The World Economic Forum’s 2026 Annual Meeting began in Davos on January 19, gathering major global figures under the theme “A Spirit of Dialogue.” Investors are monitoring the event closely due to the participation of U.S. President Donald Trump, other heads of state, and top corporate leaders.
This year’s WEF agenda will run until January 23, highlighting discussions on five primary global issues: international cooperation amid geopolitical tensions, fostering new drivers of economic expansion, investing in workforce development, ensuring responsible innovation, and achieving sustainable prosperity.
President Donald Trump is making his return to Davos for the first time since addressing the forum in 2020, during his previous term. Other prominent attendees include J.P. Morgan CEO Jamie Dimon, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang. French President Emmanuel Macron, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen are also present for the event.
In contrast, several notable leaders are not participating this year. Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi are absent from the official attendance list. However, China is represented by Vice Premier He Lifeng, who leads a delegation of senior trade and finance officials. Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman will also not be attending.
Key discussions at Davos are expected to focus on navigating geopolitical risks, economic strategies, technological advancements, and sustainability, with global markets closely following potential outcomes.
