Davos 2026 Agenda: Dialogue, Growth, and a Fractured World

Dialogue Reset

Davos 2026 opens under the theme “A Spirit of Dialogue,” an explicit response to a fractured world. With wars, trade barriers, and diplomatic rifts multiplying, organisers are pushing conversation over confrontation—though whether dialogue can outpace distrust is the unanswered question.

Growth Rethink

After years of inflation shocks and uneven recoveries, leaders will debate what “growth” even means now. Expect hard questions on productivity, slowing economies, and whether capitalism itself needs recalibration to survive the next decade.

People First

From workforce reskilling to demographic shifts, Davos puts human capital back at the centre. Sessions focus on education, health systems, and labour transitions as AI and automation redraw the global jobs map faster than governments can respond.

AI Reckoning

Artificial intelligence dominates the agenda—not as hype, but as risk. Policymakers and tech leaders will wrestle with governance, guardrails, and accountability as AI moves from boardrooms into courts, classrooms, and conflict zones.

Climate Limits

Sustainability talk turns sharper this year. With climate deadlines slipping, Davos 2026 confronts the uncomfortable gap between net-zero pledges and real-world action, especially as energy security collides with decarbonisation goals.

Capital Shifts

Where money flows—and where it doesn’t—will be fiercely debated. From emerging markets to infrastructure funding, Davos becomes a live map of investor confidence in a world reshaped by geopolitics and protectionism.

Fragmented Trade

Globalisation isn’t dead, but it’s splintered. Leaders will debate supply chain realignment, “friend-shoring,” and trade blocs as economic cooperation increasingly mirrors political alliances rather than pure efficiency.

Digital Power

Digital public infrastructure, data sovereignty, and cyber resilience emerge as strategic priorities. Nations now view digital systems as critical assets—on par with roads, ports, and power grids—raising stakes around control and access.

Trust Crisis

Underlying every panel is a deeper issue: trust. In institutions, markets, governments, and media. Davos 2026 quietly asks whether global leadership can still persuade citizens—or whether legitimacy itself is eroding.