Davos 2026: 3,000 leaders from 130 countries to attend WEF’s 56th Annual Meeting from Jan 19-23
Davos 2026: Børge Brende, President and CEO of the World Economic Forum, said “Dialogue is not a luxury in times of uncertainty; it is an urgent necessity."
- Jan 14, 2026,
- Updated Jan 14, 2026 9:59 AM IST
The World Economic Forum is set to hold its 56th Annual Meeting in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland, from January 19 to 23. The event is expected to bring together nearly 3,000 leaders from over 130 countries, including representatives from government, business, international organisations, civil society, and academia. The meeting will be held under the theme ‘A Spirit of Dialogue’.
Børge Brende, President and CEO of the World Economic Forum, said “Dialogue is not a luxury in times of uncertainty; it is an urgent necessity. At a critical juncture for international cooperation – marked by profound geoeconomic and technological transformation – this year’s Annual Meeting will be one of our most consequential. With historic levels of participation, it will provide a space for an unparalleled mix of global leaders and innovators to work through and look beyond divisions, gain insight into a fast-shifting global landscape, and advance solutions to today’s and tomorrow’s biggest and most pressing challenges.”.
The 2026 programme will focus on five key global challenges: cooperation in a contested world, unlocking new sources of growth, investing in people, deploying innovation responsibly and at scale, and building prosperity within planetary boundaries. Several research reports will be released during the event, including the Global Cooperation Barometer 2026, the Global Risks Report 2026, the Global Cybersecurity Outlook 2026, and the Chief Economists Outlook.
Switzerland, the host country, is all set to welcome 400 government leaders, including nearly 65 heads of state and government, 55 ministers for economy and finance, 33 ministers for foreign affairs, 34 ministers for trade, commerce and industry, and 11 central bank governors. Leaders from all key regions and six G7 nations will be present.
High-profile state attendees include President of the United States Donald Trump, Prime Minister of Canada Mark Carney, Federal Chancellor of Germany Friedrich Merz, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, Vice-Premier of China He Lifeng, and President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The event will also feature leaders from Ukraine, Gaza, and the Middle East.
Participants from international organisations include Secretary-General of the United Nations António Guterres, Director-General of the World Trade Organization Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, President of the World Bank Group Ajay S Banga, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund Kristalina Georgieva, and Secretary-General of NATO Mark Rutte.
Around 1,700 business leaders including 850 top CEOs and chairpersons will also be in attendance, such as Jensen Huang of NVIDIA, Satya Nadella of Microsoft, and Demis Hassabis of Google DeepMind, to participate in discussions on technology and innovation.
Mirek Dušek, Managing Director at the World Economic Forum, said, “In an era where exponential technological innovation and geopolitical disruption are deeply intertwined, the need for constructive dialogue between policy-makers and industry is clear. Leaders will share views from across sectors to help build the understanding needed to balance short-term priorities and immediate challenges with long-term value creation.”
Civil society will also have strong representation, with close to 200 leaders from non-governmental, faith-based organisations, and major universities and research institutions attending. Notable participants include David Miliband of the International Rescue Committee, Sania Nishtar of Gavi, The Vaccine Alliance, and Oleksandra Matviichuk of the Ukraine Center for Civil Liberties. The Arts and Culture Programme will feature cultural figures such as Marina Abramović, Sir David Beckham, and Yo-Yo Ma.
Saadia Zahidi, Managing Director of the World Economic Forum, said, “In a global economy shaped by technology, geoeconomics, and demographics, the defining challenge will be whether opportunity is broadly shared or if growth remains sluggish and uneven.”
The World Economic Forum is set to hold its 56th Annual Meeting in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland, from January 19 to 23. The event is expected to bring together nearly 3,000 leaders from over 130 countries, including representatives from government, business, international organisations, civil society, and academia. The meeting will be held under the theme ‘A Spirit of Dialogue’.
Børge Brende, President and CEO of the World Economic Forum, said “Dialogue is not a luxury in times of uncertainty; it is an urgent necessity. At a critical juncture for international cooperation – marked by profound geoeconomic and technological transformation – this year’s Annual Meeting will be one of our most consequential. With historic levels of participation, it will provide a space for an unparalleled mix of global leaders and innovators to work through and look beyond divisions, gain insight into a fast-shifting global landscape, and advance solutions to today’s and tomorrow’s biggest and most pressing challenges.”.
The 2026 programme will focus on five key global challenges: cooperation in a contested world, unlocking new sources of growth, investing in people, deploying innovation responsibly and at scale, and building prosperity within planetary boundaries. Several research reports will be released during the event, including the Global Cooperation Barometer 2026, the Global Risks Report 2026, the Global Cybersecurity Outlook 2026, and the Chief Economists Outlook.
Switzerland, the host country, is all set to welcome 400 government leaders, including nearly 65 heads of state and government, 55 ministers for economy and finance, 33 ministers for foreign affairs, 34 ministers for trade, commerce and industry, and 11 central bank governors. Leaders from all key regions and six G7 nations will be present.
High-profile state attendees include President of the United States Donald Trump, Prime Minister of Canada Mark Carney, Federal Chancellor of Germany Friedrich Merz, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, Vice-Premier of China He Lifeng, and President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The event will also feature leaders from Ukraine, Gaza, and the Middle East.
Participants from international organisations include Secretary-General of the United Nations António Guterres, Director-General of the World Trade Organization Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, President of the World Bank Group Ajay S Banga, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund Kristalina Georgieva, and Secretary-General of NATO Mark Rutte.
Around 1,700 business leaders including 850 top CEOs and chairpersons will also be in attendance, such as Jensen Huang of NVIDIA, Satya Nadella of Microsoft, and Demis Hassabis of Google DeepMind, to participate in discussions on technology and innovation.
Mirek Dušek, Managing Director at the World Economic Forum, said, “In an era where exponential technological innovation and geopolitical disruption are deeply intertwined, the need for constructive dialogue between policy-makers and industry is clear. Leaders will share views from across sectors to help build the understanding needed to balance short-term priorities and immediate challenges with long-term value creation.”
Civil society will also have strong representation, with close to 200 leaders from non-governmental, faith-based organisations, and major universities and research institutions attending. Notable participants include David Miliband of the International Rescue Committee, Sania Nishtar of Gavi, The Vaccine Alliance, and Oleksandra Matviichuk of the Ukraine Center for Civil Liberties. The Arts and Culture Programme will feature cultural figures such as Marina Abramović, Sir David Beckham, and Yo-Yo Ma.
Saadia Zahidi, Managing Director of the World Economic Forum, said, “In a global economy shaped by technology, geoeconomics, and demographics, the defining challenge will be whether opportunity is broadly shared or if growth remains sluggish and uneven.”