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Global Education Forum 2026 will take place in Davos, Switzerland, as one of the key educational events within Global Business Week 2026. It will bring together school owners, founders of educational networks, university leaders, EdTech innovators, investors, franchise developers, education entrepreneurs, teachers, methodologists and policymakers who understand one simple truth: the future of education cannot wait for instructions from ministries. It must be created now.
The world is changing faster than most formal education systems can reform. Artificial intelligence is transforming intellectual work. Children are growing up in a digital, global, entrepreneurial and unstable world. Parents demand better outcomes. Employers seek creativity, adaptability, leadership and problem-solving skills. At the same time, many schools are still built on industrial-era models: standardised lessons, slow curriculum reform, outdated assessment methods and limited exposure to entrepreneurship, technology and global thinking.
Global Education Forum 2026 is designed for leaders who are actively transforming education: those who open new schools, scale international education brands, buy and develop franchises, implement AI and EdTech tools, create new curricula, design entrepreneurship programmes for children and expand educational networks across countries. For wider business and international context, readers can also explore 100% NEWS Categories, including global analysis, business growth, leadership and events.
EdTech means educational technology: digital tools, platforms and systems used to improve teaching, learning, assessment, administration and access to education.
The Scale of Global Education
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The scale of global education is enormous. The Giga initiative, led by UNICEF and the International Telecommunication Union, notes that the exact number of schools in the world is unknown, but estimates place it at around 6–7 million schools worldwide. Giga has already mapped more than 2.1 million schools in approximately 140 countries, demonstrating both the size of the sector and the remaining data gap.
Education has become one of the largest and most strategically important markets in the world. According to HolonIQ, the global education market is valued at US$7.6 trillion, with total expenditure expected to approach US$10 trillion by 2030. At the same time, UNESCO reports that 1.4 billion learners were enrolled in schools in 2024, while 273 million children and young people remained out of school, underlining both the scale of progress and the urgency of reform. For related coverage of business development and global transformation, see Top 20 Best Countries for Business Development by 2035.
Artificial intelligence refers to computer systems designed to perform tasks normally associated with human intelligence, including analysis, prediction, language processing, image recognition and decision support.
International Schools as a Fast-Growing Market
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The private and international school segment is one of the most dynamic parts of the education market. According to ISC Research, in July 2024 there were 14,457 English-medium international K–12 schools educating 7.3 million students and generating around US$64 billion in annual tuition fee income. By 2026, the K–12 international school segment reportedly exceeded 15,075 schools, with approximately 7.7 million students, 730,000 staff and US$69.3 billion in annual tuition fee income.
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Europe: Premium Education and Strong Demand
In Europe, recent international school market research suggests that average annual fees in many countries were around US$10,000–15,000, while Switzerland ranked among the most expensive markets, with average prices in major cities ranging from approximately US$24,000 to more than US$30,000 per year.
Asia: A Wide Price Range and Strong Market Diversity
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In Asia, the price range is especially wide: average international school fees varied from US$2,725 in Malaysia to US$35,621 in Beijing, China, with China standing out in the cited study as the only Asian market where average prices exceeded US$30,000 per year.
Africa: Lower Fees but Growing Strategic Importance
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In Africa, international schools were generally among the least expensive across the studied regions. The cited research listed Cairo at US$2,966, Cape Town at US$3,979, Mauritius at US$4,216, Kampala at US$4,341, Casablanca at US$5,441, Johannesburg at US$5,657 and Nairobi at the top of the regional ranking at US$7,116 per year.
The Americas: A Large Gap Between North and Latin America
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In the Americas, the gap is substantial. New York recorded the highest median international school tuition in the cited study at US$44,600 per year; Toronto was around US$21,532, while Latin American cities such as Lima, Panama City and Monterrey ranged from US$8,140 to US$9,300 per year.
Australia: Independent and International Schools at Different Price Levels
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In Australia, fees in independent and international schools vary significantly by city, year level and school type. Recent tuition guides indicate a broad range: from approximately A$12,000–22,000 per year for lower-cost private schools to A$38,000–52,000 and above for premium schools, while other research notes that some private school fees may reach levels equivalent to around US$55,000.
Education technology policy is not only about devices and platforms. For governments, schools and investors, it includes safeguarding, teacher training, digital infrastructure, procurement, data protection and measurable learning outcomes.
Key Themes of Global Education Forum 2026
Global Education Forum 2026 will examine the trends driving the transformation of education markets worldwide. Expected discussion themes include artificial intelligence and digital learning; the growth of international and bilingual schools; entrepreneurship education; new models of private education; school leadership and governance; investment in education; technologies for assessment and personalised learning; skills of the future; sustainability and climate resilience in schools; and the global mobility of students, families and educators.
The Forum will gather leading specialists in education, entrepreneurship and international business. The announced speakers include Olga Azarova (United Kingdom), Evan Yang (Republic of China), Christina Batruch (Switzerland), Arvils Pekuless (Lithuania), Cherry Chang (Republic of China), Wendy Silinyana (South Africa), Elena Chirich (Australia), Lyazzat Alshinova (Kazakhstan), Narmina Hasanova (Azerbaijan), Jamilya Kerimova (Turkmenistan), Dinora Saitova (Kazakhstan), Tatyana Markova (Ukraine), Victoria Trotskaya (United States), Tatyana Dermenzhi (United Kingdom), Irene Khajalia (Georgia), Irina Denisova (Ukraine), and many other outstanding experts, entrepreneurs, educators and representatives of the business community.
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Davos as a Platform for Education Investment and Reform
Global Education Forum 2026 is expected to become more than a conference. It is designed as a platform for partnerships, investment dialogue, school innovation and strategic cooperation between countries. As education becomes more global, the strongest institutions will be those capable of combining academic quality with technology, entrepreneurship, cultural intelligence and adaptability.
In Davos, from 9 to 12 July 2026, education leaders will gather to discuss one of the most important questions of the decade: how can the world build schools and learning systems that prepare children not only for examinations, but also for the future of work, citizenship and human progress? Readers following the wider Davos agenda may also read Global Business Week 2026 will be held in Davos.
Join Global Education Forum 2026
Join Global Education Forum as part of Global Business Week 2026.
Book your place: +44-744-218-77-07