Davos 2026: Key Early Highlights

1. High‑Profile Participation & Geopolitical Shift

Davos 2026, the 56th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Switzerland, has drawn around 3,000 global leaders from business, politics, and civil society. Among them are U.S. President Donald Trump and senior members of his administration, reflecting a pronounced U.S. presence on the agenda.

Trump’s attendance — his first in person at Davos in six years — is widely seen not just as ceremonial but as a signal of geopolitical influence, shaping discussions on trade, economic policy, and global power dynamics.

His speech, expected mid‑week, is anticipated to emphasize economic reform priorities, including proposals on markets and national economic resilience.

2. Shifting Agenda: Geopolitics, Growth & Dialogue

Although the official theme of Davos 2026 is “A Spirit of Dialogue,” the tone of discussions reflects broader global strain:

• Geoeconomic conflict — i.e., the use of tariffs, sanctions, and trade policy as tools of geopolitical influence — has emerged as a Focus areas include
• These shifts indicate Davos is adapting to a world where strategic competition and technological power play increasingly shape priorities.

3. Diplomacy & Ongoing Talks

Private Club or Trump's "Peace Council"?

In January 2026, U.S. President Donald Trump announced the creation of a new international entity called the "Board of Peace", or Peace Council. This is not a traditional global organization like the United Nations (UN), but rather a closed club of selected nations and leaders, personally invited by the U.S. and Trump himself.

Unlike inclusive institutions based on international law, this initiative is positioned as an elite alliance, where membership depends on strict conditions and the direct oversight of Washington.

It was originally presented as a mechanism for overseeing the transition and reconstruction in Gaza under a UN Security Council mandate until 2027, but is now expanding toward broader geopolitical influence.

Terms of Participation and Structure

Why US startups do not look at the European market

This was exactly the challenge discussed during the Innovation Industry Talk “Beyond Borders: Scaling US Medtech Startups”, held on October 29 in San Francisco and organised by Mind the Bridge and Theras.

The problem Alberto Onetti addresses is this: “The gap emerges between research and company creation: tech transfer effectiveness, incentives for faculty entrepreneurship, access to early-stage capital, and the ability to scale spinouts beyond the lab. The result is a paradox: strong science, weak industrialisation of research.”

Unfortunately, this problem is relevant to universities in many countries. This is evident from the map: a number of countries are not even present.

There are already proven tools for solving this. In my opinion, the problem lies with the leadership of a number of countries, which are not ready for change, but simply maintain the status quo that has existed for decades.

Although the event focused on MedTech, its conclusions resonate across nearly every innovation-driven sector.

Geo-economic confrontation ranks as No 1 global risk in 2026, WEF report says

World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2026

Davos, Switzerland | 19–23 January 2026

The World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2026 will once again transform Davos into the most powerful diplomatic, economic, technological, and strategic command center on the planet. From 19 to 23 January, the world’s top decision-makers will convene to define the global agenda for a rapidly changing world shaped by artificial intelligence, geopolitical realignment, climate pressure, demographic shifts, and technological acceleration.

This year’s meeting brings together an extraordinary concentration of global leadership — heads of state, central bankers, CEOs of the world’s largest corporations, Nobel-level scientists, innovators, and civil society leaders — all working within a single ecosystem of dialogue, negotiation, and future-building.

Vital Voices Announces Global Leaders

Vital Voices Announces 2025 Network Engagement Awardees

Vital Voices celebrates the women who bring its global community to life. The Network Engagement Awards honour twelve extraordinary leaders who go beyond participation — they actively uplift, connect, and empower others across the Vital Voices Global Network.

In a year marked by global uncertainty and challenges for women’s organisations, these awardees stood out for their resilience, generosity, and leadership. Through conversations, mentorship, collaboration, and opportunity-sharing, they strengthened the community and proved that leadership is most powerful when it is shared.

These women demonstrate that one post, one insight, or one act of support can ripple across countries — creating real change and lasting impact.

2025 Vital Voices Network Engagement Awardees

The Silver Screen Glow: Your Ultimate Guide to the Movies That Own Christmas 2025

The tree is lit. The cocoa is steaming. Someone’s already arguing about whether one more film is a reasonable idea at 11:47 p.m. And the world is obsessed with one question:

What are we watching tonight?

If the 2025 holiday season feels like a cinematic gold rush, you’re not imagining it. This year’s line-up isn’t merely “something to have on in the background.” It’s a full-blown cultural event—sequels that actually deliver, family films with real brains, and Netflix thrillers pulling tens of millions of views in a single week. Netflix

So here’s your guide: not just a list, but a holiday viewing strategy—a set of films that create conversations, spark laughter, and (when you want it) raise your pulse.

Grab the remote. Here is the pulse of Christmas 2025.