India is hosting the 13th BRICS Urbanisation Forum on 11–12 June 2026 in New Delhi, Shri Manohar Lal Khattar, Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs, announced today at the pre-event press conference. The Forum is a key ministerial event under India’s BRICS Chairship in 2026, guided by the Prime Minister’s vision of ‘Humanity First’ and the Chairship theme ‘Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability’.
The Urbanisation Forum will be held under the theme ‘Cities for People: BRICS Cooperation for Inclusive and Resilient Urban Futures’. Speaking at the press conference, the Union Minister said that the theme reflects India’s approach which gives centrality to people in the planning, governance, and development of cities.
India’s Legacy and Continued Leadership
The BRICS Urbanisation Forum was first hosted by India in New Delhi in 2013, formally placing urbanisation on the BRICS cooperation agenda. India again hosted the Forum in 2016 at Visakhapatnam, with a focus on sustainable urban development, smart cities and urban resilience.
India hosted the Forum virtually, again in 2021, focusing on urban recovery in the aftermath of the global pandemic. With the 13th BRICS Urbanisation Forum in 2026, India is hosting the Forum for the fourth time. Since its inception, the Forum has served as the dedicated ministerial platform for BRICS countries to exchange urban policy experience, identify shared priorities, and contribute urban inputs to the broader BRICS process.
Shared Urban Priorities Across BRICS Nations
The Union Minister said that the BRICS Urbanisation Forum comes at an important moment, as many BRICS nations are experiencing rapid urban growth while addressing common challenges of housing, mobility, climate risk, municipal capacity, urban finance, and service delivery.
The Forum will focus on a few broad priorities: inclusive urban development, climate and disaster-resilient infrastructure, stronger municipal institutions, and digital innovation for better urban governance.
Scheduled Programme and Expected Outcomes
The 13th BRICS Urbanisation Forum to be held for 2 days will host ministers, senior officials, policymakers, urban practitioners and experts from BRICS member nations. All eleven BRICS member countries have been invited to participate with ministerial-level delegations.
The first day of the Forum will include the inaugural session and a high-level plenary on shared BRICS urban priorities. Delegates will also be taken on a field visit to selected sites in New Delhi, for exposure to India’s urban transformation.
The second day will include thematic panel discussions on the Forum’s priority areas. Member nations will be participating in the panel discussions to share their country experiences. In addition, there will also be bilateral discussions amongst nations.
The deliberations are expected to support shared policy solutions on urbanisation challenges, and strengthen cooperation among BRICS countries on building inclusive, resilient and people-centred cities. The Union Minister said that India looks forward to welcoming delegates from across the BRICS family to New Delhi, and to working together on cities that are truly for people.