India is set to host the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi, placing the capital at the centre of high-level diplomatic and economic activity. The main summit will be held on September 12 and 13 at Bharat Mandapam under India’s 2026 chairship. Leaders and senior representatives from BRICS member countries, partner nations and invited organisations are expected to take part in discussions on trade, global developments and long-term cooperation.
The summit comes at a time when countries are dealing with geopolitical uncertainty, supply-chain pressures and changing trade patterns. India’s chairship is built around the theme of resilience, innovation, cooperation and sustainability, with the agenda focused on practical partnerships and stronger engagement among emerging economies.
BRICS bilateral meetings take centre stage
A series of BRICS bilateral meetings is adding further significance to the summit. Russian President Vladimir Putin has arrived in New Delhi ahead of the leaders’ meeting, with talks expected to cover trade resilience, energy, payment mechanisms and strategic cooperation.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian is also expected to hold discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. India and Iran are likely to focus on trade, connectivity, logistics and cooperation linked to the Chabahar Port.
Chinese President Xi Jinping is among the leaders expected at the summit, with India-China talks likely to draw attention due to their importance for trade, supply chains and wider regional relations. The presence of several influential world leaders gives the summit greater weight as BRICS seeks to expand its role in global economic and diplomatic discussions.
BRICS Business Forum boosts trade cooperation
The BRICS Business Forum is running alongside the diplomatic meetings and is focused on investment, technology partnerships, manufacturing and stronger trade links. Indian officials are using the forum to push for easier market access, faster regulatory clearances and more resilient supply chains.
Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal urged BRICS countries to explore links between their payment systems, promote trade in local currencies and simplify trade procedures. He also highlighted India’s engineering, electronics and pharmaceutical sectors as areas with strong potential for deeper cooperation.
Business leaders attending the forum have also pointed to India’s growing importance as an investment destination, particularly in engineering, manufacturing, technology and joint ventures.
The 18th BRICS Summit in Delhi 2026 is therefore more than a diplomatic gathering. It is also a platform for economic engagement, trade discussions and strategic partnerships. With major bilateral meetings, business talks and multilateral sessions taking place together, India is looking to use its BRICS chairship to strengthen cooperation, improve trade opportunities and give the Global South a stronger voice in international economic affairs.
