India is set to host the 18th BRICS Leaders’ Summit in New Delhi on September 12 and 13, with the expanded grouping preparing for one of its most significant meetings since its enlargement. The summit comes as BRICS marks two decades of its institutional journey and global cooperation, while India uses its 2026 chairship to promote greater collaboration among emerging economies.
The 2026 summit will bring together the 11 BRICS member countries: Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Indonesia. The expansion has substantially widened the group’s geographical and economic reach and has given BRICS a larger role in conversations concerning the interests of developing and emerging economies.
India’s chairship is being conducted under the theme “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability.” The agenda reflects New Delhi’s effort to focus BRICS cooperation on practical areas such as economic resilience, innovation, sustainable development and stronger international cooperation.
The New Delhi meeting is expected to place considerable attention on the changing global economic environment. Trade, financial cooperation, cross-border payments, supply-chain resilience and greater economic connectivity are among the issues likely to feature prominently in discussions between member countries. India has also been advocating stronger cooperation on digital payment systems and the use of national currencies for international transactions.
Technology is another major area of interest for the Indian chairship. With artificial intelligence, digital infrastructure and emerging technologies rapidly influencing economies and national security, BRICS members are expected to explore ways of increasing technological cooperation while ensuring that developing countries have greater access to innovation and digital capabilities.
Energy security is also likely to remain an important component of the summit’s agenda. BRICS includes some of the world’s major energy producers as well as large and rapidly growing energy-consuming economies. Cooperation on energy security, sustainability and technological solutions could therefore become an important part of discussions among the expanded membership.
The summit also comes at a time when BRICS is seeking to strengthen its role in global governance. India has repeatedly supported reforms in international institutions to give developing countries a greater voice in decision-making. The New Delhi summit is expected to provide another platform for discussions on making multilateral institutions more representative and responsive to the priorities of the Global South.
The 20-year milestone adds another layer of importance to India’s chairship. BRICS has evolved considerably since its formal establishment, moving from a relatively small grouping of emerging economies into a broader platform involving major economies from Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Latin America. The expansion has created new opportunities for cooperation while also increasing the complexity of building consensus among countries with different economic and geopolitical interests.
India is expected to emphasise a practical and inclusive approach during the summit. Rather than focusing only on geopolitical differences, New Delhi has sought to place development, economic cooperation, innovation and sustainable growth at the centre of its BRICS agenda.
The summit will also provide an opportunity for leaders to hold bilateral discussions on the sidelines of the main meeting. With major powers and emerging economies participating in the gathering, these engagements could add significant diplomatic weight to the event and provide an opportunity to discuss issues extending beyond the formal BRICS agenda.
India’s 2026 chairship has already involved an extensive programme of meetings and engagements across the country. More than 350 BRICS-related meetings and high-level engagements have reportedly been organised in more than 25 cities ahead of the leaders’ summit, underlining the scale of India’s effort to use its chairship to build wider participation.
The BRICS Business Forum is scheduled to take place on September 11, immediately ahead of the leaders’ summit, providing another platform for business and economic engagement among participating countries.
As New Delhi prepares to welcome leaders of the expanded grouping, the 18th BRICS Summit is expected to serve as both a reflection on 20 years of global cooperation and a discussion on the future direction of the organisation. For India, the summit represents an opportunity to strengthen its role in shaping cooperation among emerging economies while advancing priorities related to economic resilience, technology, sustainable development and a more representative global order.
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