The 56th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum will bring together the main governmental, business, and civil society leaders from January 19 to 23. President Javier Milei seeks to play a leading role, promoting the “ideas of freedom”.
Under the theme “The Spirit of Dialogue,” Davos 2026 offers a platform to connect leaders to face shared challenges and drive the innovations that define the future, according to its organizers. This Annual Meeting integrates the diversity of perspectives needed for the world to advance together in 2026, but it has been criticized by left-wing sectors for defining positions in favor of wealth concentration.
For over five decades, the Forum has brought together leaders from companies, governments, civil society, international organizations, the academic world, and new generations “to understand global challenges and make the world advance together.” This year's program is based “on that legacy, driven by the Forum's continuous work, recent world events, and revolutionary innovations.”
The objective is to generate ideas, find long-term solutions for interconnected challenges, and open new opportunities for growth, resilience, and impact. With nearly 3,000 participants from nearly 130 countries, Davos 2026 reflects a unique and diverse mix of sectors, industries, governments, and generations, ensuring the breadth of perspectives needed to find shared solutions.
At the meeting, where Milei will deliver an extensive speech and also hold various bilateral meetings with heads of government, there will be live sessions, extensive media coverage, and community participation through the Open Forum.
What to expect from Davos 2026 In various sessions, Davos will explore ways to renew cooperation in a context of questioned norms, tense alliances, and eroded trust. Debates will focus on practical solutions to foster resilience, competitiveness, and inclusive growth, including the responsible deployment of transformative technologies such as generative AI.
Who will attend Davos 2026? The Annual Meeting convenes leaders from a wide range of countries, sectors, and communities to foster an open exchange and a practical dialogue on global challenges. Among the participants are chief executives and presidents of the Forum's partner companies, along with heads of state and government, senior public officials from the G7, G20, and BRICS countries, as well as directors of international organizations.
Given that half of the attending leaders come from the Global South, the meeting reflects a diverse set of perspectives shaped by different economic, social, and regional contexts. The program is enriched by the contributions of civil society, union representatives, religious organizations, prominent cultural figures, and social entrepreneurs, in addition to academics and experts from various think tanks who provide analysis and knowledge based on research.
The Forum's young leaders from the Global Shapers community, along with innovators and technology pioneers, bring cutting-edge ideas and their firsthand experience in the face of change.
