Davos 2026 at the World Economic Forum

Every January, the mountain town of Davos-Klosters, Switzerland becomes one of the world’s most influential stages - not for fashion or pop culture, but for ideas that shape the global economy, geopolitics, technology, and cooperation. The World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting 2026 (19–23 January) has convened leaders from government, business, civil society, and academia to confront some of the most urgent challenges of our time. Under the theme “A Spirit of Dialogue,” this year’s meeting is set against a backdrop of shifting geopolitical alliances, economic uncertainty, and rapid technological change. Nearly 3,000 global leaders from more than 130 countries - including nearly 65 heads of state or government, 850 CEOs, and leaders from civil society, labour, and academia - are attending.

Why Davos Still Matters

Davos isn’t just a conference -  it’s an annual moment when the world’s most powerful stakeholders come together to test ideas, build consensus and explore solutions that span borders. This year, leaders are grappling with how to renew global cooperation in an era where economic conflicts, technological disruption, and geopolitical tensions are reshaping long-held assumptions about trade, security, and governance.

Discussions at the Forum are wide-ranging but focused on practical and solutions-oriented approaches. Sessions explore issues such as:

• Geopolitical risk and economic growth, with an emphasis on fostering cooperation and shared resilience.

• The role of technology and innovation - including responsible deployment of artificial intelligence - in creating inclusive, sustainable progress.

• Human capital and the future of work, as leaders consider how workforce skills must adapt in the face of automation and digital transformation.

• Climate, nature, and water systems, recognising that economic progress cannot be decoupled from planetary health.

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The gathering is truly cross-sectoral. Beyond presidents and prime ministers, Davos draws chief executives, Nobel laureates, civil society leaders, and innovators charting the course for the next decade. Youth voices from the Forum’s Global Shapers community and social entrepreneurs also add fresh perspectives to conversations that might otherwise feel distant or opaque. The aim of this diversity isn’t just optics. It reflects a recognition that today’s challenges - from economic inequality to climate risk - cannot be solved by any single group alone. Instead, the Forum’s structure encourages cooperation among actors with very different agendas, experiences, and insights. Several spotlight issues are defining this year’s Davos. At the top of many agendas is how to navigate geopolitical fault lines without destabilizing global systems. Economic tensions - particularly between major powers - are seen as a significant short-term risk to global stability. At the same time, global economic resilience shows signs of strength in some areas even as uncertainty lingers, especially in markets tied closely to technological advancement and AI adoption. In Davos discussions, this duality - of rapid innovation and structural challenge - highlights the paradox of modern leadership: how to harness technology and cooperation to generate growth that benefits people and the planet alike. 

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For many African leaders and delegations, Davos offers a platform to shift narratives from risk and adversity to investment, innovation, and partnership. Countries like South Africa are attending not just to listen, but to advocate for structural reforms, infrastructure investment, and regional trade momentum - seeking to turn global conversation into tangible opportunities. This reflects a broader trend: in a world of complex interdependence, emerging economies are asserting themselves not just as beneficiaries of global systems but as contributors to solutions in areas ranging from trade to technology to sustainability. 

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At its best, Davos is a place where leaders can step outside the pressures of day-to-day politics and business to think long-term about shared futures. Whether or not every initiative launched in the Alps becomes reality - from ambitious climate goals to AI governance frameworks - the conversations themselves help set possibilities in motion. As the Forum unfolds, one of its enduring values remains the same: bringing diverse voices to the table to build bridges where there were once only divides. For leaders grappling with fractured global norms, that spirit of dialogue is more than a theme - it is a necessary starting point for collective progress.