Artists from six BRICS member and partner countries converged on Bhopal on 6 August 2026 to present music, dance and folk performances at the BRICS Cultural Festival, held at Ravindra Bhavan as part of India's BRICS Presidency 2026. The event, organised by the Ministry of Culture, formed the centrepiece of the second day of the four-day BRICS Cultural Working Group meeting, underscoring culture as a pillar of people-to-people diplomacy.

Performances and Participating Nations

Cultural delegations from Belarus, Brazil, Indonesia, Russia, the United Arab Emirates and India took the stage before a packed audience, each presenting distinct artistic traditions. The festival opened with a parade of nations, artists dressed in traditional attire offering audiences a visual introduction to their homelands.

Belarus performed folk songs and traditional dances rooted in its national heritage. Brazil staged Capoeira — the Afro-Brazilian form that fuses martial arts, music, dance and acrobatics. Indonesia presented the Balinese welcome dance Pushpanjali and the Javanese dance-drama The Legend of Roro Jonggrang, drawn from one of the country's best-known folk legends.

Russia's National Academic Folk Instruments Orchestra performed compositions on traditional instruments including the balalaika, bayan, alto domra and contrabass balalaika. The UAE was represented by musician Saif Al-Ali, whose set blended traditional Emirati and Arab musical forms with contemporary elements. India closed the individual performances with Maru Rang – Heritage of Rajasthan, featuring folk dances including Ghoomar, Chari, Kalbelia and Bhavai.

Joint Finale and Unifying Theme

The festival concluded with a joint performance by artists from all six participating countries, conveying a message of cultural harmony, mutual respect and international friendship. According to the Madhya Pradesh government, the event was organised around the Sanskrit theme Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinah — 'May all be happy' — aligning with India's broader BRICS Presidency theme: 'Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Continuity'.

Context and Significance

The festival is part of a wider cultural engagement programme under India's BRICS Presidency, which aims to promote the exchange of traditional art forms and deepen cooperation among member and partner nations through shared cultural experiences. Notably, the inclusion of partner countries such as the UAE, Indonesia and Belarus alongside legacy members reflects the expanded BRICS architecture that took shape after the 2023 Johannesburg summit.

Bhopal's selection as the venue signals Madhya Pradesh's growing role as a cultural hub for India's multilateral engagements. The Cultural Working Group meeting continues through the remaining two days, with further sessions on cultural cooperation frameworks expected.