Tokyo (SCCIJ) – The 2026 Meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, taking place on 19-23 January, is held under the theme of A Spirit of Dialogue, for the first time without Swiss founder Klaus Schwab, but with US President Donald Trump.
Impressive participation
A record 400 top political leaders are participating, including nearly 65 heads of state and government, the highest level of government participation in the forum’s history. All G7 country leaders are expected to come to Davos, except for Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, who prioritizes domestic affairs.
Also, 1,700 business leaders, among them nearly 850 of the world’s top CEOs and chairs, and about 100 leading unicorns and technology pioneers, are convening in Davos-Klosters. One reason: US President Donald Trump will attend, arriving with the most extensive US entourage ever. Last year, shortly after being sworn in for his second term, Trump gave a speech via video link at the Forum. In it, he announced, among other things, the high import tariffs.
Close to 200 leaders from civil society and the social sector – including labor unions, non-governmental and faith-based organizations, as well as experts and heads of the world’s leading universities, research institutions, and think tanks – also participate in the meeting. It will be accessible to the public, with over 200 sessions livestreamed here. Switzerland is the host country for the meeting.
Unprecedented speed of innovation
There are other global conference organizations, but the World Economic Forum is unique as a platform for dialogue between top representatives from business, politics, and civil society. The annual meeting in Davos thrives on the network effect: as long as all the essential business leaders and politicians attend, it is worthwhile for everyone to be there. „There is hardly any other place where you can meet and exchange ideas with so many top executives from all over the world so quickly, and where you can also get global media coverage. This saves countless business trips“, the Swiss newspaper Neue Zürcher Zeitung wrote ahead of the event.
This year’s program aims to spark ideas, surface long-term solutions to interconnected challenges, and unlock new opportunities for growth, resilience, and impact. The Forum wants to provide an impartial platform to navigate the significant economic, geopolitical, and technological forces reshaping the global landscape. A primary focus will be on the unprecedented speed of innovation and technological advancement.
“Dialogue is not a luxury in times of uncertainty; it is an urgent necessity,” said Børge Brende, President and CEO, World Economic Forum. Larry Fink, Interim Co-Chair of the World Economic Forum, added: “Understanding different perspectives is essential to driving economic progress and ensuring prosperity is more broadly shared.”
Text: Martin Fritz for SCCIJ with WEF material
