What is Davos and the World Economic Forum?

‘Davos’ is a major influential global meeting, staging debates on inequality, climate change, and the global economy, as well as many closed-door and private conversations amongst attendees.

Lots of people and critics argue that this meeting only reflects the interests of the world’s wealthiest and most powerful individuals, institutions and companies, rather than the needs of the majority who are most impacted by the issues on the agenda. And that’s why, every year for the past decade, Oxfam attends to speak truth to power and to represent the lived reality of everyday people, and especially people living in poverty.

Outside the meeting, Oxfam releases a paper and a campaign to shine a light on the true state of global economics and the injustice of economic inequality.

The World Economic Forum Annual Meeting takes place every January in Davos, an Alpine resort town in Switzerland. In 2026, the Davos meeting is held between 19th and 23rd of January. 

Most years at the WEF meeting, the Davos agenda focuses on major global challenges such as economic growth, global inequality, climate breakdown, and conflict.

As this is one of the largest gatherings of world leaders, corporate executives and institutions, the meeting provides a space to influence global economic direction.

The conversations influence direction on a wide range of issues that impact our everyday lives – from affordability and labour rights to the future of technology and energy.

What’s on the agenda for Davos 2026?

For the World Economic Forum, the official Davos agenda for 2026 centres around 'A Spirit of Dialogue', reflecting growing concerns about global instability, widening inequality, and the climate crisis. Discussions are expected to focus on how to respond to these interconnected challenges.

Who attends Davos?

Davos is attended by heads of state, government ministers, CEOs of multinational companies, economists, academics, and the media. These people have massive power to shape and change our world.

Some Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) are also invited to attend. Oxfam International is one of those CSOs. Every year, we call out extreme wealth inequality and the dominance of super-rich individuals and corporations over most people’s lives.

By being ‘in the room’, we challenge participants to address poverty, inequality and climate justice. We help to put the people affected central to discussions dominated by powerful economic interests.

This meeting doesn’t produce binding agreements, communiques, or policies, but it does have a huge impact in the world.

The Davos meeting plays a powerful role in shaping the future of our economies and society. The ideas discussed influence corporate strategies and government priorities worldwide long after the event ends.

Each year, Oxfam publishes its Inequality report to coincide with the Davos WEF Annual Meeting. The report exposes the scale of global economic and wealth inequality, revealing how economic systems continue to benefit the super-rich at the expense of the many.

Over 10 Years of Oxfam Davos reports

The Oxfam Davos report is eagerly awaited every year, and we have been producing these papers for over 10 years.

• 2014 – Working for the Few
• 2015 – There wasn't a dedicated paper for WEF 2015. Oxfam promoted its flagship global campaign report, Even It Up, first launched in October 2014.
• 2016 – An Economy for the 1%
• 2017 – An Economy for the 99%
• 2018 – Reward Work Not Wealth
• 2019 – Public Good or Private Wealth
• 2020 – Time to Care
• 2021 – Inequality Virus
• 2022 – Inequality Kills
• 2023 – Survival of the Richest
• 2024 – Inequality Inc.
• 2025 – Takers Not Makers
• 2026 – Resisting the Rule of the Rich