Global risks 2026-2036 by WEF report

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, available here, was compiled by Mark Elsner and Grace Atkinson of the Forum's Global Risks Initiative. 

Links: Global Risks Report 2026: https://wef.ch/risks26
 

Global Risks Initiative: https://initiatives.weforum.org/globa...
 

Peter Giger's blog "Critical infrastructure is at critical risk: It’s time to treat it as such": https://www.weforum.org/stories/2024/...
 

Andrew George's blog: How can businesses navigate technology risks and opportunities in a competitive age?: https://www.weforum.org/stories/2026/...
 

Marl Elsner's blog: These are the top 10 risks in 2026: Geoeconomic confrontation ranks highest in 'age of competition': https://www.weforum.org/stories/2026/...
 

Grace Atkinson's blog: Global risks in 2026 and over the past 5 years: What’s changed and what hasn’t?: https://www.weforum.org/stories/2026/...
 

Related podcasts: Cybersecurity Outlook 2026: the view from Interpol and the threat to ‘OT’: https://www.weforum.org/podcasts/radi...
 

Global Risks Report: the big issues facing the world at Davos 2025: https://www.weforum.org/podcasts/radi...
 

Making sense of geopolitics in 2025: https://www.weforum.org/podcasts/radi...
 

Superpower rivalry and geopolitics in Trump 2.0: https://www.weforum.org/podcasts/radi...
 

We have entered the age of "persistent disruption" - Visa's Wayne Best on the Chief Economists 

 

Outlook: https://www.weforum.org/podcasts/radi...
 

Meet the Leader - subscribe: https://pod.link/1534915560
 

Agenda Dialogues - subscribe: https://pod.link/1574956552
 

The World Economic Forum is the International Organization for Public-Private Cooperation. It provides a global, impartial and not-for-profit platform for meaningful connection between stakeholders to establish trust, and build initiatives for cooperation and progress. Find out more below: World Economic Forum Website http://www.weforum.org
 

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BETT 2026: How and Why Pedagogy Must Evolve in the Age of AI

Ahead of BETT 2026, London’s global education summit

By Dawn Taylor
Founder and Director, Challenge Innovate Grow | Author of “Behind the Algorithm”

Bett 2026: A Turning Point for Global Education

As the world’s largest education technology event, Bett UK 2026 in London promises to be more than a showcase of tools — it will be a stage for the deep, system-wide rethinking of education in the age of AI. This year’s sessions will probe the biggest questions in learning: not just what students need to know, but how they should think.

One of those critical sessions comes from Dawn Taylor, whose writing and leadership are reshaping how schools view pedagogy in an AI-rich world. Her talk — “The Changing Role of a Teacher in the Age of AI” — sets the tone for a new era of teaching.

The Conditions of Learning Have Changed

Davos 2026: Day 2 Scandals & Controversies

1. Fake VIP Pass Scams Targeting Delegates

One of the biggest surprises on Day 2 at Davos was a rapidly spreading scam involving counterfeit “VIP passes” for the USA House — a privately funded venue celebrating U.S. innovation and history.

• Attendees were misled into buying or presenting fake passes that didn’t grant real access, forcing the venue to publicly warn visitors that counterfeit credentials would not be honoured.
•  The incident triggered complaints, confusion at entry lines, and frustration from delegates who thought they had priority treatment.

2. Trump’s Controversial Greenland & Tariff Rhetoric

Davos 2026 — Day 2 Highlights

On Day 2 of the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2026 in Davos, Switzerland, discussions deepened around AI, economic transformation, geopolitical tensions, and leadership confidence, bringing out both opportunities and challenges facing global business and policy leaders.

AI Beyond Content — Into Action

AI emerged as a central theme — not just in generating content, but in driving enterprise systems and workflow automation. Experts noted that discussions have moved beyond basic generative models to “agentic AI” that can reason and operate in real environments, including commerce, logistics, and payments.

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