BRICS 2026 beyond the Declaration: An Indian feast, Bollywood tunes by the Malaysian PM, and more

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In this screengrab from a video posted on Sept. 12, 2026, Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Russian President Vladimir Putin as they arrive at Bharat Mandapam to attend a dinner hosted for visiting dignitaries of the 18th BRICS Summit, in New Delhi. Photo: @NarendraModi/YT via PTI Photo

The first day of the 18th BRICS Summit being held in New Delhi on Saturday (September 12, 2026) saw the grouping arrive at a crucial consensus , as negotiators worked until the last minute to bring Iran and the United Arab Emirates on the same page.

The eagerly awaited New Delhi Declaration skipped direct mentions of the U.S. strikes on Iran or Iranian military’s attacks on several Gulf Arab nations, but called for “maximum restraint” in the war. It also made no separate mention of the Russian war in Ukraine.

With the diplomatic hurdles cleared early in the evening, the cohort returned to the decked-out Bharat Mandapam at night for the gala dinner. The newsmakers attending the Summit wrapped up the first day with an Indian feast, some Bollywood tunes, and much more.

Chinese President Xi Jinping skipped the gala dinner hosted by Mr. Modi, sources aware of the matter said. The reason for the absence of the Chinese President is not immediately known. Mr. Xi arrived in New Delhi on Saturday (September 12, 2026) afternoon and attended the BRICS Summit, besides having a fruitful bilateral meeting with Mr. Modi .

The Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed, who left for home after attending the BRICS Summit during the day, was also a notable absentee at the high dinner table. Meanwhile, the Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan arrived in New Delhi as a late addition, soon after the departure of the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince

#WATCH | Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud arrives at the Delhi Airport to attend the BRICS Summit. pic.twitter.com/ngk6OpwwvI

Infusing a distinctive cultural resonance into his official visit to the national capital, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim blended statecraft with classic Bollywood melodies, spontaneously performing Kishore Kumar’s timeless track “ Khwab Ho Tum Ya Koi Haqeeqat ” from the 1965 film Teen Devian .

Mr. Anwar, participating in the BRICS Summit, delivered the musical rendition during his stay at a Delhi hotel. The performance showcased the iconic composition by S.D. Burman alongside lyrics penned by Majrooh Sultanpuri, reflecting a long-standing personal appreciation for Hindi cinema that frequently surfaces during his diplomatic engagements.

‘Paneer lababdar’, ‘gucchi marmik’, ‘millet pulao’, and ‘shahtoot phirni’ for desserts were among the Indian delicacies served to the leaders and delegates of the BRICS Summit at a gala dinner hosted by Mr. Modi at the Bharat Mandapam on Saturday (September 12, 2026).