NEW DELHI – Leaders and representatives from BRICS member states, partner countries and invited nations are set to gather in New Delhi from 12 to 13 September 2026 for the 18th BRICS Summit, hosted by India as part of its year-long chairmanship of the grouping.
India assumed the BRICS chairmanship on 1 January 2026, taking over from Brazil, which hosted the previous leaders’ summit in 2025. The Indian presidency has placed emphasis on resilience, innovation, cooperation and sustainability.
The summit is being held at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, with discussions expected to cover issues including food and energy security, healthcare, disaster resilience and critical supply chains.
BRICS brings together major emerging economies and has expanded its membership in recent years. The grouping currently includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates, while Saudi Arabia’s status continues to carry some uncertainty because Riyadh has not publicly confirmed formal accession.
The expanded BRICS framework also includes partner countries, among them Malaysia. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is representing Malaysia at the New Delhi summit.
Anwar’s participation comes alongside a wider diplomatic programme in India. He is scheduled to hold bilateral discussions with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as well as the presidents of Russia, Iran and Kazakhstan, and the Prime Minister of Ethiopia.
The BRICS leaders’ meeting follows a gathering of the group’s foreign ministers in Delhi on 14 and 15 May, held as part of preparations for the summit and India’s presidency.
The Indian government formally launched the logo and official website for its BRICS 2026 presidency on 13 January, marking the start of the country’s programme of meetings and preparations for the leaders’ gathering.
In addition to the BRICS members, partner countries are expected to participate in the summit. The partner group includes Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Nigeria, Thailand, Uganda, Uzbekistan and Vietnam.
A number of other countries have also been invited to the New Delhi meeting. They include Bahrain, represented by King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa; Burundi, represented by its foreign minister on behalf of the African Union; the Philippines, represented by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr; and Uruguay, represented by its foreign minister on behalf of CELAC.
The summit is taking place under heightened security arrangements in the Indian capital. Around 30,000 personnel from various agencies have reportedly been deployed as part of a multi-layered security operation, while restrictions on roads are expected to affect movement in parts of New Delhi during the event.
A number of hotels in the capital are being used to accommodate visiting delegations and officials. Some visiting heads of state or government are staying at major hotels including the Maurya and Taj Mahal, with accommodation spread across 11 hotels.
Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in New Delhi in the early hours of 11 September for a three-day visit that includes his participation in the summit and a visit to a Russian pavilion at a trade fair. Chinese President Xi Jinping is also scheduled to arrive ahead of the leaders’ meeting.
The summit’s agenda reflects the broader expansion of BRICS beyond traditional economic cooperation. Food and energy security, public health, disaster preparedness and the resilience of critical supply chains are among the areas expected to feature in discussions.
For Malaysia, participation provides a platform for engagement with established BRICS members as well as other partner and invited countries. Anwar’s bilateral programme is expected to complement Malaysia’s participation in the wider multilateral discussions.
The New Delhi summit is the 18th leaders’ meeting since the BRICS grouping began holding annual summits. India’s presidency is expected to place the country at the centre of the organisation’s diplomatic programme throughout 2026.
The summit will conclude India’s year of preparations and ministerial-level engagement with the leaders’ meeting in New Delhi on 12 and 13 September.
