BRICS Summit 2026 begins on September 12 in India

Leaders meet in New Delhi on Sept. 12-13 under India’s chair, with China next for the rotating presidency in 2027.

The 18th BRICS Summit will be held on September 12 and 13, 2026 in New Delhi. It is the fourth time India holds the rotating presidency of the bloc.

The meeting is expected to bring together delegations from Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates. Saudi Arabia appears on the official list of the Indian presidency although Riyadh has not confirmed a delegation for the summit.

According to figures released by the Indian government in 2026, the bloc already accounts for 49.5% of the world’s population, 40% of global GDP and 26% of international trade.

The Indian presidency’s agenda

India has led BRICS since the start of 2026 under the theme “Building resilience, innovation, cooperation and sustainability”:

• Resilience: economic and institutional strengthening against supply-chain disruptions and climate risks.
• Innovation: digital infrastructure, fintech, artificial intelligence and knowledge sharing.
• Cooperation: policy coordination, development finance and reforms in global governance.
• Sustainability: economic growth paired with environmental preservation.

Throughout 2026, India has already held more than 350 preparatory meetings in cities across the country.

What to expect from the BRICS summit

The summit will show how the countries dialogue amid war, conflict and contradiction, on issues from UN Security Council reform to local-currency trade, taxation and security.

The summit is expected to reinforce the trend toward a multipolar world and the economic pragmatism of multiple alignments.

On September 11, New Delhi will also host the BRICS Business Forum, a side event of the bloc’s Business Council. Brazilian companies attending this forum have not yet been announced.

Brazil at the event

Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira will represent Brazil at the BRICS Summit. In May in New Delhi, he called for urgent reform of the UN and the WTO (World Trade Organization) and said he hoped the bloc would reach consensus during the summit.

President Lula will stay in Brazil because of the election campaign and is expected to focus his international effort on the UN: the General Debate of the General Assembly opens on September 22 in New York. The Brazilian government has not yet released the official agenda. Diplomatic sources say President Lula is expected to speak and that this is likely to be his only trip abroad before the elections.

It is worth remembering that Brazil chaired BRICS in 2025 and left its mark in the defense of global governance reform, the fight against hunger and a just energy transition.

BRICS 2027: China takes over the bloc’s presidency

On January 1, 2027, China will take over the rotating presidency of BRICS and is expected to host the 19th leaders’ summit.

It will be a chance to reinforce the multipolarity trend and the potential of emerging markets. The Chinese presidency is expected to give special attention to topics such as:

• Strengthening the NDB (New Development Bank — the BRICS Bank) based in Shanghai.
• Financial cooperation in local currencies.
• Expansion of the BRICS+ format and the circle of partner countries.
• Priority on climate, food security, energy, the digital economy and artificial intelligence.
• Reform of global governance.

Conclusion

Even amid geopolitical complexities, BRICS remains the forum where the new global architecture takes shape.

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