World Leaders Converge on New Delhi for 18th BRICS Summit

Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi prepares to host the 18th BRICS Summit on September 12–13, 2026, as leaders and senior representatives from BRICS member and partner countries gather in the Indian capital.

Putin, Xi, Ramaphosa, Pezeshkian among leaders heading to India as New Delhi hosts the September 12–13 global gathering

Key Highlights

• 18th BRICS Summit to be held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, on September 12–13.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi will host the leaders under India’s 2026 BRICS Chairship.
• Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping, Cyril Ramaphosa, Masoud Pezeshkian and several other leaders are attending.
• Leaders and representatives of BRICS partner countries will also participate.
• India’s Chairship focuses on resilience, innovation, cooperation and sustainability.
• Expanded BRICS represents nearly half of the world’s population.

New Delhi is preparing for a major gathering of world leaders as India hosts the 18th BRICS Summit at Bharat Mandapam on September 12 and 13, placing the capital at the centre of high-level diplomatic engagement among some of the world’s largest emerging economies.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will host the summit under India’s 2026 BRICS Chairship. The official theme — “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability” — reflects India’s emphasis on development, institutional cooperation, innovation and the priorities of the Global South.

Major Leaders Head to New Delhi

Among the most closely watched participants are Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping. Putin has arrived in New Delhi ahead of the summit, while Xi’s participation marks his first visit to India in seven years.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed are also among the leaders attending. The United Arab Emirates is being represented by Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, while Brazil is represented by Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira.

The summit will extend beyond the full BRICS membership. Leaders and senior representatives from partner countries are also expected in New Delhi, including Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko, Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel, Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. UN Secretary-General António Guterres is also expected to participate.

The gathering comes as BRICS has grown considerably beyond its original framework. India’s official backgrounder lists 11 members — Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and the UAE — collectively accounting for around 49.5 per cent of the global population, 40 per cent of global GDP and 26 per cent of world trade.

The summit is expected to address economic cooperation, global governance, trade, technology, sustainable development and the challenges confronting developing economies. Geopolitical developments are also likely to feature prominently as leaders seek common ground despite differing national interests.

For India, the gathering provides another opportunity to project the concerns of emerging economies and the Global South while strengthening BRICS as a forum for dialogue and practical cooperation.