The Ministry of Culture, Government of India, inaugurated the BRICS Theatre Festival 2026 at the National School of Drama in New Delhi on October 12, 2026. The three-day festival, themed 'Shared Stories, Shared Futures', runs from October 12 to 14, 2026, and is organized under India's BRICS Presidency 2026 with the National School of Drama serving as the nodal agency.
The festival brings together theatre practitioners, scholars, students, and cultural representatives from nine BRICS member and partner countries: India, Thailand, Indonesia, Russia, Iran, Vietnam, South Africa, Kazakhstan, and Ethiopia. The opening ceremony was attended by Union Minister of Culture and Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat as Chief Guest, along with Ministry of Culture Secretary Vivek Aggarwal, Ministry of External Affairs Secretary (Economic Relations) Sudhakar Dalela (India's BRICS Sherpa for 2026), and NSD Director Chittaranjan Tripathy.
Performances are being staged across multiple venues in New Delhi including NSD's Abhimanch and Sammukh auditoriums, Kamani Auditorium, LTG Auditorium, and Meghdoot Theatre. Tickets are priced at ₹200 per ticket and available through BookMyShow. The inaugural day featured the play 'Samudra Manthan' written by Asif Ali with design, direction, and music by Chittaranjan Tripathy.
The festival includes two theatre productions from India and two groups from Russia, with other participating countries presenting works reflecting their diverse languages, cultural perspectives, and theatrical traditions. The program spans classical, contemporary, and experimental theatre forms. Interactive workshops and discussion sessions are being organized on mornings following performances, covering artistic vision, performance traditions, acting methodologies, and stagecraft.
The event aligns with India's BRICS Presidency theme 'Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability' and the BRICS Culture Track priorities of collaboration in cultural industries, protection of cultural heritage, and culture's role in climate resilience and sustainable development.