India Set For Fourth BRICS Chairmanship As New Delhi Hosts Summit

World leaders are set to gather in New Delhi on September 12 and 13 for the 18th BRICS Summit, with India preparing to host the major diplomatic meeting as it takes over the group’s chairmanship for the fourth time. The summit will bring together leaders and representatives of the BRICS member countries to discuss issues affecting emerging economies and the wider international community. The meeting comes at a time when the grouping is seeking to strengthen cooperation among its members and expand its influence in global affairs.

The summit will be held at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, with India assuming the BRICS chairmanship on January 1, 2026. India has previously held the chair in 2012, 2016 and 2021, making the 2026 presidency its fourth time leading the grouping. The government is expected to use the chairmanship to place greater emphasis on areas of cooperation that align with the interests of developing and emerging economies.

BRICS was originally formed by Brazil, Russia, India and China, with South Africa joining the grouping later. The organisation has evolved into an important platform for discussions on economic cooperation, development, trade, finance and international affairs. Its expanded membership has further increased the group’s representation among developing economies and given its summits greater significance in discussions about the changing global order.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to represent India at the summit, while the gathering will also provide an opportunity for leaders to hold bilateral and multilateral discussions on issues of mutual interest. The meeting is likely to focus on strengthening cooperation within BRICS while addressing broader global challenges. The participation of senior leaders from major emerging economies is expected to make the New Delhi summit an important diplomatic event for India.

India’s role as chair will place it at the centre of the summit’s discussions and agenda-setting process. The country has previously used its BRICS presidencies to promote cooperation in areas including development, economic growth and people-to-people exchanges. The 2026 chairmanship gives New Delhi another opportunity to shape the direction of the grouping and highlight priorities that it considers important for emerging economies.

The September 12-13 summit is therefore expected to be closely watched for both its formal outcomes and the diplomatic engagements taking place on its sidelines. With BRICS playing an increasingly prominent role in international affairs, the New Delhi meeting will offer member countries a platform to coordinate their positions and explore areas of cooperation. For India, hosting the 18th summit and assuming the chairmanship represents a significant opportunity to strengthen its diplomatic engagement with the BRICS grouping and its members.

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