Bharat Mandapam: Inside the Venue Hosting the 2026 BRICS Summit

World leaders are gathering in Delhi this weekend as India hosts the 2026 BRICS summit, with the Bharat Mandapam complex lit up to receive them. Among those arriving are Russia's Vladimir Putin and China's Xi Jinping, who will join a series of meetings and high-profile engagements over the coming days.

A venue built for the world stage

Set within the Pragati Maidan complex, Bharat Mandapam spans 123 acres and was built at a cost of Rs 2,700 crore. It opened in 2023 and has since become a showcase of India's capacity to host large international events. The complex can accommodate thousands of guests, and for the next two days it will serve as the hub for discussions involving BRICS leaders and delegates.

The venue takes its name from the 12th-century 'Anubhava Mandapam', regarded as one of the earliest forums for public discourse and democratic dialogue.

Its most striking feature is a 27-foot Nataraja statue weighing 18 tonnes. The ashtadhatu (eight-metal alloy) sculpture was crafted by artisans from Tamil Nadu and stands as a major attraction. The main convention centre building is shaped like a conch shell, a design chosen to symbolise consciousness, energy and an auspicious beginning. Its interiors and exteriors carry elements of Indian civilisation, including motifs representing 'surya shakti' (solar energy), the journey from 'Zero to ISRO', and the 'panch mahabhuta' (five elements of nature).

Inside the summit halls

The summit hall can seat delegates from more than 150 countries and will host bilateral and multilateral discussions along with other summit activities.

Hall No. 1 hosted Friday's 'Bharat Innovates' programme, which displayed technologies from across the country, from drone systems to advanced and emerging tech. The hall will also hold programmes marking the bloc's two-decade journey and its future direction.

Hall No. 14 will host the BRICS Business Forum, among the summit's most significant business gatherings, drawing industrialists, investors and corporate representatives from member nations. Discussions on trade and economic cooperation are also scheduled there, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Putin set to address the business community.

Hall No. 5 houses the International Media Centre, where around 1,200 to 1,400 journalists from across the world will work. It will be the source for major announcements, special events and key visuals from the summit.

What is on the agenda

The summit is expected to focus on global issues, particularly the Russia-Ukraine war, tensions in the Middle East, the wider impact of these conflicts, and counter-terrorism policies. Leaders and prominent figures will also share their views on the challenges posed by Artificial Intelligence. Bilateral trade policies among BRICS nations may also take shape during the deliberations.