What Is the BRICS Gala Dinner and Where Did the Tradition Begin?

Source: ABP News | Original Published At: 2026-09-10 08:01:18 UTC

Key Points

• India will host the 18th BRICS Summit at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi on 12 and 13 September under India's chairmanship.
• The first day of the summit will conclude with a gala dinner hosted by the Prime Minister at Level 3 of Bharat Mandapam at 7:30 p.m.
• The BRICS gala dinner is a formal welcome event organized by the chairing country and is typically held after the first day of the summit.
• The tradition began at the first official BRICS summit in Yekaterinburg, Russia, in 2009.
• The dinner usually features local cuisine and cultural performances, allowing the host country to showcase its cultural heritage.
• It provides an informal setting for leaders to engage in soft diplomacy, build trust, and discuss sensitive issues outside formal sessions.
• Since 2009, BRICS has expanded from Brazil, Russia, India and China to include South Africa and later Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, the United Arab Emirates and Indonesia.