18th BRICS Summit 2026: Who are the world leaders participating in Delhi, India’s role and more
With the much-anticipated BRICS summit approaching, the world is watching closely to see how the event unfolds. The BRICS group of major emerging economies – Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa – will host the 18th Summit of Heads of State and Government on September 12 and 13 in New Delhi.
When and where is the BRICS summit?
The summit is scheduled to be held at the Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi on September 12 and 13 as India assumes the role of BRICS Chairman on January 1, 2026. Previously, India held the role in 2012, 2016 and 2021.
Also Read: BRICS Summit 2026 LIVE Updates
Who will attend?
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian are among the world leaders who will arrive in New Delhi for the BRICS summit. China has also confirmed that President Xi Jinping will attend the summit in New Delhi on September 12-13, his first visit to India in nearly seven years.
BRICS expanded to 11 members with the inclusion of Iran, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Ethiopia in 2024 and Indonesia in 2025.
The UAE will be represented by Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Brazil will be represented by its Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mauro Vieira.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Ugandan Vice President Jessica Alupo, NDB President Dilma Rousseff, Nigerian Vice President Senator Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali and Burundian President Evariste Ndayishimiye will also attend the summit.
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, Vietnamese Prime Minister Le Minh Hung and Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. will also attend the BRICS summit in Delhi.
The summit will also be attended by Uruguayan Foreign Minister Mario Lubetkin and WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla, WTO Director General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belarus Maxim Ryzhenkov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bahrain Dr.
In addition, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres will also attend the 18th BRICS Summit.
What is the theme of the 2026 summit?
As stated in the documents of the Indian presidency, the summit will focus on core values such as inclusive growth, shared responsibility, practical cooperation and a people-centric approach. The theme “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Collaboration and Sustainability” reflects the humanity-first approach expressed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the 2025 Rio Summit.
What are the key agendas for BRICS 2026?
India is heading to the summit with a focus on strengthening supply chains, trade cooperation, cross-border payments, technology and artificial intelligence, energy, development finance and global governance reform. Cooperation in agriculture, innovation and health is expected to be emphasized as indicated by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar when he presented India’s priority areas at the BRICS Foreign Ministers’ meeting. Discussions on clean energy and sustainable growth are also expected to be on the agenda. Cross-border payments are expected to gain significant attention in Delhi as India advocates increased use of national currencies in trade.
India’s Role in BRICS Summit 2026
As the Chair of the BRICS summit, India has the responsibility to facilitate discussions and coordinate negotiations among member states. Given the current geopolitical situation marked by tensions and conflicts in areas such as Iran and Ukraine, this is a crucial nexus for India.
Moreover, India’s position as a leader in BRICS intersects with its memberships in other prominent groupings such as the Quad and the G20. This means that India’s actions and leadership style during the summit will be closely watched not only by BRICS members but also by the international community, including the United States. While discussions about increasing the use of national currencies in trade are likely to be received positively within the BRICS, these topics may not resonate well in the US, especially given its economic sanctions against countries such as Iran and Russia. Thus, India will have to navigate these complexities carefully to maintain its diplomatic relations while pushing the agenda of the BRICS summit.
Published – 11 Sep 2026 10:25 IST