the 2026 world economic forum saw a dramatic shift in global power as mark carney led a "middle power" defiance against a rupturing world order. this year's davos felt less like a standard conference and more like a geopolitical survival summit. against a backdrop of deep transatlantic tension—fueled by american interest in greenland—the 2026 meeting saw the rise of a new "minilateralism."

we’ve synthesized the high-level policy debates and the behind-the-scenes power moves into one essential guide to the week in switzerland. these takeaways reveal exactly how the world's most influential players are rewriting the rules for 2026. enjoy the deep dive!