New Delhi is set to host the 18th BRICS Leaders’ Summit on September 12 and 13. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will welcome leaders from the expanded BRICS grouping and partner countries.
The main leaders’ programme will begin on Saturday, September 12, with the heads of the 11 BRICS member countries. Leaders from partner countries and outreach invitees will join the summit programme on Sunday, September 13.
India is chairing BRICS this year. The summit will be held at Bharat Mandapam and will focus on issues including multilateralism, trade, investment, energy and food security, supply chains and global governance.
Deep Dive
What topics will be discussed at the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi?
Which leaders are confirmed to attend the BRICS Summit 2026?
What is the significance of the BRICS Business Forum meeting taking place before the summit?
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BRICS member countries
The 11 full members of BRICS are Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has confirmed that he will attend the summit.
- Xi Jinping — President, China
- Vladimir Putin — President, Russia
- Cyril Ramaphosa — President, South Africa
- Masoud Pezeshkian — President, Iran
- Abdel Fattah el-Sisi — President, Egypt
- Abiy Ahmed — Prime Minister, Ethiopia
- Prabowo Subianto — President, Indonesia
- Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan — Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, UAE
- Mauro Vieira — Foreign minister, Brazil
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BRICS partner and outreach countries
- Alexander Lukashenko — President, Belarus
- Kassym-Jomart Tokayev — President, Kazakhstan
- Anwar Ibrahim — Prime Minister, Malaysia
- Anutin Charnvirakul — Prime Minister, Thailand
- Miguel Díaz-Canel — President, Cuba
- Bola Ahmed Tinubu — President, Nigeria
- Shavkat Mirziyoyev — President, Uzbekistan
- Jessica Alupo — Vice-President, Uganda
Top UN official to attend
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BRICS partner and outreach countries
- Alexander Lukashenko — President, Belarus
- Kassym-Jomart Tokayev — President, Kazakhstan
- Anwar Ibrahim — Prime Minister, Malaysia
- Anutin Charnvirakul — Prime Minister, Thailand
- Miguel Díaz-Canel — President, Cuba
- Bola Ahmed Tinubu — President, Nigeria
- Shavkat Mirziyoyev — President, Uzbekistan
- Jessica Alupo — Vice-President, Uganda
Top UN official to attend
{{/usCountry}}António Guterres — UN Secretary-General
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Attendees for Modi's Friday speech
Before the main two-day event, PM Modi is set to address the BRICS Business Forum in New Delhi on Friday, September 11. Top business leaders from China, Russia, Brazil, the UAE and other BRICS countries are expected to attend.
Commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal and external affairs minister S Jaishankar are expected to address the opening session. The discussions will cover agriculture, trade, investment, supply chains and the digital economy. The meetings will later lead into a leaders’ session, which is expected to be addressed by Modi.
Chinese business delegation
A large Chinese business delegation is visiting India ahead of the BRICS Summit.
Among the prominent Chinese business leaders expected are Houliang Dai, chairman of CNPC; Lin Liao, chairman of ICBC; and Min Wan, chairman of China COSCO Shipping Corporation.
Senior executives from Huawei Technologies and Alibaba Group are also expected to attend.
The Chinese delegation is expected to discuss trade, investment, technology and supply chains with Indian and other BRICS businesses.
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Global corporate leaders
Several senior business leaders from other BRICS countries are also expected to attend the forum.
- Francisco Gomes Neto, president and CEO of Embraer
- Gustavo Pimenta, CEO of Vale
- Phuthi Mahanyele-Dabengwa, CEO of Naspers
- Oleg Belozerov, CEO and chairman of Russian Railways
- Alexander Vedyakhin, first deputy chairman of Sberbank
The companies represented at the meeting span energy, banking, technology, shipping, aviation and mining.
Delhi has deployed a major security operation for the event, with thousands of personnel covering airports, hotels and the Bharat Mandapam venue.
BRICS was formed in 2006 by Brazil, Russia, India and China. South Africa joined in 2010, while Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran and the UAE joined in 2024. Indonesia later became a full member.