The 56th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF), commonly known as Davos 2026, is scheduled to convene world leaders from January 19 to 23 in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland.
The World Economic Forum anticipates record levels of government attendance, with around 400 key political figures expected to join nearly 850 of the world’s leading CEOs. This group includes 65 heads of state and government, along with six leaders from the G7.
The World Economic Forum occurs amid geopolitical tensions, technological progress, and societal changes. The US Supreme Court’s hearing regarding the Trump tariffs is set for next week, coinciding with the US President’s presence in Davos for the Forum. The market is also anticipating the announcement regarding the next US Fed chief, whether it will emerge before or upon returning from Davos.
Davos 2026 Theme: ‘A Spirit of Dialogue’
The chosen theme for Davos 2026 is ‘A Spirit of Dialogue’, highlighting the WEF’s commitment to clear communication and collaborative problem-solving in a world marked by fragmentation, increasing geopolitical competition, and rapid technological change. The five central issues on the agenda include:
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Cooperation in a contested world
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Unlocking new sources of growth
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Investing in people
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Deploying innovation at scale and responsibly
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Building prosperity within planetary boundaries
These key areas aim to bridge divides between governments, businesses, and civil society on issues ranging from climate change to AI regulation.
Who’s Attending: Global Leaders And Business Titans
This year’s summit is expected to attract nearly 3,000 leaders from over 130 countries, marking it as one of the largest and most diverse gatherings in the history of the WEF. It will feature around 65 heads of state or government, 400 influential politicians, and top executives from the world’s largest corporations.
Approximately 850 top CEOs and chairpersons will be joined by about 100 notable unicorns and technology innovators, alongside 400 senior political leaders.
Key Heads of States at Davos:
- Donald Trump, President of the United States of America
- Mark Carney, Prime Minister of Canada
- Friedrich Merz, Federal Chancellor of Germany
- Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission
- He Lifeng, Vice-Premier of the People’s Republic of China
- Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine
- Javier Milei, President of Argentina
- Prabowo Subianto, President of Indonesia
- Pedro Sánchez, Prime Minister of Spain
- Gustavo Petro, President of Colombia
Notable leaders of international and civil society organizations include:
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UN Secretary-General António Guterres
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IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva
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WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus
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World Trade Organisation Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala
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UN High Commissioner for Refugees Barham Salih
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International Rescue Committee President and CEO David Miliband
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Gavi, The Vaccine Alliance, CEO Sania Nishtar
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Global Fund Executive Director Peter Sands
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International Crisis Group President and CEO Comfort Ero
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Nia Tero President and Executive Director Aulani Wilhelm
From the corporate sector
Close to 850 CEOs and chairpersons from various industries are anticipated, featuring notable names in technology and business, such as:
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Microsoft’s Satya Nadella
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Nvidia’s Jensen Huang
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Meta’s Dina Powell McCormick
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OpenAI’s Sarah Friar
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Agility Robotics’ Peggy Johnson
India everywhere!
India’s expanding influence on the global stage will be underscored by its significant representation at Davos 2026.
Davos 2026 will feature India’s largest-ever participation from states:
- Maharashtra
- Andhra Pradesh
- Assam
- Madhya Pradesh
- Uttar Pradesh
- Gujarat
- Jharkhand
- Telangana
- Karnataka
- Kerala
National Security Advisor Ajit Doval is expected to attend, along with several Union ministers and approximately 100 CEOs from major Indian companies, according to PTI.
Prominent leaders from companies such as Infosys, Bharti, and JSW Group, along with leading Indian figures like Mukesh Ambani (Reliance Industries) and N. Chandrasekaran (Tata Sons), are also anticipated to join.
At least four Union ministers — Ashwini Vaishnaw, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Pralhad Joshi, and K Ram Mohan Naidu — as well as six chief ministers are expected to participate in the five-day annual gathering in Davos-Klosters.
Chief Ministers from Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Assam, and Jharkhand will showcase investment opportunities, display innovations in digital governance, and underline local economic initiatives to a global audience.
