BRICS Summit 2026 in New Delhi: World Leaders, Key Agenda, India’s Role & Economic Impact

The 18th BRICS Leaders’ Summit will take place on September 12 and 13, 2026, at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi.

The two-day summit will bring together leaders from BRICS member countries, partner countries and invited nations to discuss economic, political and global issues of common interest.

The event is particularly significant for India as 2026 marks the country's fourth BRICS Chairship, following its previous presidencies in 2012, 2016 and 2021. The year also marks 20 years since the establishment of BRICS.

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The summit is expected to bring several prominent world leaders to New Delhi. Key leaders associated with the summit include:

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi – India
• President Xi Jinping – China
• President Vladimir Putin – Russia
• President Cyril Ramaphosa – South Africa
• President Masoud Pezeshkian – Iran
• President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi – Egypt
• Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed – Ethiopia
• President Prabowo Subianto – Indonesia

China has officially confirmed that President Xi Jinping will attend the summit in New Delhi on September 12–13.

The gathering is expected to provide an important platform for bilateral meetings as well as discussions on wider geopolitical and economic developments.

India's BRICS Chairship revolves around the theme:

“Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability.”

The theme highlights four major areas:

1. Resilience

The summit will focus on making economies and supply chains more resilient in the face of global disruptions. Stronger cooperation can help BRICS countries respond to economic uncertainty, trade disruptions and other challenges.

2. Innovation

Technology and innovation are expected to play an increasingly important role in BRICS cooperation. Artificial intelligence, digital infrastructure and emerging technologies are among the areas receiving greater attention.

3. Cooperation

India wants BRICS cooperation to translate into practical outcomes, particularly in areas such as trade, investment, technology, health and energy.

4. Sustainability

Clean energy, sustainable development and environmental responsibility are also important parts of India's BRICS agenda.

The theme reflects India's broader focus on development and practical cooperation among emerging economies.

Several economic and strategic areas are expected to receive attention during the summit.

Trade and Supply Chains

Strengthening trade relationships and creating more resilient supply chains are major priorities. India is also looking at opportunities to expand market access and business cooperation across BRICS economies.

Cross-Border Payments

Another important area is improving cross-border payment mechanisms. Greater cooperation in digital payments and local-currency transactions could make international trade more efficient.

Recent discussions around BRICS have also focused on connecting national payment systems and exploring greater interoperability between digital payment and central-bank digital currency systems.

Artificial Intelligence and Technology

AI and emerging technologies are becoming increasingly important to the global economy. India is expected to encourage greater cooperation in technology, innovation and digital development.

Energy and Clean Energy

Energy security and the transition towards cleaner energy are also expected to feature prominently, particularly as BRICS economies seek long-term and sustainable growth.

Health and Agriculture

Cooperation in healthcare, food security and agriculture can help member countries address shared development challenges and build more resilient systems.

Global Governance Reforms

India is also expected to advocate reforms in global institutions and a stronger voice for developing and emerging economies in international decision-making.

As the 2026 BRICS Chair, India will guide discussions and help set priorities for the grouping during the year.

India's approach is focused on making BRICS more development-oriented, practical and inclusive. The country has already conducted hundreds of meetings and engagements across different cities during its year-long chairship.

The summit also comes at a challenging geopolitical moment. Conflicts and tensions in different parts of the world, changing trade policies and uncertainty around energy markets are creating new challenges for emerging economies.

This gives India an opportunity to promote dialogue and cooperation among BRICS members while advancing issues important to the Global South.

A major international summit can create opportunities beyond diplomacy. Greater cooperation among BRICS countries could potentially support:

• Increased international trade
• Foreign investment
• Technology partnerships
• Infrastructure development
• Stronger supply chains
• Energy cooperation
• Digital payment innovation
• Startup and business collaboration

The Federation of Indian Export Organisations has highlighted trade, investment, technology partnerships, supply-chain resilience and payment mechanisms as areas where the summit could create tangible opportunities for Indian businesses.

For Delhi-NCR, hosting a major international summit further highlights the region's importance as a hub for diplomacy, business, infrastructure and international connectivity.

The summit has already led to significant preparations across New Delhi, including beautification and infrastructure-related improvements around major routes and public areas.

For the broader NCR region, events of this scale can strengthen the city's global visibility and potentially support long-term interest in commercial real estate, hospitality, infrastructure and business activity.

However, any real-estate impact should be viewed as a potential long-term opportunity rather than an immediate price increase. Property values depend on multiple factors, including infrastructure development, employment growth, connectivity, demand and overall economic conditions.

The 2026 BRICS Summit is more than a meeting of world leaders. It represents India's growing role in discussions around the future of the global economy.

With BRICS now comprising 11 member countries, the grouping represents a significant share of global population, GDP and trade. According to the Government of India, the current members collectively account for around 49.5% of the world's population, 40% of global GDP and 26% of global trade.

For India, the summit provides an opportunity to strengthen economic partnerships, promote innovation and push for a greater role for emerging economies in global governance.

As New Delhi prepares to welcome international leaders on September 12–13, the focus will be on whether discussions can translate into practical cooperation, stronger economic relationships and sustainable development.

The 18th BRICS Summit 2026 in New Delhi comes at a defining moment for India and the wider global economy. With its focus on resilience, innovation, cooperation and sustainability, India's BRICS presidency aims to move beyond dialogue and encourage practical outcomes.

For businesses, investors and policymakers, the summit could open new conversations around trade, technology, infrastructure, energy and investment. For Delhi-NCR, the event further strengthens the region's position on the global map and highlights its importance as a centre for international business and economic activity.

As India hosts BRICS 2026, the world will be watching New Delhi, not only for the diplomatic outcomes of the summit, but also for the economic opportunities that may emerge from stronger cooperation among the world's major emerging economies.