Mumbai to host BRICS Friendship Cities Conclave 2026, focus on climate resilience, mobility and urban innovation

MUMBAI: As cities across the world grapple with climate risks, infrastructure stress and rapid urbanisation, Mumbai is set to host a major international gathering of city leaders from BRICS nations aimed at finding practical solutions to common urban challenges.Mumbai First, in collaboration with the Maharashtra government and the Centre, will organise the BRICS Friendship Cities Conclave 2026 in the city on August 11-12 under the theme "Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability." The event will bring together policymakers, city administrators, industry leaders and urban experts from BRICS countries to strengthen city-to-city partnerships and exchange ideas on sustainable urban development.The conclave comes at a time when Mumbai and several other Indian cities are facing mounting challenges ranging from extreme weather events and flooding to traffic congestion, housing shortages and pressure on civic infrastructure. Organisers said discussions would focus on identifying scalable solutions that can help rapidly urbanising regions adapt to future challenges.The event assumes added significance as India holds the BRICS presidency and seeks to deepen cooperation among major emerging economies.

Mumbai, India's financial capital and one of the world's largest megacities, has been chosen as the venue in recognition of its ongoing transformation through large-scale infrastructure, transport and urban renewal projects.The conclave builds on Mumbai First's earlier BRICS Friendship Cities initiative launched in 2016, whose recommendations were presented during the BRICS Summit in Goa. Organisers said the 2026 edition aims to move beyond dialogue and facilitate institutional partnerships capable of delivering measurable outcomes.Urbanisation remains one of the biggest policy challenges facing governments worldwide. Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis had earlier underlined the need for global collaboration to address the pressures arising from growing migration towards cities. With more than half the population increasingly concentrated in urban centres, governments are being forced to rethink infrastructure planning, public transport, housing and environmental management.Over two days, delegates will deliberate on four key themes: climate and environmental resilience; future-ready urban planning, mobility and infrastructure; inclusive and human-centric urban development; and urban governance, finance and digital transformation.Chief secretary Rajesh Aggarwal said Maharashtra was pleased to support the initiative and expected it to strengthen international partnerships while promoting sustainable and inclusive urban development.

He said the conclave would help deepen city-to-city and people-to-people ties among BRICS nations and create a framework for long-term cooperation.Mumbai First chairman Narinder Nayar said cities across the world are increasingly becoming centres of innovation and economic growth, making urban collaboration more important than ever. According to him, the conclave will provide a strategic platform for discussions on infrastructure, digital innovation, mobility, housing and investments, while fostering partnerships that can deliver tangible results for future cities.Experts note that BRICS cities collectively account for a significant share of the world's urban population and are confronting similar concerns related to climate adaptation, affordability, public health and infrastructure financing. The conclave is expected to examine policy models that can be replicated across cities in the Global South.For Mumbai, the event offers an opportunity to showcase ongoing efforts in metro expansion, coastal infrastructure, housing initiatives, climate adaptation measures and public health systems.

It also places the city at the centre of international discussions on how megacities can remain economically competitive while becoming more sustainable and resilient.Organisers said the conclave is expected to culminate in a roadmap for future cooperation among BRICS cities, with a focus on actionable policy outcomes and long-term partnerships aimed at building more resilient and inclusive urban centres.