India to Host BRICS Theatre Festival in Delhi from October 12–14

New Delhi is set to become a hub of international theatre as India hosts the BRICS Theatre Festival 2026 from October 12 to 14, bringing together more than 100 theatre practitioners, scholars, students and cultural representatives from nine BRICS member and partner countries.

Organised by the Ministry of Culture under India’s BRICS Presidency, the festival, themed “Shared Stories, Shared Futures,” will feature 11 plays presented by 10 theatre groups from India, Russia, Iran, South Africa, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Kazakhstan and Ethiopia. India will present two productions, while Russia will be represented by two theatre groups. The festival will showcase classical, contemporary and experimental theatre, offering audiences exposure to different languages, traditions and creative approaches.

India will open the festival with Samudra Manthan on October 12, while Russia will present Circus on Strings and La Bayadère. Iran will stage Hidden, and Thailand will bring Lak Sida (The Abduction of Sita), offering a distinctive cultural connection through a Southeast Asian interpretation of the Ramayana tradition. Indonesia will present Iluh Tana (Tears of the Earth), South Africa Someone, Kazakhstan Kya Zhibek, and Vietnam Đất Thép Củ Chi (Steel Land). Ethiopia will participate through the Ethiopian National Theatre, with production details awaited.

The festival will conclude with India's Louha Purush, based on the life and legacy of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. The two Indian productions present contrasting dimensions of the country's cultural identity, moving from the mythological heritage represented by Samudra Manthan to modern nation-building through Patel's story.

Performances will be staged at the NSD’s Abhimanch and Sammukh auditoriums, Kamani Auditorium, LTG Auditorium and Meghdoot Theatre. Workshops and discussions involving directors, artistes and production teams will cover acting methodologies, performance traditions, stagecraft, technical design and artistic vision, creating opportunities for professional and institutional exchanges.

The festival builds on the Bhopal Declaration, adopted at the BRICS Culture Ministers’ Meeting in August, which emphasised cultural cooperation, people-to-people exchanges and stronger networks among artists and cultural practitioners. India has also proposed a Voluntary Artist Registry to facilitate such exchanges.

The BRICS New Delhi Declaration subsequently welcomed the Theatre Festival as a platform for showcasing cultural diversity, circulating creative works and strengthening people-to-people ties. The event therefore adds a cultural dimension to India's BRICS engagement, allowing participating nations to share their histories and artistic traditions while creating opportunities for long-term professional and cultural connections.