Varanasi to Host 2nd BRICS Culture Meeting in 2026
Shri Vivek Aggarwal, Secretary of the Ministry of Culture, announced today that the 2nd BRICS Culture Working Group (CWG) Meeting will take place in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, on June 4-5, 2026. The announcement was made during a press conference in New Delhi, with notable attendees including Dr. Sachchidanand Joshi, Member Secretary of the IGNCA; Smt. Amita Prasad Sarabhai, Additional Secretary; Dr. Arvind Kumar, Joint Secretary, and several senior officials from the Ministry.
This two-day meeting aims to foster structured multilateral dialogue on cultural cooperation, aligning with India’s BRICS 2026 theme: “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability.”
Priority Areas for Discussion
The 2026 BRICS Culture Working Group will focus on three key thematic priorities:
- Creative Economy, Cultural and Creative Industries, Copyright and Artificial Intelligence
- Cultural Heritage Protection and the Return of Cultural Property
- Culture, Climate and Sustainable Development
These discussions underline a commitment to innovation, ethical technology use in cultural sectors, the preservation of cultural diversity, and cooperation in heritage conservation and restitution. Additionally, they will align with the global post-2030 sustainable development agenda.
India’s Role in BRICS Cultural Cooperation
India has shown a strong commitment to cultural cooperation within the BRICS framework, having hosted previous BRICS Ministerial Meetings of Culture in Goa in 2016 and in New Delhi in 2021. The country continues to take a leadership role during its 2026 Chairship.
The BRICS Culture Working Group operates under the 2015 Agreement on Cooperation in the Field of Culture among BRICS member nations. Over the years, this group has broadened its cooperative efforts in areas such as cultural heritage, creative industries, films, museums, archives, and digital culture.
Upcoming Meetings in the BRICS Culture Track 2026
The schedule for the 2026 BRICS Culture Working Group includes a series of important meetings as follows:
| Date | Meeting / Programme | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| April 29-30, 2026 | 1st BRICS Culture Working Group Meeting | Virtual Mode |
| June 4-5, 2026 | 2nd BRICS Culture Working Group Meeting | Varanasi, India |
| August 5-6, 2026 | 3rd BRICS Culture Working Group Meeting | Bhopal, India |
| August 6-7, 2026 | BRICS Cultural Festival | Bhopal, India |
| August 7-8, 2026 | BRICS Culture Ministers’ Meeting | Bhopal, India |
| October 12-14, 2026 | BRICS Theatre Festival | New Delhi, India |
About BRICS
BRICS, consisting of Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, as well as Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Indonesia as full members, serves as a platform for diverse multilateral cooperation. Its efforts span across political, security, economic, financial, cultural, and people-to-people initiatives, paving the way towards a more inclusive and equitable international order.
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