BRICS Summit 2026 Day 1 Schedule: From Modi-Xi Meeting to Gala Dinner, Know What Happens Today

BRICS Summit 2026 Day 1 Schedule: New Delhi is hosting the 18th BRICS Leaders’ Summit on September 12 and 13, 2026, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcoming leaders from the expanded grouping at Bharat Mandapam. The first day will combine important bilateral meetings with the formal BRICS programme, including a closed-door leaders’ session, an innovation exhibition, the official family photograph, tree plantation and a gala dinner.

One of the most closely watched events will be Prime Minister Modi’s expected bilateral meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Modi also has a busy diplomatic schedule involving leaders from Ethiopia, Malaysia, Abu Dhabi and Vietnam before the main summit programme begins.

PM Modi’s Bilateral Meetings Begin in the Morning

Before the formal BRICS leaders’ programme at Bharat Mandapam, Prime Minister Modi is scheduled to hold several bilateral meetings.

According to the reported schedule, the first major meeting of the morning is with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali at 10 AM at Hyderabad House.

At 10:30 AM, Modi is scheduled to meet Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

The diplomatic engagements continue at 11 AM, when Modi is scheduled to hold talks with Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.

Another meeting is listed for 11:30 AM with Le Minh Hung of Vietnam.

These bilateral engagements are separate from the formal BRICS summit sessions and give India an opportunity to discuss country-specific issues alongside the wider multilateral gathering.

BRICS Leaders Begin Arriving at Bharat Mandapam at 2 PM

The official summit programme begins in the afternoon.

At around 2 PM, leaders representing BRICS member countries are scheduled to arrive at Level 2 of Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi.

India is hosting the summit as the BRICS Chair for 2026. The gathering includes major world leaders and is expected to focus on global governance, multilateral cooperation, trade, investment, technology, food and energy security, health and resilient supply chains.

2:35 PM: Closed-Door BRICS Leaders’ Session

At 2:35 PM, leaders of BRICS member countries will participate in the first major closed-door session.

The session is titled “Inclusive Global Governance and Strengthening Multilateralism.”

It will be held in the Summit Hall on Level 2 of Bharat Mandapam.

The discussion is expected to focus on strengthening multilateral institutions and increasing the role of emerging economies in global decision-making.

The closed format also gives participating leaders an opportunity to discuss sensitive international and economic issues away from the larger public-facing programme.

4:25 PM: Leaders Visit Bharat Innovates Exhibition

Following the closed session, BRICS leaders are scheduled to visit the Bharat Innovates Exhibition at 4:25 PM.

The exhibition will be held in Hall 14 of Bharat Mandapam.

The event forms part of India’s effort to highlight innovation and technology during its BRICS presidency.

5:05 PM: Official BRICS Family Photo

At 5:05 PM, leaders of BRICS member countries will gather on the outside lawns of Bharat Mandapam for the traditional family photograph.

The group photograph is one of the major visual moments of an international summit because it brings the participating heads of state and government together on a single platform.

5:10 PM: Joint Tree Plantation

Immediately after the family photograph, a joint tree-planting ceremony is scheduled for 5:10 PM.

The ceremony will also take place on the outside lawns of Bharat Mandapam and will involve leaders of BRICS member countries.

5:45 PM: Modi-Xi Jinping Meeting

One of the biggest diplomatic events of the day is expected at 5:45 PM, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping at Bharat Mandapam, according to the reported bilateral calendar.

The Modi-Xi meeting is particularly significant because India-China relations remain closely watched amid discussions around the border, trade and the broader strategic relationship.

Reports ahead of the summit indicated that the two sides were working on arranging bilateral talks on the sidelines of the BRICS gathering.

Because bilateral schedules around major summits can change at short notice, the precise timing should be treated as the currently reported programme.

7:30 PM: PM Modi to Host Gala Dinner

The formal programme on the opening day will conclude with a gala dinner hosted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at 7:30 PM.

The dinner is scheduled to take place on Level 3 of Bharat Mandapam.

Such dinners are not merely ceremonial. They also provide leaders with opportunities for informal conversations away from structured summit sessions.

BRICS Summit September 12 Full Schedule

The formal summit timings are supported by the published programme for Bharat Mandapam, while the bilateral meetings form part of Modi’s separately reported diplomatic schedule.

What Will Happen on the Second Day?

The summit will continue on Sunday, September 13, when participation expands to include BRICS partner countries and outreach invitees.

Leaders are scheduled to begin arriving at 9:55 AM, followed by an official group photograph at 10:35 AM.

At 10:50 AM, the main open session will begin under the theme “Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability: Shaping the Future for Inclusive Global Growth.”

The summit is expected to conclude with the New Delhi Declaration, outlining the major outcomes and commitments agreed upon during the two-day gathering.

Why the Modi-Xi Meeting Will Be Closely Watched

Although the formal BRICS agenda covers global governance, economic cooperation, technology, sustainability and development, the bilateral meetings taking place around the summit could attract equal attention.

The meeting between Modi and Xi is expected to be among the most closely followed because discussions could touch on the India-China border situation, bilateral trade and the future direction of relations between the two Asian powers.

With leaders including Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin and other heads of state in New Delhi, the September 12–13 summit gives India an important diplomatic platform both within BRICS and through a series of one-on-one meetings on the sidelines.