New Delhi is set to host the 18th BRICS Summit on September 12–13, 2026, welcoming prominent global leaders including Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. Hosted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Bharat Mandapam, the high-profile gathering brings together heads of state from the expanded 11-member bloc alongside partner nations to discuss global governance, supply chain resilience, and local-currency trade settlement. A High-Stakes Gathering at Bharat MandapamIndia's chairmanship of the 2026 BRICS presidency culminates in a major geopolitical showcase at New Delhi's flagship Bharat Mandapam complex. Under the core theme of "Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability," guided by a "Humanity First" ethos, the summit marks one of the largest diplomatic gatherings hosted in the Global South this year. With the grouping having expanded to include major emerging economies across West Asia, Africa, and Southeast Asia, the New Delhi summit serves as a crucial platform for establishing consensus on reforming multilateral institutions, strengthening energy security, and expanding cross-border payment integration. High-Profile Attendees: Who Is Coming to New Delhi?The participant list reflects the expanded multi-polar weight of the BRICS bloc, featuring heads of state, top foreign ministers, and multilateral leaders: Prime Minister Narendra Modi (Host): Leading proceedings for India's presidency, focusing on strategic autonomy, digital public infrastructure, and Global South representation. Chinese President Xi Jinping: Marking his first visit to India since 2019, Xi's participation signals ongoing efforts to stabilize bilateral relations and enhance economic dialogue between the two Asian giants. Russian President Vladimir Putin: Attending his second summit in India within nine months following high-level bilateral talks in late 2025. Expanded Member Nations: Key leaders present include South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. Brazil is represented by Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira, alongside senior leadership from the United Arab Emirates. Partner & Outreach Invitees: Outreach participants include Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, and Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, along with United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres. Expected Leaders RosterCountryAttending Head of State / RepresentativePrimary Strategic AgendaIndia (Host)Prime Minister Narendra ModiDigital currency linkages, Global South prioritiesChinaPresident Xi JinpingBilateral thaw, trade continuity, supply chain tiesRussiaPresident Vladimir PutinDefence cooperation, energy trade, de-dollarizationSouth AfricaPresident Cyril RamaphosaAfrican trade integration, infrastructure investmentIranPresident Masoud PezeshkianRegional trade networks, energy security corridorsIndonesiaPresident Prabowo SubiantoSouth-East Asian market linkages, commodity tradeKey Discussion Agendas and Bilateral SidelinesBeyond formal plenary sessions, significant geopolitical attention is focused on high-level bilateral engagements taking place on the sidelines of the two-day summit. Prime Minister Modi is scheduled to hold dedicated one-on-one meetings with President Putin and President Xi. Discussions with Moscow are expected to cover energy, nuclear technology, and defense transfers, while talks with Beijing focus on stabilizing border diplomacy and managing trade balances. On the broader summit floor, delegates will evaluate proposals to link central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) across member states to streamline cross-border trade settlements, paving the way for the expected release of the New Delhi Declaration at the conclusion of the event.
