Davos - The Mountain Summit Where the World Tries to Talk to Itself

18th January 2026

Every January, the quiet Alpine town of Davos-Klosters becomes a temporary capital of global power. Presidents, prime ministers, central bankers, tech chiefs, investors, activists and thinkers arrive in the snowbound Swiss resort for the Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) — an event more commonly known simply as "Davos."

It is not a treaty-making conference. No votes are taken, no laws passed, no formal communiques agreed. And yet, Davos matters. It matters because it gathers, in one place and at one time, the people who shape global policy, capital flows, technology and geopolitics — and because many of the conversations that influence the year ahead happen not on stage, but in corridors, side rooms and private meetings.

In 2026, Davos arrives at a moment of particular tension. The world is more fragmented than at any time since the Cold War: trade disputes are intensifying, wars continue on Europe's borders and in the Middle East, climate targets are slipping, and artificial intelligence is advancing faster than regulation can keep up. Against that backdrop, the official theme — "A Spirit of Dialogue" — is as much an aspiration as a description.

What Davos Actually Is — and Is Not

The World Economic Forum, founded in 1971, is a non-profit organisation based in Geneva. Its annual meeting in Davos is its flagship event. Attendance is by invitation, and participation is dominated by senior political leaders, multinational companies, international institutions, and a growing number of NGOs and academics.

Davos is not:

A world government

A decision-making body

A binding negotiating forum

But it is:

A global agenda-setting event

A networking hub for political and economic elites

A place where ideas are tested, alliances explored and narratives shaped

Many initiatives — on climate finance, vaccine access, AI standards or supply chains — begin as informal discussions at Davos before re-emerging later in more formal settings such as the G7, G20, COP climate summits or national policy programmes.

Why Davos 2026 Matters More Than Usual

This year's meeting takes place amid rising geoeconomic confrontation. According to the World Economic Forum's own global risk survey, economic conflict — tariffs, sanctions, investment restrictions and trade weaponisation — is now seen as a greater near-term risk than outright military conflict.

That makes Davos 2026 less about optimism and more about damage control.

Key underlying tensions shaping discussions include:

Strained US-Europe relations over trade, security and industrial policy

Ongoing wars in Ukraine and the Middle East

Deepening US-China strategic rivalry

The race to regulate artificial intelligence without stifling innovation

Climate goals colliding with political backlash and economic slowdown

In this context, Davos functions as a pressure-release valve: a place where leaders can talk openly, test red lines and search — sometimes desperately — for areas of cooperation.

Who Will Be There

Around 3,000 participants from more than 130 countries are expected in Davos in 2026. These typically include:

Heads of state and government

Finance ministers and central bank governors

CEOs of major global companies

Leaders of international organisations (UN, IMF, World Bank, WTO)

Tech and AI leaders

Climate, health and development advocates

Journalists and commentators

The presence of powerful figures gives Davos its influence — and fuels criticism that it represents a closed elite talking to itself. To counter that, the WEF increasingly highlights civil society participation and runs a parallel Open Forum, with sessions livestreamed to the public.

What Gets Discussed

While the programme runs hundreds of sessions, most discussion clusters around five broad themes:

Geopolitics and Global Order
How to manage rivalry without sliding into permanent conflict, and whether multilateral institutions can still function.

The Global Economy
Growth prospects, inflation, debt, trade fragmentation and the future of globalisation.

Technology and AI
How to govern artificial intelligence, data and digital infrastructure without falling behind competitors.

Climate and Energy
Transition finance, energy security, and the political backlash against climate policies.

Social Stability and Trust
Inequality, migration, democratic resilience and public confidence in institutions.

A Simple Timeline: What Happens During Davos Week (19-23 January 2026)
Sunday (18 January): Arrival and Quiet Diplomacy

Delegates arrive in Switzerland

Security ramps up across Davos

Informal dinners and bilateral meetings begin

Media previews and risk reports dominate headlines

This is when many of the most candid conversations take place — before the cameras arrive.

Monday (19 January): Opening and Big Picture Speeches

Official opening of the World Economic Forum

Keynote speeches from senior political leaders

Release of major WEF reports and surveys

First high-profile panels on geopolitics and the global economy

Tone-setting day: leaders outline how they see the world — and what they fear most.

Tuesday (20 January): Economy, Trade and Power Politics

Heavy focus on global growth, inflation, debt and trade

Panels on sanctions, tariffs and economic confrontation

Closed-door meetings between rival powers

Central bankers and finance ministers in the spotlight

This is often the most market-sensitive day, closely watched by investors.

Wednesday (21 January): Technology, AI and Innovation

Major sessions on artificial intelligence and digital governance

Tech CEOs unveil initiatives or signal regulatory positions

Debates over AI safety, productivity and geopolitical competition

Strong media attention on future-facing technologies

Expect bold claims — and sharp disagreements — about how fast is too fast.

Thursday (22 January): Climate, Energy and Social Issues

Climate finance, energy transition and sustainability dominate

Discussions on inequality, health, education and migration

NGO and civil society voices more prominent

Open Forum sessions attract wider public attention

This is where Davos' critics and defenders clash most directly.

Friday (23 January): Wrap-Up and Takeaways

Final sessions and summary discussions

Leaders offer closing reflections

Media focuses on "what Davos achieved"

Delegates depart — and the real work moves elsewhere

Davos ends not with decisions, but with signals: what priorities will dominate the year ahead.

Davos is often mocked as a talking shop for the global elite and sometimes that criticism is justified. But dismissing it entirely misses the point. Davos is not where the world is run; it is where the world's most powerful actors compare notes, test ideas and size each other up.

In 2026, with global tensions rising and trust eroding, Davos is less about grand visions and more about whether dialogue itself is still possible. The fact that leaders keep showing up despite the criticism suggests they still believe it is.

Summary

What: World Economic Forum Annual Meeting — flagship global leadership summit

Where: Davos-Klosters, Switzerland

When: 19-23 January 2026

Theme: A Spirit of Dialogue

Focus: Geoeconomic risks, AI and tech governance, growth, sustainability, cooperation

Who: Heads of state, CEOs, innovators, civil society and media from 130+ countries

Public element: Open Forum with livestreamed sessions for broader audiences

World Economic Forum At DAVOS