The 56th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) will bring global attention back to Davos, Switzerland, where political leaders, business executives and civil society representatives will gather from Jan. 19 to Jan. 23. They will engage in 'A Spirit of Dialogue' – the theme for WEF.
The meeting will focus on the five defining questions on geopolitics, growth, people, technology and the planet. Davos 2026 will offer an impartial platform for leaders to address shared challenges and shape future-defining innovation, according to the official website.
What Is World Economic Forum?
The World Economic Forum is an international organisation headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. For more than five decades, it has convened leaders from government, business, civil society, academia, international organisations and the next generation to address global challenges and advance collective action.
Its most prominent event, the annual meeting in Davos, brings together top decision-makers each year to discuss pressing global issues and priorities.
Davos 2026 marks the Forum's 56th annual meeting and continues its long-standing role as a global convening ground for dialogue and collaboration.
Why Does The WEF Matter?
The WEF provides an impartial space for dialogue, collaboration and action. Davos 2026 will explore how cooperation can be renewed amid geopolitical risk, economic uncertainty and shifting assumptions around security, sovereignty and global integration.
Discussions will focus on practical, solutions-oriented pathways to support resilience, competitiveness and inclusive growth. This includes the responsible deployment of transformative technologies such as generative artificial intelligence, alongside strategies to manage geopolitical and economic volatility, the official website stated.
Equally important are the human dimensions of change. As industries evolve and technology reshapes work, leaders will examine how governments and businesses can invest in people by supporting skills transitions, strengthening workforces and improving well-being.
The meeting will also address how prosperity can be rebuilt within planetary boundaries by advancing secure energy, nature and water systems.
Participation And Global Reach
Davos 2026 is expected to host close to 3,000 leaders from more than 130 countries, reflecting a diverse mix of sectors, industries, governments and generations. The meeting is set to record high levels of government participation, with around 400 political leaders attending, including nearly 65 heads of state and government and six leaders from the G7.
They will be joined by almost 850 top global chief executives and chairpersons, along with nearly 100 unicorns and technology pioneers.
Global Risks In Focus At Davos
The backdrop to the 2026 meeting is a world facing heightened economic and geopolitical tensions. According to the World Economic Forum's Global Risks Report 2026, released ahead of the gathering, geoeconomic confrontation has emerged as the top threat to global stability in the year ahead.
The report identified the use of tools such as sanctions and tariffs as the leading global risk for 2026, ranking above misinformation and disinformation, societal polarisation, extreme weather and state-based armed conflict. Escalating economic confrontation between major powers is now seen as the single biggest threat to global stability, highlighting the urgency of dialogue and cooperation at Davos.
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