The World Economic Forum in Davos - Looking Ahead to 2026

7th January 2026

The next World Economic Forum (WEF) meeting in Davos will take place from 19-23 January 2026 under the theme "A Spirit of Dialogue".

It will focus on five global challenges: cooperation in a contested world, unlocking new sources of growth, investing in people, advancing sustainability, and harnessing innovation.

The previous meeting in 2025 achieved notable progress in areas such as AI governance, Ukraine's reconstruction, Middle East peace dialogue, and commitments to climate action.

The World Economic Forum in Davos: Looking Ahead to 2026

Introduction
Every January, the Swiss mountain resort of Davos becomes the stage for one of the most influential gatherings in global politics and business. The World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2026 will convene leaders from government, business, civil society, and academia to address pressing challenges. This year's theme, "A Spirit of Dialogue", reflects the need for cooperation in an increasingly fragmented world.

The 2026 Agenda
The programme will be structured around five key challenges:

Cooperation in a contested world - how nations can work together despite geopolitical tensions.

Unlocking new sources of growth - exploring innovation, trade, and investment opportunities.

Investing in people - focusing on education, skills, and health.

Sustainability - advancing climate action and energy transition.

Innovation and resilience – ensuring technological progress benefits societies broadly.

More than 2,000 participants are expected, including heads of state, CEOs, and thought leaders. India is set to have its largest-ever presence, with multiple chief ministers and union ministers attending, while President Trump is scheduled to make his first in-person appearance at Davos in six years.

Achievements from Davos 2025
The 2025 meeting, themed "Collaboration for the Intelligent Age", produced several notable outcomes:

AI Governance: Leaders agreed on frameworks for responsible AI use, balancing innovation with safeguards.

Ukraine Reconstruction: Commitments were made to support rebuilding efforts, with pledges of investment and infrastructure support.

Middle East Dialogue: Discussions on peace initiatives created momentum for renewed diplomatic engagement.

Climate Action: Businesses and governments reaffirmed net-zero commitments, with new partnerships on renewable energy.

Global Cooperation: Over 50 heads of state attended, underscoring Davos as a platform for dialogue across divides.

Why It Matters
The WEF's annual meetings are often criticized as elite gatherings, but they remain one of the few spaces where leaders from across sectors can meet face-to-face. The 2025 meeting showed that Davos can generate real commitments — from AI governance to climate action — while the 2026 meeting will test whether dialogue can be sustained in a world marked by geopolitical rivalry and economic uncertainty.

The Davos 2026 meeting is poised to build on the momentum of 2025, shifting from collaboration in the "intelligent age" to dialogue in a contested world. Its success will be measured not only in speeches but in concrete actions: whether leaders can turn dialogue into trust, and trust into solutions.

World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2026