India will host the first-ever Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Civilisational Dialogue Forum at Purana Qila in New Delhi from 20 to 22 November 2026. Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat announced on 13 November that China has accepted India’s invitation, along with Kazakhstan, Iran and several other countries. Pakistan has been invited but has not yet confirmed, and the government says it is “hopeful” Islamabad will attend.
The forum was proposed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the SCO summit in Tianjin, China, in September 2025, and is expected to be inaugurated by him. In this Election Guru explainer we cover the dates, venue, participants, sessions, the Pakistan question, the SCO’s structure and why cultural diplomacy matters for India.
SCO Civilisational Dialogue Forum at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Event | First SCO Civilisational Dialogue Forum |
| Dates | 20-22 November 2026 |
| Venue | Purana Qila, New Delhi |
| Organisers | Ministry of Culture and Ministry of External Affairs |
| Inauguration | PM Narendra Modi expected |
| Invitations | 25 countries (SCO members, dialogue partners, an observer) |
| Confirmed | 15 countries, including China |
| Pakistan | Invited; decision pending |
| Origin | Proposed by PM Modi at SCO Tianjin summit, September 2025 |
Countries Confirmed So Far
| Confirmed Countries (as reported) |
|---|
| China |
| Kazakhstan |
| Iran |
| Tajikistan |
| Uzbekistan |
| Belarus |
| Azerbaijan |
| Armenia |
| Bahrain |
| Nepal |
| Saudi Arabia |
| Turkiye |
| Sri Lanka |
Reports said 15 of the 25 invited countries have confirmed; the list above includes those named in reports.
The Pakistan Question
India has invited all SCO member nations, including Pakistan. Pakistan’s Minister for National Heritage and Culture, Aurangzeb Khan Khichi, was among those invited. Pakistan’s Foreign Office said a decision would follow consultations among “relevant institutions”. Shekhawat said: “We have extended the invite, hopefully they will attend but ultimately their decision.”
If a Pakistani minister attends, it would be the first such visit to India since May 2023 and the first since the four-day military conflict between India and Pakistan in May 2025, which followed the Pahalgam terror attack and India’s Operation Sindoor. Pakistan also chairs the SCO for 2026-27 and will host the leaders’ summit in August 2027.
What Will Happen at the Forum
| Session | Focus |
|---|---|
| Session 1 | Civilisational and cultural expressions – dress, food, traditional games, music |
| Session 2 | Art and architecture – monuments, sculpture, frescoes, coins, building traditions |
| Session 3 | Language, literature, scripts and manuscripts, including Nalanda, Takshashila and Vallabhi |
| Session 4 | Monastic, religious and philosophical traditions |
There will also be exhibitions and cultural performances on India’s heritage. Participating countries may discuss joint nominations to UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage lists and the Memory of the World Register; mehendi was cited as one example.
What Shekhawat Said
- “It is not an academic platform.”
- “Relations between countries should also be built through shared history, cultural heritage.”
- “The world is passing through what is perhaps its most challenging period since the World War.”
- “Dialogue leads to recognition, and recognition leads to influence. This happens naturally.”
What Is the SCO?
The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation is a Eurasian political, security and economic grouping founded in Shanghai on 15 June 2001, growing out of the “Shanghai Five” group formed in 1996. India and Pakistan became full members in 2017 at the Astana summit.
| Category | Countries |
|---|---|
| Members (10) | India, China, Russia, Pakistan, Iran, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan |
| Observers | Afghanistan, Mongolia |
| Dialogue partners | 15 countries, including Saudi Arabia, Turkiye, Sri Lanka, Nepal and others |
| Chair 2026-27 | Pakistan (summit in August 2027) |
Timeline of the Forum
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| September 2025 | PM Modi proposes the forum at SCO summit in Tianjin |
| November 2025 | SCO leaders’ meeting in Moscow accepts India’s offer to host |
| 20 October 2026 | Rajnath Singh announces dates at SCO Heads of Government meeting in Dushanbe |
| 28 October 2026 | MEA confirms invitations to all SCO members, including Pakistan |
| 13 November 2026 | China confirms; Pakistan undecided |
| 20-22 November 2026 | Forum at Purana Qila |
Why This Forum Matters for India
- Soft power: showcases India’s civilisational heritage, from Nalanda to Buddhist traditions
- China ties: China’s participation signals a thaw in cultural engagement
- Central Asia: strengthens links with Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and others
- Pakistan: a test of whether cultural diplomacy can open a channel after the 2025 conflict
- Leadership: India shapes the SCO agenda beyond security and trade
Why Purana Qila?
