World Economic Forum Opens With Record Leader Turnout as Trump Set to Attend Davos

A man installs a microphone for the opening concert of the annual meeting of the World Economy Forum at the Congress Center in Davos, Switzerland, on Jan. 18, 2026. Markus Schreiber/AP PhotoThe Swiss alpine town of Davos opened its doors to the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) 56th Annual Meeting on Jan. 19, with a steady stream of business and political leaders arriving for a week of closed-door talks and high-profile panel sessions set against intensifying geopolitical strains and a shifting global economic outlook.Organizers say this year’s meeting, running through Jan. 23 under the theme “A Spirit of Dialogue,” is among the most senior gatherings in the forum’s history, featuring a record roster of political leaders alongside top executives and investors.