India hosted the 2nd BRICS Culture Working Group (CWG) meeting in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, on June 4-5, 2026, under its 2026 BRICS Chairship. Organized by the Ministry of Culture, the event facilitated multilateral dialogue among the 11 member nations to align cultural policies with global development goals.
Thematic Priorities and Focus Areas
- Creative Economy & AI: Emphasizing the economic valuation of cultural products, intellectual property protection, and establishing ethical standards for AI in the creative sector.
- Cultural Heritage: Building institutional frameworks to combat illicit trafficking of antiquities and standardizing procedures for the restitution of cultural property.
- Culture & Climate: Integrating traditional ecological knowledge systems to mitigate climate risks and embedding cultural drivers into post-2030 sustainable development goals.
BRICS Culture Track Roadmap 2026
- Institutional Framework: Operations are governed by the 2015 Agreement between the Governments of the BRICS Member States on Cooperation in the Field of Culture.
- 2026 Calendar: Following the Varanasi meet, subsequent engagements include the 3rd CWG meeting, a Cultural Festival, and the Culture Ministers’ Meeting in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh (August 2026).
IASPOINT Booster Facts
- Membership: Expanded to 11 full members in 2024-2025; India also oversees a secondary tier of 10 “Partner Countries.”
- Economic Impact: The 11 BRICS nations account for ~30% of global nominal GDP and >40% of global GDP (PPP terms).
- Cultural Diplomacy: The Varanasi event utilized India’s “living cultural hub” status to showcase heritage, following its 2022-23 designation as the SCO Cultural and Tourism Capital.