Representation pic: BRICS Cultural Festival at Ravindra Bhawan in Bhopal

Mumbai: The second BRICS Friendship Cities Conclave 2026 will be held on Aug 11 and 12 in Mumbai. It will bring together representatives of 15 cities from Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Iran and Indonesia. The conclave is being organised by Mumbai First with the support of the govts of India and Maharashtra. The first session will focus on protecting coastal cities from sea-level rise, coastal erosion and flood risks. The second session will discuss climate-responsive planning, green infrastructure and sustainable cooling solutions. A session on “Housing for All” will discuss affordable housing, upgrading informal settlements and community-led urban regeneration. The final substantive session will look at AI-enabled urban governance, including its potential role in improving public-service delivery and urban decision-making. Officials and experts from Maharashtra, Moscow and India’s digital-governance sector are listed for the discussion.