Geo-economic Confrontation Ranks as No. 1 Global Risk in 2026, WEF Report Says
The Global Risks Report, the World Economic Forum’s annual snapshot of the biggest risks facing the world in the near, medium and long terms, shows geopolitical and economic risks on the rise in the new “age of competition”.
The report is published just days before the Forum’s Annual Meeting and is a good indicator of what the 3,000 leaders convening in Davos, Switzerland will be talking about.
Gayle Markovitz is joined by a co-host, Forum Managing Director Saadia Zahidi, and two expert guests: Peter Giger, Group Chief Risk Officer at Zurich Insurance, and Andrew George, Global President of Specialties at Marsh.
The Global Risks Report 2026 was compiled by Mark Elsner and Grace Atkinson of the Forum’s Global Risks Initiative.
Useful Links
Global Risks Report 2026:
https://wef.ch/risks26
Global Risks Initiative:
https://initiatives.weforum.org/global-risks/home
Peter Giger’s blog:
Critical infrastructure is at critical risk: It’s time to treat it as such
https://www.weforum.org/stories/2024/12/business-executives-most-worried-about-risks/
Andrew George’s blog:
How can businesses navigate technology risks and opportunities in a competitive age?
https://www.weforum.org/stories/2026/01/businesses-navigate-technology-risks-global-risks-2026-marsh/
Mark Elsner’s blog:
These are the top 10 risks in 2026: Geoeconomic confrontation ranks highest in the age of competition
https://www.weforum.org/stories/2026/01/global-risks-2026-top-10-two-and-ten-year-horizon/
Grace Atkinson’s blog:
Global risks in 2026 and over the past five years: What’s changed and what hasn’t?
https://www.weforum.org/stories/2026/01/global-risks-over-the-past-5-years-what-s-changed-and-what-hasn-t/
Related Podcasts
Cybersecurity Outlook 2026:
The view from Interpol and the threat to OT
https://www.weforum.org/podcasts/radio-davos/episodes/global-cybersecurity-outlook-2026-interpol-dragos/
Global Risks Report:
The big issues facing the world at Davos 2025
https://www.weforum.org/podcasts/radio-davos/episodes/global-risks-report-2025/
Making sense of geopolitics in 2025:
https://www.weforum.org/podcasts/radio-davos/episodes/war-peace-geopolitics/
Superpower rivalry and geopolitics in Trump 2.0:
https://www.weforum.org/podcasts/radio-davos/episodes/geopolitics-lynn-kuok-the-national/
Chief Economists Outlook:
We have entered the age of “persistent disruption” — Visa’s Wayne Best
https://www.weforum.org/podcasts/radio-davos/episodes/chief-economists-outlook-visa-wayne-best/
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