India Hosts 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi

India is hosting the 18th BRICS Summit at the Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi on September 12 and 13, 2026. The summit brings together leaders from 11 full member countries, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. On the first day, the member nations unanimously adopted the New Delhi Declaration, a 140 point document covering global governance, terrorism, climate, and trade. The declaration includes a call for a two state solution for Palestine and a resolution regarding a terror attack in Pahalgam.

Prime Minister Modi hosted a gala dinner on Saturday for the visiting dignitaries. The menu featured Indian delicacies such as millet pulao, paneer lababdar, and shahtoot phirni. The event included a performance by an ensemble of over 100 artists and the display of a friendship mural titled Sangam: Confluence of Cultures. While many leaders attended, Chinese President Xi Jinping skipped the dinner. Some reports suggest he returned to his hotel to rest after arriving in Delhi that afternoon. Other notable absentees included the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, who departed for the UAE.

Diplomatic interactions on the sidelines included Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim singing a popular Kishore Kumar song at a Delhi hotel, a gesture that received positive reactions on social media. Additionally, Union Minister Annapurna Devi met with the First Lady of the Philippines and the daughter of the Iranian President at the BRICS Bazaar, an exhibition of textiles and handicrafts held at the National Crafts Museum.

On the second day of the summit, leaders gathered for an official family photo before an open session on Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability. Prime Minister Modi is scheduled to hold several bilateral meetings throughout the day.