New Delhi prepares to host BRICS as India takes the 2026 chair

New Delhi will host the 18th BRICS summit as India takes the grouping’s chair in 2026. It will be India’s third time hosting the leaders’ meeting, after summits in 2012 and 2016.

The bloc began as “BRIC”, a 2001 label for Brazil, Russia, India and China. Its first summit was held in Russia in 2009, and South Africa later joined. Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran and the UAE entered in 2024, followed by Indonesia in 2025.

India has listed resilience, innovation, cooperation and sustainability as priorities for its chairship. It has also called for greater representation for developing countries in institutions including the UN Security Council, the IMF and the World Bank.

The summit is scheduled for September 12-13 in the capital.