Davos, an exclusive ski resort near Zurich in Switzerland, is hosting the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum which began on Monday.
Delegates from big business, governments, civil society, academia and media will be spending the week discussing the biggest global challenges.
Here is all you need to know about the event.
What is the World Economic Forum?
The World Economic Forum (WEF) was founded in 1971 by German economist Klaus Schwab with the aim of encouraging collaboration between the private and public sectors.
The WEF generally focuses on emerging and established global problems. One of its primary stated goals is to work towards improving “the state of the world”, despite the inevitable differences of opinion on how this should and can be achieved.
Importantly, the WEF issued a Davos Manifesto in 2020 which stated it is formally guided by “stakeholder capitalism”.
This declared corporations should deliver value and benefits to employees, society and the planet, as well as shareholders.
For both politicians and corporate leaders, Davos is not only an opportunity to engage and influence other powerful public and private decision-makers, but it also creates an impression of stature and respect on the global stage.
As with all conferences, the opportunity to build relationships beyond the keynote speeches is key, but the sheer range of delegates and the scope of their influence takes networking at Davos to another level.
For governments it is an opportunity to try to cement and expand influence and co-operation, while politicians in opposition will use Davos as an opportunity to build new relationships and boost their economic credentials at home and abroad.
Who is attending Davos on behalf of the Government?
She is due to speak on a World Economic Forum public panel under the 2026 theme “A Spirit of Dialogue,” where Ms Reeves will unveil the government’s new plans to attract the world’s brightest minds in AI, life sciences and clean energy.
As part of a drive to make the UK the destination of choice for top global talent, the Chancellor will announce reimbursing visa fees for select individuals in deep tech sectors and those joining the most promising UK companies in priority sectors.
Speaking ahead of her visit, Ms Reeves said: “In a volatile world Britain stands out. This government is making sure Britain is home to the stability, talent and capital that businesses and investors want and that drive greater growth.
“Some countries give you a platform, but Britain gives you momentum. My message at Davos this week is clear: choose Britain – it’s the best place in the world to invest.”
Business Secretary Peter Kyle, Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, and Minister for Investment Lord Stockwood will also be in attendance, where the ministers are also expected to emphasise their commitment to protecting and strengthening British industry.
It is not known if Prime Minister Keir Starmer will attend the event.
Who else will be in attendance?
3,000 participants from 130 countries are set to attend Davos 2026, including 850 chief executives and chairs of the world’s top companies.
Forum President Borge Brende stated that six leaders from the G7 will be in attendance, as well as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Syria’s Ahmad al-Sharaa, among other prominent global figures.
A total of 64 heads of state or government are expected, which would be a record.
President Donald Trump will be in Davos, part of a record-sized US delegation, and will deliver a speech on Wednesday.
He will be joined by five Cabinet secretaries and other senior officials. This will include Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer – plus Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner and special envoy Steve Witkoff.
Among the other high-profile attendees will be European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, and World Trade Organization Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.
Many from the world of tech will also be there, including CEO of Nvidia Jensen Huang and Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella.
What are the main issues that are expected to be discussed in Davos?
The theme for this year’s conference is A Spirit of Dialogue – highlighting the importance of cooperation, growth, investment in people, innovation and building prosperity.
In advance of the event, the WEF said that a key focus of the deliberations would be the paradigm shift in technology, from AI and quantum computing to next generation biotech and energy systems.
The current geopolitical tensions are certain to be discussed – Trump’s statements and policies on subjects as diverse as Venezuela, Greenland and Iran, as well as his aggressive tariff policies, will be major talking points.
AI will continue to be a hot topic, as business leaders and tech CEOs will debate both the pros of innovation and the risks, including labour displacement, ethical frameworks, and how to navigate regulation and the right to innovate.
Why is Davos controversial?
There are politicians and commentators on both the left and right who are highly critical of the WEF.
Some on the right describe the forum’s lofty aims as idealistic and the event as an example of counter-productive “groupthink”.
Others on the left say a gathering of some of the world’s richest individuals and corporations is a sinister example of the global elite asserting its ideology and authority.
There are often protests surrounding the event, while sometimes delegates raise concerns over issues such as tax evasion and corporate greed.