Live: BRICS Summit 2026: World leaders gather in New Delhi as PM Modi foresees impactful dialogue on global welfare

Sources aware of the developments revealed that a large group comprising over 100 artists from India and other member nations will deliver a performance at a formal dinner hosted by PM Narendra Modi on the summit's opening day at Bharat Mandapam. The high-profile BRICS gathering is scheduled in central Delhi from September 12 to 13, featuring participation from leaders like Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin along with other dignitaries. The total team of performers is estimated to reach around 160 individuals, with Indian musicians and dancers taking center stage during the cultural show. PTI

DMRC announced that Metro services across all routes will start early at 6 a.m. on Sunday, September 13, 2026, helping students taking exams and commuters navigate around traffic curbs put in place for the summit. Under standard schedules, operations along the Pink, Magenta, and Grey lines begin an hour later at 7 a.m. on Sundays. The metro authority urged examinees and other commuters to structure their trips in advance keeping in mind the traffic diversions across various parts of the national capital. PTI

Commercial statistics indicate that physical goods exported by BRICS members accounted for roughly one-fourth of total worldwide exports during 2024. Rapid expansion in internal trade among member states has pushed topics like cross-border settlement mechanisms and reducing reliance on the U.S. dollar to the top of the agenda for the upcoming summit.

A massive security blanket involving nearly 15,000 police officers alongside 200 paramilitary companies has been activated across Delhi, as at least 16 state heads and high-level delegations arrive for the summit over the coming three days. Vigilance has been heightened around summit locations, accommodations, historical landmarks, and designated transit routes, with additional security staff stationed along the borders of Delhi. The capital city has significantly upgraded its security grid for the BRICS event, deploying thousands of police and paramilitary personnel to protect attending international dignitaries.

With foreign dignitaries arriving in the national capital, Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated on Friday, September 11, 2026, that he is completely confident the BRICS Summit will lead to "constructive and impactful deliberations aimed at universal well-being".

The Chinese government confirmed on Thursday (September 10, 2026) that President Xi Jinping will participate in the BRICS Summit in New Delhi scheduled for September 12-13, marking his initial travel to India in nearly seven years. China's President Xi Jinping will travel to India for the first time in seven years to deliberate on bilateral trade and normalization of ties during the BRICS Summit.

Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in India on Friday (September 11, 2026) for a three-day official visit to attend the BRICS Summit and engage in discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on boosting mutual trade, economic investments, and energy sector cooperation. President Putin is visiting alongside a high-level official delegation. This marks his first physical participation in an overseas BRICS summit since the conflict in Ukraine began in February 2022. The Russian President landed in New Delhi for the BRICS gathering with an aim to reinforce bilateral ties and address pressing global economic concerns.

The Ministry of External Affairs has verified that alongside President Putin, leaders including Chinese President Xi Jinping, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali, and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto will be attending the Delhi summit, which takes place amid international supply chain disruptions in energy and agriculture due to conflicts in West Asia and Ukraine. Dignitaries including Putin and Guterres are coming together for the BRICS meeting this weekend to confront international crises and seek collective remedies.