illuminated installations and vibrant posters as India prepares to host the BRICS Summit 2026 at Bharat Mandapam on 12–13 September.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will preside over the high-profile gathering, which will bring together heads of state, foreign delegates, leaders of international organisations, and dignitaries representing member states, partner countries, and outreach invitees.

India holds the BRICS Chair for the 2026 edition, with proceedings guided by the theme “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability”.

The alliance has undergone a remarkable transformation since its inception as the BRIC grouping of Brazil, Russia, India, and China, which first convened at the UN General Assembly in New York in 2006 and held its inaugural summit in Yekaterinburg, Russia, in 2009.

South Africa joined in 2011, expanding the bloc to BRICS. A major expansion followed in January 2024, when Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE became full members, with Indonesia joining in January 2025.

Today, the alliance comprises 11 full members and an expanding array of partner nations, commanding significant global economic and diplomatic influence.

Russian President Vladimir Putin will attend, marking his second visit to India in less than a year after the bilateral summit in December 2025. PM Modi personally renewed the invitation during their meeting at the SCO summit in Bishkek on 31 August.

Chinese President Xi Jinping is also expected, though his participation has not been formally confirmed. If he attends, it will be his first visit to India since the 2019 informal summit in Mamallapuram with PM Modi. A bilateral meeting between the two leaders is widely anticipated.

Other confirmed attendees include South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, and Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul will also participate. United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres is likely to attend, though a formal announcement is pending.

Delhi Police have identified more than 35 roads where traffic will be controlled or diverted during the summit. Restrictions will primarily affect central, southern, and adjoining parts of Delhi, with temporary stoppages expected during VIP motorcades.

The summit schedule begins on Saturday, 12 September, with the arrival of BRICS leaders at Bharat Mandapam.

The leaders will gather for a closed session titled “Inclusive Global Governance and Strengthening Multilateralism”.

They will then witness the “Bharat Innovates Exhibition (Leaders of BRICS Member Countries)”, followed by a family photo on the lawns and a joint tree plantation ceremony.

The day will conclude with a gala dinner hosted by PM Modi at Bharat Mandapam.

On Sunday, 13 September, leaders of BRICS partner countries and outreach invitees will arrive, followed by a family photo.

The session titled “Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability: Shaping the Future for Inclusive Global Growth” will then commence in the Summit Hall of Bharat Mandapam.

The summit is expected to highlight India’s leadership role in shaping global governance reforms, strengthening multilateralism, and advancing inclusive growth for the Global South.

ANI