McKinsey and the World Economic Forum 2027

LinkedIn X Facebook

Every year, the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting brings together top decision-makers from government, business, and civil society to address major global issues and priorities for the year ahead. At the Annual Meeting 2027, which takes place in Davos, Switzerland, from January 18 to January 22, leaders from around the globe will convene under the theme Deliberate Conversations on the Future, centered around the following priorities:

People: How can the next era of growth and jobs reach more people than before?
Technology: How can we empower humanity in the age of AI?
Growth: How can we turn energy and infrastructure from a chokepoint into an accelerant of prosperity?
Planet: How can climate and nature solutions advance economic progress within planetary boundaries?
Geoeconomics: How can we drive resilience and competitiveness in a more contested world?

As a strategic partner to the World Economic Forum, McKinsey and our Davos 2027 delegates will engage in constructive, forward-looking dialogues to identify impact-oriented solutions around these key topics.

McKinsey Priority Themes

Geopolitics: Competing amid a shifting world order: Navigating geopolitical shifts to build resilience and advantage

Global Economy: Finding growth amid uncertainty: Adapting to AI and other forces reshaping the global economy

AI Transformation: From AI everywhere to value at scale: Rewiring organizations to capture AI’s full potential

Robotics and Automation: The physical AI revolution: Harnessing robotics and automation to reimagine how the world works

Leadership/CEO Development: Leadership for the 21st Century: Building leaders who can sustain performance through constant change

Related insights

Article

What is Davos and the World Economic Forum (WEF)?

October 30, 2026 -

Davos, Switzerland, is where the World Economic Forum holds its annual meeting. Delegates from many sectors converge for several days of talks and meetings to address urgent global issues.

A glowing golden sphere sits at the center of a complex structure of interlocking rings and orbit-like forms. The surrounding elements create a dynamic, futuristic composition against a dark background, suggesting energy, motion, and advanced technology.

Article - McKinsey Quarterly

The AI transformation manifesto

April 7, 2026 -

Twelve themes separate companies that are truly rewired for AI from their peers.

Green and blue forms linked by orange cords create a web of interconnected relationships.

Article

As the world order turns, leading companies are keeping pace. Here’s how

October 9, 2026 -

Leading companies are tracking six emerging patterns of geopolitical change and realigning their businesses to achieve resilience, seize growth, and build competitive advantage.

A glowing Earth sits at the center of swirling rings of luminous data points and digital connections against a deep blue background.

Discussion Paper - MGI Research

The AI economy: Interconnected forces, feedback loops, and speeds of change

September 10, 2026 -

AI is shaped by forces far beyond the technology itself, and its effects reach just as widely. Mapping how the pieces interact helps us see what could influence its course and where hurdles and opportunities may emerge.

A humanoid robot sorting electronic devices and components on a conveyor belt, with bins of keyboards, phones, speakers, to its side.

Insights Collection

The Next Normal – The future of robotics: Intelligent, adaptable, and on your team

June 25, 2026 -

Robots are starting to move beyond factories and warehouses into varied, everyday settings. As more companies begin to adopt general-purpose robots, the challenge becomes less about what the technology can do and more about figuring out how people and machines can work together. In this edition of The Next Normal, we take a closer look at where robots are already gaining ground and how the broader landscape could unfold.

Businessman walks along a long, winding road holding an umbrella.

Podcast - The McKinsey Podcast

What it takes to become—and remain—an effective CEO

June 25, 2026 -

Between the first 90 days and the last, here’s how leaders can successfully manage people, products, processes, and themselves.

Abstract picture of colorful light trails crossing twilight sky with fast motion.

Article - McKinsey Quarterly

From adoption to impact: Three horizons of AI transformation

July 8, 2026 -

Most organizations are still early in their AI journeys. A new global survey reveals how companies can progress from individual adoption to enterprise-wide value capture.

Stacks of gold coins rest on top of a precarious tower made of wooden rectangular blocks against a deep blue background.

Report - MGI Research

The global balance sheet 2026: Imbalance and divergence

July 23, 2026 -

Several asset classes grew further out of balance with the economy, raising the possibility of corrections through inflation, asset valuation losses, or, optimally, productivity.

Organic circular pattern made out of green leaves with a dew drop at its center

Article

The continuing evolution of the Global Lighthouse Network

July 13, 2026 -

The growth of the Global Lighthouse Network showcases the opportunities for Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies to make a positive impact for people and the planet.

Featured content from our collaborations

Digital generated image of multicoloured sphere made out of twisted turbulent spline connections

Article

The Global Cooperation Barometer 2026

January 8, 2026 -

New research from McKinsey and the World Economic Forum finds that global cooperation is holding steady, but its shape is evolving.

From potential to productivity: Latin America in the Intelligent Age

January 20, 2026 -

New research from the World Economic Forum and McKinsey shows how AI could unlock productivity-led growth in Latin America if leaders move decisively from experimentation to execution.

How can leadership evolve in a volatile world?

December 5, 2025 -

Trust and optimism are in short supply, and people feel unsettled by the pace of change. Leadership models must evolve from strong foundations, based on a sense of service, ethics and rigour. Leaders must foster co-creation and a sense of purpose, shared responsibility, intergenerational learning and a long-term vision.

Leadership for our times: Build on the past to create a better future

Young Global Leaders showcase how the timeless principles of leadership can be adapted to the specific challenges of our times to build a fairer, kinder and more inclusive world—and this is as important now as ever.

The role of corporate philanthropy in accelerating climate and nature transitions

This white paper explores the role corporate philanthropy can play in accelerating climate and nature transitions, acting as a bridge between public and private sectors and leveraging the knowledge of corporate affiliates towards positive societal impact.

Unlocking the full potential of digital transformation through technology and talent

To reap the real rewards of a digital transformation, a holistic approach is called for, one in which organizations transform by integrating technology and talent for optimum results.