Spirit of dialogue to shape Davos as world leaders gather for WEF Annual Meeting 2026

THE World Economic Forum's (WEF) Annual Meeting 2026 will convene in Davos next week against what organisers describe as the most complex geopolitical backdrop since the end of World War II, with rising global tensions, economic uncertainty and rapid technological change shaping discussions at the start of the year.

- SIPHELELE DLUDLA

Unveiling key details of the meeting during a press briefing on Tuesday, WEF President and CEO Børge Brende said the gathering comes at a pivotal moment for the global economy, which has proven more resilient than many expected.

“Despite the geopolitical challenges, the global economy has been very resilient,” Brende said, adding that growth of more than 3% is expected this year, an improvement on the more pessimistic outlook seen in 2025.

However, he cautioned that sustaining growth would depend on avoiding major conflicts and unlocking new engines of expansion, particularly through frontier technologies.

Against this backdrop, the Forum has chosen “Spirit of Dialogue” as the theme for the 2026 meeting, underscoring the need for cooperation at a time of fragmentation and uncertainty.

“Dialogue is not a luxury. Dialogue is a necessity,” Brende said, pointing to shared global risks such as future pandemics and cybercrime, which he estimated costs the world between $5 trillion and $6trln a year.

The scale of this year’s meeting reflects that urgency. More than 3 000 leaders from around 130 countries are expected in Davos, including a record number of political and business leaders.