BRICS Summit 2026: Three years after Delhi underwent a major makeover for the G20 Summit, parts of the capital are once again being transformed for another major international event – the BRICS Summit 2026. India is hosting the 18th BRICS Summit as part of its 2026 chairship, with the Leaders’ Summit scheduled at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi on September 12 and 13. Security rehearsals, traffic planning and a large-scale beautification drive are already under way across the capital. Here’s what Delhi residents and visitors need to know about the preparations, security arrangements, traffic restrictions and events planned around the summit.

When Is The BRICS Summit In Delhi? The 18th BRICS Leaders’ Summit will be on September 12 and 13. India is chairing BRICS in 2026 under the theme “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability”. The wider programme and security arrangements extend beyond the two-day leaders’ meeting, with delegations expected to arrive in Delhi ahead of the summit and leave after its conclusion.

Will Central Government Offices Be Closed? Central Government offices in Delhi and New Delhi will remain closed on Friday, September 11, 2026, in view of arrangements for the BRICS Summit.

Where Will The BRICS Summit Be Held? The main summit venue is Bharat Mandapam at Pragati Maidan in Central Delhi. The venue will be at the centre of the security and traffic arrangements as motorcades carrying visiting leaders and delegates move between their hotels and the summit site.

Why Is Delhi Getting A Makeover? The New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) is carrying out an extensive beautification exercise across Lutyens’ Delhi ahead of the summit. Forty-one major roads have been divided into 14 circles, with a nodal officer assigned to each to oversee daily cleaning, landscaping and other civic arrangements.

Officials have also identified 15 locations for floral boards, nine for flower fountains and 17 roundabouts for special landscaping and beautification. The areas around the 10 hotels where BRICS delegates are expected to stay are also receiving special attention. The India-Africa Friendship Rose Garden and BRICS Friendship Rose Garden are among the locations being highlighted as part of the preparations.

What Will Delhi Look Like During BRICS? The preparations go beyond roads and gardens. The Ministry of External Affairs has shared inputs with NDMC on the visual elements to be installed around the city, including prominent BRICS branding, floral displays and boards carrying photographs of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The capital is also expected to host events linked to the summit, bringing the BRICS theme into public spaces through food, art and cultural performances.

According to reports, the Talkatora Garden amphitheatre is planned to host performances by artists from BRICS countries, while mural work is being planned around the National Museum area. A food festival will also showcase cuisines associated with the member countries.

How Is Delhi Preparing For The Security Challenge? Security agencies have stepped up surveillance around the hotels where foreign dignitaries and delegates will stay, as well as along the routes connecting them with Bharat Mandapam. Delhi Police, Delhi Traffic Police, the Ministry of External Affairs and other agencies have already conducted motorcade rehearsals to test security and traffic arrangements before the arrival of the delegations.

In one such rehearsal, motorcades were reportedly run between 12 locations, including the 10 designated hotels and two other locations, and Bharat Mandapam. The exercise began at 10:30 am, with the motorcades returning at around 3:30 pm. Officials later reviewed the movement at Bharat Mandapam to identify areas where coordination could be improved. Security agencies are also carrying out continuous checks in sensitive areas. Vehicles in the motorcades are being fitted with GPS devices so their movements can be monitored in real time, while anti-sabotage teams and bomb detection and disposal squads are being deployed as part of the security arrangements.

Which Areas Will Face Traffic Restrictions? The Delhi Traffic Police has identified 22 diversion points for regulating traffic during motorcade movements. The September 2 rehearsal affected more than 35 roads, with restrictions and diversions planned across important stretches of Central and South Delhi. Roads and corridors including Sardar Patel Marg, Janpath, Ashoka Road and Mathura Road were among those affected, with commuters advised to avoid the routes where possible. The traffic arrangements are not limited to the rehearsal days. Further restrictions are expected as foreign delegations begin arriving in Delhi ahead of the summit and as their motorcades move between hotels and Bharat Mandapam.

When Will Traffic Curbs Be Imposed? Traffic restrictions have already been introduced for rehearsals. On September 2, traffic was regulated between 10 am and 3 pm at multiple locations as part of the motorcade exercise, while an earlier rehearsal on September 1 involved restrictions between 11 am and 3 pm. For the actual summit period, motorists should expect intermittent restrictions rather than necessarily continuous road closures. Traffic police are expected to regulate movement when VVIP motorcades are passing through particular corridors.

Will Metro Services Be Affected? The Delhi Metro is expected to remain an important alternative for commuters during periods of road restrictions. Traffic police have repeatedly advised people travelling through affected areas to use public transport, particularly the Metro, where possible. Emergency and essential service vehicles will be given priority passage during traffic regulation.

Are Drones Being Used For Traffic Management? Yes. Delhi Traffic Police is deploying drones to monitor traffic movement and identify congestion during the BRICS preparations. The aerial surveillance will provide live information on traffic conditions and help officials respond to bottlenecks as they develop. The move is part of a wider technology-based traffic management plan for the summit.

How Many Hotels Are Part Of The Security Plan? Ten hotels have been designated for visiting dignitaries and delegates, and these locations have become a major focus of the security arrangements. Motorcade rehearsals have specifically covered these hotels to test the routes and coordination required to move visiting delegations safely to and from Bharat Mandapam.

How Is NDMC Managing The Preparations? NDMC has created a 12-member core team supported by around 200 additional staff to manage venues and assist the Ministry of External Affairs during the summit-related activities. The civic body is also keeping a close watch on roads and public spaces, particularly during the monsoon, when rain and waterlogging could affect the routes being prepared for visiting delegations.

What Is BRICS And How Many Countries Are Members? BRICS is an intergovernmental grouping that began with Brazil, Russia, India and China. South Africa joined in 2011, turning BRIC into BRICS. The grouping has since expanded. Its current 11 full members are Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Indonesia. Indonesia became a full member in 2025. The group focuses on cooperation in areas including politics and security, economic and financial matters, and cultural and people-to-people exchanges.

Why Is This BRICS Summit Important For India? India’s 2026 BRICS chairship comes at a time when the grouping has expanded significantly and its economic and geopolitical importance has grown. The country’s stated BRICS agenda for 2026 focuses on resilience, innovation, cooperation and sustainability, with the chairship programme covering areas ranging from economic cooperation and technology to development and people-to-people ties.

For Delhi residents, however, the summit will first be visible in more immediate ways: tighter security, motorcade movements, traffic diversions, a heavily monitored Central Delhi and a city dressed up to receive international delegations. With preparations already moving into their final phase, commuters can expect the biggest impact around the summit venue, delegate hotels and the routes connecting them as September 12-13 approaches.