The 3rd BRICS Culture Working Group Meeting commenced today in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, under India's BRICS Chairship, marking the beginning of a series of engagements leading up to the BRICS Culture Ministers' Meeting being held from 5 to 8 August 2026. The meeting was inaugurated with a ceremonial lamp-lighting and opening remarks at the inaugural session by Shri Vivek Aggarwal, Secretary, Ministry of Culture and Chair of the BRICS Culture Working Group.
Addressing the delegates, Shri Vivek Aggarwal said the BRICS dialogue had demonstrated the strength of cultural cooperation through consensus, mutual respect and shared purpose. "Culture is not merely a repository of the past, but a dynamic force for innovation, resilience, inclusive growth and deeper people-to-people understanding," he said. He also noted that the meeting would focus on strengthening collaboration in the creative economy, cultural heritage and traditional knowledge systems, while advancing the Sanchi Cultural Connect Declaration as a shared vision for future BRICS cultural cooperation.
Inviting delegates to experience India's rich civilisational heritage, Shri Aggarwal highlighted specially curated exhibitions - on Gyan Bharatam, Project Mausam & Brihattar Bharat, visits to the Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav Sangrahalaya and the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Sanchi and Bhimbetka. He also invited delegates to the BRICS Cultural Festival: Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinah – Harmony for All at Ravindra Bhawan, Bhopal, on 6 August, featuring cultural performances by artists from the participating countries.
Delegations from Brazil, China, South Africa, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Iran, Russia and Ethiopia participated in person, while Egypt joined the proceedings in hybrid mode. The Working Group Meeting serves as an important platform for strengthening cultural cooperation and advancing collaborative initiatives among BRICS nations ahead of the Culture Ministers' Meeting.
The meetings in Bhopal reaffirm India's commitment to strengthening cultural cooperation among BRICS nations by fostering dialogue, promoting mutual understanding and advancing culture as a catalyst for sustainable development and global partnership.
