Davos 2026 Set to Host World Leaders Amid Major Global Challenges
World Economic Forum Annual Meeting brings nearly 3,000 leaders to Switzerland to explore cooperation, innovation, and inclusive growth
Switzerland, JAN 17 : The 56th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) will take place in Davos, Switzerland, from January 19 to 23, 2026, bringing together nearly 3,000 leaders from over 130 countries. Held under the theme “A Spirit of Dialogue,” Davos 2026 arrives amid heightened geopolitical tensions, slowing global growth, and rapid technological transformation.
The forum aims to provide a neutral platform for government, business, and civil society leaders to reconnect, rebuild trust, and collaborate on solutions to global challenges that increasingly cross borders. Discussions will address geopolitical realignments, trade frictions, financial volatility, and the responsible deployment of transformative technologies such as generative AI and advanced computing.
Emphasizing the human dimensions of change, sessions will explore strategies for resilient labor markets, skills development, and inclusive growth. Environmental sustainability and climate risk mitigation will also feature prominently, highlighting pathways to rebuild prosperity within planetary boundaries.
Davos 2026 is expected to witness record government participation, with around 400 top political leaders, including nearly 65 heads of state and six G7 leaders. Notable attendees include US President Donald Trump, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, German Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Chinese Vice-Premier He Lifeng, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and leaders from Argentina, Indonesia, Spain, Switzerland, Greece, Israel, Ukraine, and more.
International institutions will also have a strong presence, including UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva, and World Bank President Ajay S. Banga. NATO, WHO, OECD, ITU, and UNDP leaders are among those expected to contribute.
Business and technology will be central to the agenda, with around 1,700 business leaders attending, including nearly 850 CEOs and chairpersons from the Forum’s Members and Partners. Prominent innovators such as Jensen Huang (NVIDIA), Satya Nadella (Microsoft), Demis Hassabis (Google DeepMind), Dario Amodei (Anthropic), and Alex Karp (Palantir) will showcase how technology can drive productivity while addressing ethical and social concerns.
The forum will feature over 200 live streamed sessions, allowing global audiences to follow debates, pose questions, and engage with discussions in real time. By uniting leaders from diverse sectors and regions, Davos 2026 aims to foster long-term solutions, unlock opportunities for growth and resilience, and advance global cooperation in a complex and rapidly evolving world.
