By Team INVC | INVC NEWS
NEW DELHI, India | September 9, 2026 —
BRICS Summit 2026 Schedule has been released as India prepares to host leaders from member countries, partner nations and outreach invitees at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi on September 12 and 13.
The 18th BRICS Leaders’ Summit will take place under India’s 2026 chairship, which carries the theme “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability.”
The two-day diplomatic gathering will feature a closed-door leaders’ session on global governance and multilateralism, an innovation exhibition, a joint tree-planting ceremony, a gala dinner hosted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and an expanded open session involving partner countries and outreach invitees.
The summit comes during a milestone year for BRICS, marking 20 years since the grouping’s diplomatic journey began in 2006. India is also holding the BRICS chairship for the fourth time, after previously leading the grouping in 2012, 2016 and 2021.
BRICS Leaders to Gather at Bharat Mandapam on September 12
The main leaders’ program will begin on Saturday, September 12, when heads of BRICS member countries arrive at Bharat Mandapam.
According to the official schedule shared by the Ministry of External Affairs, leaders are expected to begin arriving at Level 2 of the venue at around 2 PM.
The first major diplomatic engagement will follow at 2:35 PM.
BRICS leaders will hold a closed session titled “Inclusive Global Governance and Strengthening Multilateralism.”
The meeting will take place at the Summit Hall on Level 2 of Bharat Mandapam.
The session is expected to provide leaders with an opportunity to discuss reforms in international institutions, multilateral cooperation and the role of emerging economies in shaping global governance.
‘Bharat Innovates’ Exhibition Scheduled for 4:25 PM
Following the closed session, BRICS leaders will visit the Bharat Innovates Exhibition at approximately 4:25 PM.
The exhibition will be held in Hall 14 at Bharat Mandapam.
Innovation has emerged as one of the central pillars of India’s BRICS presidency, alongside resilience, cooperation and sustainability.
India is expected to use the summit to showcase its experience in areas including technology, digital infrastructure, innovation and development-focused solutions.
BRICS Family Photo and Joint Tree Plantation
The ceremonial portion of the first day will continue in the evening.
A family photograph of leaders from BRICS member countries is scheduled for 5:05 PM on the outside lawns of Bharat Mandapam.
Five minutes later, at approximately 5:10 PM, leaders will participate in a joint tree-planting program.
The event fits the broader sustainability focus of India’s BRICS chairship.
PM Modi to Host Gala Dinner at 7:30 PM
The first day will conclude with a gala dinner hosted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The dinner is scheduled to begin at 7:30 PM at Level 3 of Bharat Mandapam.
Such summit dinners also provide leaders with an opportunity for informal diplomatic exchanges outside structured negotiating sessions.
The official program, however, does not by itself confirm any specific bilateral meeting unless separately announced.
Partner Countries and Outreach Leaders Join on September 13
The summit will expand on Sunday, September 13, with the arrival of leaders from BRICS partner countries and other outreach invitees.
Heads of state and government are scheduled to begin arriving at Bharat Mandapam at approximately 9:55 AM.
A family photograph involving the expanded group will follow at 10:35 AM.
The day’s most significant public session will begin shortly afterward.
Open Session Begins at 10:50 AM
At 10:50 AM, leaders will participate in an open session titled:
“Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability: Shaping the Future for Inclusive Global Growth.”
The session will bring BRICS members together with partner countries and outreach invitees.
Discussions are expected to focus on inclusive development, economic cooperation, innovation, sustainability and major challenges facing the global economy.
The expanded format also reflects how BRICS has evolved beyond its original membership and increasingly engages a broader group of emerging and developing economies.
India Places ‘Humanity First’ at Center of BRICS Presidency
India has framed its 2026 chairship around a people-centric approach.
The overarching theme — Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability — forms the acronym BRICS itself.
India has also emphasized a “Humanity First” approach during its presidency.
The formulation seeks to connect major geopolitical and economic discussions with practical development priorities.
Over the course of India’s presidency, hundreds of BRICS-related meetings and events have taken place across multiple Indian cities ahead of the leaders’ summit.
Why BRICS Summit 2026 Matters
The 2026 summit arrives at a time when international institutions face pressure from geopolitical tensions, trade disputes, energy-security concerns and calls for greater representation of developing countries.
As a result, global governance and multilateral reform are expected to remain important elements of the discussions.
Economic cooperation is another key area.
BRICS members have increasingly discussed trade, finance, technology, investment, energy, development financing and stronger economic links among emerging markets.
The New Development Bank and cooperation in financial and development mechanisms have also given the grouping an institutional dimension beyond annual summit diplomacy.
2026 Marks India’s Fourth BRICS Chairship
India assumed the BRICS chairship on January 1, 2026.
This is the fourth time New Delhi has led the grouping after chairing it in 2012, 2016 and 2021.
The year also carries historical significance because the BRIC diplomatic process traces its beginning to 2006.
South Africa later joined the grouping, transforming BRIC into BRICS, while subsequent expansion brought additional major emerging economies into the framework.
Bharat Mandapam Returns to Global Diplomatic Spotlight
Bharat Mandapam will once again become the center of a major international summit.
The convention complex at Pragati Maidan previously gained global attention when India used it as the principal venue for the G20 Leaders’ Summit in 2023.
Now the venue will host another high-profile gathering as BRICS leaders assemble in New Delhi.
Security arrangements and traffic management around central Delhi are expected to intensify during the summit period as foreign delegations move between airports, hotels and Bharat Mandapam.
For India, however, the main diplomatic focus will remain on using its BRICS presidency to advance cooperation around resilience, innovation, multilateralism and sustainable growth.
With the detailed BRICS Summit 2026 Schedule now released, attention will next shift to the leaders arriving in New Delhi, bilateral meetings around the summit and any declaration or major agreements emerging from the two-day gathering.
