BRICS Culture Ministers adopt Bhopal Declaration

The XI BRICS Culture Ministers' Meeting was held in Bhopal, India, on August 8, 2026, under India's BRICS Chairship, concluding with the adoption of the Bhopal Declaration. The meeting brought together 14 countries: 10 BRICS members (Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Russia, South Africa, and the United Arab Emirates) and 4 partner countries (Belarus, Cuba, Kazakhstan, and Thailand). The declaration outlines a framework for cooperation in cultural and creative industries, including support for creators, digital market access, UNESCO multinational nominations, provenance research, restitution of cultural property, safeguarding traditional knowledge, and addressing copyright issues in AI systems. India also announced a pilot Voluntary Artist Registry to facilitate cultural exchanges. The event included a two-day BRICS Culture Festival in Bhopal on August 6-7, 2026, with performances from several member and partner countries. The meeting was part of a series of Culture Working Group meetings held earlier in 2026.