India is preparing to host the 18th BRICS Leaders’ Summit in New Delhi on September 12–13, 2026, placing the country at the centre of discussions on the future of emerging economies and the evolving global order. The summit comes as BRICS reaches an important milestone, with the grouping marking 20 years of institutional cooperation since its formation as a formal forum in 2006.
The New Delhi meeting will be the first BRICS leaders’ summit hosted by India since the grouping expanded significantly. BRICS now has 11 full members – Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Indonesia – giving the forum a substantially wider geographic and economic footprint.
India is chairing BRICS in 2026 under the theme “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability.” New Delhi has sought to position the grouping as a platform for practical cooperation rather than simply as a geopolitical counterweight to existing Western-led institutions. The approach places greater emphasis on economic development, technological cooperation, resilient supply chains and a stronger role for developing countries in global decision-making.
The summit is expected to give considerable attention to global trade, finance, technology and reforms in international governance. With BRICS members accounting for a significant share of the world’s population and economic activity, discussions in New Delhi could have implications for trade relations, investment flows and cooperation among emerging markets.
Security and geopolitical issues are also expected to feature prominently. The expanded membership brings together countries with different strategic interests and positions on major international conflicts. This diversity makes consensus more challenging, but India is expected to push for dialogue and cooperation on areas where the members can find common ground.
One of the more immediate issues facing the grouping is the resilience of international supply chains. Disruptions caused by geopolitical tensions, conflicts and changing trade policies have increased the importance of reliable access to energy, critical goods and technology. India is seeking greater BRICS cooperation in these areas as part of its broader resilience agenda.
Financial cooperation is another important area ahead of the summit. India is also expected to promote stronger cooperation against economic crime, including a proposed framework for faster sharing of financial and investigative information to help track economic fugitives across member countries. Such initiatives would give BRICS cooperation a more practical law-enforcement dimension.
The 20-year milestone gives the 2026 summit additional significance. BRICS has changed considerably since its formal establishment, expanding its membership and broadening its agenda from emerging-market coordination to issues involving development, finance, technology, climate, energy and global governance.
India’s year-long chairship has already involved more than 350 BRICS-related meetings and high-level engagements across more than 25 cities, building momentum ahead of the leaders’ meeting. The programme has covered political and security affairs, economic and financial cooperation as well as wider social and cultural engagement.
The New Delhi summit will therefore serve as both a review of BRICS’ first two decades and an opportunity to define its next phase. For India, the challenge will be to use its chairship to bridge differences among the expanded membership while promoting an agenda focused on economic growth, technological innovation, strategic cooperation and a greater voice for the Global South.
With major geopolitical and economic questions surrounding the international system, the 18th BRICS Summit is expected to attract close attention from governments and markets worldwide. India’s ability to build consensus among the expanded membership could determine how effectively BRICS translates its growing global influence into concrete cooperation.