McKinsey and the World Economic Forum 2026

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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 2026, which will take place in Davos, Switzerland, from January 19 to January 23, leaders from around the globe will convene under the theme A Spirit of Dialogue, centered around the following priorities:

Cooperation in a more contested world
Deploying innovation at scale and responsibly
Unlocking new sources of growth
Building prosperity within planetary boundaries
Investing in people

As a strategic partner to the World Economic Forum, McKinsey and our Davos 2026 delegates will look to engage in constructive, forward-looking dialogues to identify impact-oriented solutions around these key topics.

McKinsey Priority Themes

Agentic AI Transformation: Capturing the full potential of AI’s reimagine moment: Harnessing the new tech to rewire companies and industries

21st Century Leadership: Developing tomorrow’s leaders today: Helping companies shape 21st century leaders at speed and scale

Geopolitics: Breaking through uncertainty: Building tomorrow’s companies amid today’s shifting geopolitics

Resilience and Growth: Building the resilience muscle for growth and innovation: Optimizing operating models to strengthen leaders, companies, and countries

Brain Economy: Stronger brains in the age of AI: Unlocking human potential for healthier, more resilient, and prosperous societies

Davos 2026: Looking ahead

McKinsey senior leaders Solveigh Hieronimus, Eric Kutcher, Tunde Olanrewaju, Alex Panas, and Lucy Pérez discuss what they expect at Davos 2026.

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Wednesday, January 14, 8:00 - 8:30 a.m. ET / 2:00 - 2:30 p.m. CET

World Economic Forum: A preview of Davos 2026

Business leaders are operating at a moment marked by sharp disruption and tangible opportunity. Agentic AI is transforming industries at speed, geopolitics are evolving in real time, and the rules of cooperation are shifting.

Join Senior Partners Tracy Francis and Yuito Yamada for an insider’s look at the themes set to define the 2026 agenda. From realizing the enterprise-wide potential of agentic AI and elevating next-generation leadership to accelerating growth amid geopolitical volatility, they’ll explore the forces likely to shape the global business landscape in 2026.

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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.

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As global leaders convene in Davos in January 2026, current members and alumni of the World Economic Forum’s Young Global Leaders highlight the pressing issues they believe deserve more focus—beyond the usual business topics.

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Out of balance: What’s next for growth, wealth, and debt?

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Resilient firms and economies: Unlocking growth in emerging markets

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CEOs need a new agenda to help them and their organizations navigate the key questions around AI, particularly agentic AI.

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Multinationals at a crossroads: Adapting to a new geopolitical era

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Leaders of multinational companies are grappling with fundamental questions about how to operate globally in a fragmenting world. The answer lies in reimagining their organizations for an evolving business environment.

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Featured content from our collaborations

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The global cooperation barometer 2025

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

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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.

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2026 Delegation

Davos 2025: Reflections

While Davos 2025 is firmly in the rear-view mirror, the themes and priorities that emerged there are now being put into practice across countries, industries, and companies. McKinsey’s senior leaders Axel Karlsson, Eric Kutcher, Clarisse Magnin, Asutosh Padhi, and Yuito Yamada reflect on how Davos 2025 is shaping this year.