Davos 2026: Trump to Lead High-Profile Agenda on Tariffs, AI and Global Trade

United States President Donald Trump is expected to dominate Davos 2026 discussions, as a major speech on 21 January coincides with disputes over new Greenland-related tariffs and a Gaza Peace Board proposal. The address will take place while global leaders, executives and campaigners assess economic risks, political tensions and technological change at the World Economic Forum annual meeting in Switzerland.

Organisers project attendance of about 3,000 influential participants in the Alpine town, based on an AP report. Heads of state, central bank chiefs, business leaders, economists, journalists and activists will gather to debate slowing growth, fragile security conditions, trade frictions and pressure from technologies such as artificial intelligence, which many delegates see as both an opportunity and a source of disruption.

The 2026 World Economic Forum unfolds during a period of strained geopolitics linked closely to Donald Trump’s policies in Venezuela, Greenland and Iran. Fresh tariffs, including Greenland-focused duties affecting eight European allies, are expected to influence many private meetings and public sessions. Delegates also plan to examine widening inequality and rising climate stress in both advanced and developing economies.

Artificial intelligence is forecast to be one of the most debated topics at Davos 2026. Corporate leaders intend to discuss how AI can support higher productivity and profits. Trade unions and civil society groups aim to highlight risks to employment and wages, while policymakers weigh new regulation against arguments for open competition and continued technological experimentation across sectors.

Donald Trump will lead a group of about 400 senior political figures, including more than 60 heads of state and government. The United States delegation features Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and special envoy Steve Witkoff. Organisers say such representation should shape talks on trade, global security architecture and cross-border investment flows.

Key attendance figures for Davos 2026 highlight the scale of political and financial participation, as shown below.

Category	Number expected
Heads of state and government	60+
Top political leaders (total)	400
Chairs and CEOs	~850
Economy and finance ministers	55
Foreign affairs ministers	33
Trade, commerce and industry ministers	34
Central bank governors	11

Among the most prominent confirmed attendees for Davos 2026 are French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, Congo's President Felix Tshisekedi, China's Vice Premier He Lifeng and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky are also scheduled to participate, according to organisers.

Some political leaders from large economies will not appear on the official Davos 2026 programme. CNBC reports that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping are not expected in Switzerland. Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer are absent from the formal list, although both are reported to be planning to attend.

Davos 2026 World Economic Forum Donald Trump business and format

Corporate involvement at Davos 2026 is dominated by technology and finance executives, reflecting interest in AI and digital infrastructure. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, Microsoft chief executive Satya Nadella, Google DeepMind leader Demis Hassabis and Mistral AI co-founder Arthur Mensch from France are among those expected. Overall, around 850 chairs and CEOs from leading global companies are registered for the gathering.

International organisations will also send senior representatives to Davos 2026. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte will add a security and defence perspective to panels and private meetings. World Trade Organization Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala will contribute views on tariffs, supply chains and rules-based trade, as governments and companies discuss how to manage tensions while keeping commerce predictable.

The World Economic Forum, based in Geneva, began its flagship Davos meeting in 1971 under founder Klaus Schwab as a management-focused conference for business executives. Over five decades, the event has expanded into a broad platform covering inequality, climate change, technological trends, international cooperation and rivalry between major powers, with formal sessions and informal negotiations running in parallel.

Davos is a ski resort located in eastern Switzerland, with about 10,000 residents and an altitude near 5,000 feet above sea level. For Davos 2026, more than 200 sessions are planned, addressing growth, security, social stability and environmental risk. Discussions will take place on stage and in nearby private rooms, where many policy signals and corporate decisions are shaped.

Each year, World Economic Forum organisers select a unifying theme for Davos. The guiding slogan for Davos 2026 is "A Spirit of Dialogue" and it is structured around five strands: cooperation, growth, investing in people, innovation and building prosperity. Critics argue that despite extensive debate, the meeting still delivers limited concrete action on inequality and climate threats.

Davos 2026 therefore combines Donald Trump’s high-profile address, disputes over Greenland tariffs and the Gaza Peace Board, and intense arguments about AI, trade and climate policy. For finance-oriented readers, the mix of political leaders, central bankers, CEOs and regulators suggests that signals from Switzerland in January 2026 may influence markets, regulation and investment strategies through the year.