Purana Qila, the 16th-century fort in Delhi associated with Humayun and Sher Shah Suri, is believed by many to stand on the site of ancient Indraprastha. Excavations by the Archaeological Survey of India have found layers going back over 2,500 years. Choosing it as the venue fits the forum’s theme of shared civilisational history.
Also Read: India-EU FTA 2026: Signing Date, Benefits and What Changes
India-China Relations: The Backdrop
India-China ties were badly hit by the 2020 Galwan clash in eastern Ladakh. Relations slowly improved after a border patrolling agreement in October 2024, followed by meetings between PM Modi and President Xi Jinping. Modi’s visit to Tianjin for the SCO summit in September 2025 was his first trip to China in years. China’s acceptance of the invitation to the Delhi forum suggests continued engagement, even as differences remain on the border, trade deficit and China’s ties with Pakistan.
| Year | India-China Milestone |
|---|---|
| 2020 | Galwan clash |
| October 2024 | Border patrolling agreement |
| September 2025 | Modi attends SCO summit in Tianjin |
| November 2026 | China confirms SCO forum participation in Delhi |
India-Pakistan: Why Attendance Is Sensitive
Relations between India and Pakistan have been frozen since the Pahalgam terror attack in April 2025 and the four-day military conflict in May 2025, which followed India’s Operation Sindoor. India has kept its stand that terror and talks cannot go together. A cultural forum under the SCO umbrella offers a multilateral setting where a Pakistani minister could attend without it being a bilateral visit. Pakistan’s decision will also be read in light of its own role as SCO chair in 2026-27.
Cultural Diplomacy: India’s Soft Power Tools
- International Day of Yoga, celebrated worldwide since 2015
- Buddhist heritage diplomacy with Asian countries
- Return of stolen antiquities from abroad
- Support for UNESCO heritage nominations
- Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) centres abroad
India’s Role in the SCO So Far
Since joining in 2017, India has used the SCO to engage Central Asia, Russia and China while keeping its own positions. India held the SCO chair in 2022-23 and hosted the leaders’ summit virtually in July 2023. India has consistently refused to endorse China’s Belt and Road Initiative in SCO statements, citing sovereignty concerns over the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. It has pushed themes like counter-terrorism, connectivity that respects sovereignty, start-ups, traditional medicine and shared Buddhist heritage. The Civilisational Dialogue Forum continues this approach of building cultural links within the grouping.
| Year | India in SCO |
|---|---|
| 2017 | Becomes full member at Astana |
| 2022-23 | Holds SCO chair; virtual summit in July 2023 |
| September 2025 | PM Modi proposes Civilisational Dialogue Forum at Tianjin |
| November 2026 | Hosts first forum in Delhi |
Election Guru Analysis
The SCO Civilisational Dialogue Forum is India’s attempt to add a cultural pillar to a grouping known mainly for security and geopolitics. China’s participation is a positive signal. The bigger story will be whether Pakistan attends, which would be the first ministerial visit since the 2025 hostilities. Either way, the forum lets India present itself as a civilisational power at a time of global uncertainty, ahead of Pakistan’s turn to host the SCO summit in 2027.
SCO Civilisational Dialogue Forum Delhi FAQ
When is the SCO Civilisational Dialogue Forum?
It will be held from 20 to 22 November 2026.
Where is the SCO forum being held?
At Purana Qila in New Delhi.
Has China confirmed participation?
Yes. Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said on 13 November that China has accepted India’s invitation.
Will Pakistan attend the SCO forum in Delhi?
Pakistan has been invited, but had not confirmed as of 13 November. India says it is hopeful Pakistan will attend.
Who proposed the SCO Civilisational Forum?
PM Narendra Modi proposed it at the SCO summit in Tianjin, China, in September 2025.
How many countries have confirmed?
Reports say 15 of the 25 invited countries have confirmed participation.
When did India join the SCO?
India and Pakistan became full SCO members in 2017 at the Astana summit.