- Although the Davos Forum is the most famous and important meeting of the World Economic Forum, there are other meetings sponsored by this organisation.
- The 2026 edition of the Davos Forum will take place between 19 and 23 January and will be the 56th edition.
The World Economic Forum was founded in 1971, although under the name European Management Forum, changing its name to the current one sixteen years later, in 1987.
When was the World Economic Forum founded?
The World Economic Forum was founded in 1971 with the aim of helping European companies adopt American management practices by bringing them together to reflect and discuss social and economic challenges.
At that first meeting, participants discussed the ‘stakeholder theory’, according to which companies should serve all stakeholders, not just shareholders: employees, suppliers and the community at large should also be taken into account.
Since when has it been called the World Economic Forum?
In 1987, it abandoned its original name of European Management Forum and became the World Economic Forum.
According to the institution’s website, this change was made ‘with the broader aim of providing a platform for addressing the important issues of the day through cooperation between the public and private sectors’.
What is the World Economic Forum?
The World Economic Forum is an international non-profit organisation that brings together business, political and social leaders to discuss global challenges.
The Davos Forum is the organisation’s most important and well-known annual meeting, taking its name from the Swiss town where it is held.
The economy, the environment, technology and health are some of the main topics on which this organisation analyses and discusses the most pressing global issues in order to try to improve the state of the planet as a whole through public-private cooperation.
What is the mission of the World Economic Forum?
This body has a concise mission: ‘To improve the state of the world through public-private cooperation’.
Supported by the values of integrity, impartiality, independence, respect and excellence, this organisation bases its strategy on collaboration around five interconnected global challenges: growth, geopolitics, technology, people and the planet.
Annual meeting in Davos
As mentioned above, since 1971 the Davos Forum has been the most important event organised by the World Economic Forum.
Through debates, workshops and informal meetings designed to generate ideas and alliances, heads of state and government, presidents of large corporations, academics and civil society figures discuss a variety of topics with a view to advancing the organisation’s objectives.
As mentioned above, its name comes from the Swiss municipality where the meeting takes place.
Davos Forum 2026
The Davos Forum 2026 will be the 56th edition and will be held from 19 to 23 January.
Under the title “Spirit of Dialogue”, this year’s discussions will focus on five global challenges:
- Cooperation in a contested world.
- Opening up new sources of growth.
- Investing in people.
- Responsible deployment of innovation.
- Building prosperity within planetary boundaries.
These challenges will guide dialogue and cooperation between the public and private sectors, involving all stakeholders in addressing them.
Why is it held in Davos?
This annual meeting takes place in the Swiss town of Davos, located more than 1,500 metres above sea level.
The event is held in this Swiss enclave because its mountainous environment has historically served as a sanatorium destination, associated with exclusivity and discretion.
The fame that this small Alpine town has acquired has made Davos synonymous with the World Economic Forum.
Telefónica and the Davos Forum
As a leading Spanish company in the sector, Telefónica participates in Davos by promoting public-private dialogue, contributing its strategic vision on connectivity, digitalisation and sustainable development at a global level.
Other World Economic Forum meetings
Although Davos is, as we have mentioned throughout this publication, the most important meeting of the World Economic Forum, it should be noted that it is not the only one.
Throughout 2026, other meetings will be held under the auspices of the Forum, such as the Industry Strategy Meeting (to be held on 16 and 17 March in Munich) and the Global Collaboration and Growth Meeting (to be held on 22 and 23 April in the Saudi city of Jeddah).
Similarly, the Annual Meeting of the New Champions will take place between 23 and 25 June, bringing together leaders from the business, government, civil society, academic and entrepreneurial worlds to discuss the economic prospects of the main emerging markets, with a special focus on China and the Asian region in general. This meeting will be held in the Chinese city of Dalian.
In 2025, we find other examples of events organised by the World Economic Forum beyond Davos, which was held between 20 and 24 January.
There were also the Annual Meetings of the Global Future and Cybersecurity Councils (between 14 and 16 October in Dubai), the Meetings on the Impact on Sustainable Development (between 22 and 26 September in New York) and the Annual Meeting of New Champions (between 24 and 26 June in Tianjin).
Frequently asked questions
An international non-profit organisation that brings together business, political and social leaders to discuss global challenges.
In 1971, although it was originally called the European Management Forum. It has been called the World Economic Forum since 1987.
The World Economic Forum's best-known annual meeting.
The World Economic Forum is the name of the organisation, while the Davos Forum is its most famous annual meeting. However, they are sometimes used as synonyms.
Between 19 and 23 January.
The 2026 edition will be the 56th.
In Switzerland, specifically in the Alps. It belongs to the canton of Graubünden (Graubünden in German).
