The BRICS 2026 theme is actually centered around financial cooperation, technology governance, and also reducing dependence on the US dollar as India takes over the presidency right now. India’s leadership emphasizes “Building Resilience and Innovation for Cooperation and Sustainability,” and the 18th BRICS Summit is scheduled for New Delhi sometime in August or September 2026. Member nations are shifting the BRICS de-dollarization agenda 2026 from planning to actual deployment, and BRICS local currency trade is expanding through alternative payment systems. Along with this, BRICS AI governance is emerging as a key priority alongside BRICS financial cooperation initiatives that member nations are developing right now.
Also Read: BRICS 2025 Summary: De-Dollarization Push and Gold Reserves Surge
Driving BRICS 2026 Theme With Trade, AI Governance, Finance & Local Currencies
India’s Presidential Vision
Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated at the 17th BRICS Summit:
“Under India’s BRICS presidency, we will work to define BRICS in a new form. BRICS will mean Building Resilience and Innovation for Cooperation and Sustainability.”
Modi also emphasized continuity with India’s G20 leadership, saying:
“Just as, during our G-20 chairmanship, we gave priority to the issues of the Global South in the agenda, similarly during our chairmanship of BRICS, we will take this forum forward in the spirit of people-centricity and humanity first.”
Payment Systems and Currency Initiatives
The BRICS de-dollarization agenda 2026 actually includes deploying The Unit. Following a 100-unit pilot that researchers released on October 31, 2025, this system aims to help facilitate cross-border trade without dollar intermediation. Russia, China, and India are targeting the 2026-2027 timeframe for CBDC interoperability, and they’re linking the digital ruble, yuan, and rupee as an alternative to SWIFT.
India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar clarified the bloc’s position in March 2025, stating:
“I don’t think there’s any policy on our part to replace the dollar. The dollar as the reserve currency is the source of global economic stability, and right now what we want in the world is more economic stability, not less.”
The New Development Bank is actually increasing BRICS local currency trade by targeting one-third of all loans that member nations’ domestic currencies will fund by 2026. BRICS Pay has already reduced USD usage in intra-bloc trade by roughly two-thirds at the time of writing. BRICS financial cooperation also involves members actively shedding US Treasuries and accumulating gold reserves, with the alliance now controlling an estimated 50% of global gold production.
Some experts estimate that Russia reported in 2024 that 90 percent of its trade within the bloc took place in national currencies rather than dollars right now. These concrete developments in alternative payment infrastructure are shaping the BRICS 2026 theme.
AI Governance and Technology Focus
The BRICS AI governance agenda represents a key pillar of the BRICS 2026 theme at the time of writing. Modi shared India’s approach during BRICS discussions:
“We in India believe in AI as a tool to enhance human values and capabilities. Guided by the mantra of ‘AI for All’, India is actively using AI in many sectors.”
He also added:
“We believe that AI governance, addressing concerns and encouraging innovation should both receive equal priority.”
This technology focus aims to establish frameworks that allow BRICS nations to actually shape global AI standards rather than just adopting Western systems. The BRICS 2026 theme also addresses sustainable development, climate action, and some energy transition alongside digital cooperation initiatives. Analysts view the BRICS de-dollarization agenda 2026 as a “De-dollarization 2.0” phase, as the bloc responds to external pressures including proposed US tariffs on nations pursuing dollar alternatives.
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla expressed gratitude to Brazil’s Parliament and said:
“The agenda will be set for the Summit in India, and India will ensure a successful and productive hosting of the event.”
Member nations are accelerating the BRICS local currency trade initiatives through technical deployment of systems that member countries conceptually planned for some time now. The bloc is also expanding BRICS financial cooperation mechanisms to include investment guarantees for development projects. The BRICS AI governance framework will address concerns around technology sovereignty and digital cooperation among member states right now.
Despite these efforts, market depth and also some internal divisions within the bloc mean the US dollar will likely remain the world’s dominant reserve currency in the near term. JPMorgan analysts actually maintain a net bearish view on the dollar for 2026, expecting it to weaken as the continued “weaponization” of the dollar through sanctions accelerates the push for alternatives at the time of writing.