The 2026 World Economic Forum (WEF) opens this week in Davos, Switzerland, bringing together political leaders, corporate executives and technology pioneers at a time of heightened global tension and economic uncertainty. As always, who shows up—and who stays away—is as closely watched as the discussions themselves.

Among the high-profile attendees are JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang. U.S. President Donald Trump will also attend in person for the first time since 2020, according to the WEF, leading what is expected to be the largest-ever American delegation to the forum.

Trump’s return to Davos follows his virtual appearance last year shortly after reclaiming the White House, an intervention that caused significant ripples at the forum. This time, he is scheduled to deliver a speech on Wednesday, accompanied by senior members of his administration, including the U.S. secretaries of state and treasury, as well as key foreign policy advisers.

Who Will Not Be There

Despite expectations of around 3,000 participants—including a record number of political leaders—several notable absences stand out. Officials from Denmark will not attend, despite being invited, amid an ongoing international dispute linked to U.S. pressure over Greenland. WEF representatives cited the sensitive political climate as the reason for their decision.

Leaders from China, Brazil and India are also absent from the main speakers’ list, while the attendance of the prime ministers of the United Kingdom and Italy has not been officially confirmed. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced he would not attend following a deadly high-speed train collision in southern Spain that claimed at least 40 lives.

Major Names in Attendance

Among leaders of major economies expected in Davos are French President Emmanuel Macron, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, alongside representatives from six G7 countries.

The business and technology presence is equally strong. CEOs from Microsoft, Anthropic and DeepMind will attend, as will senior executives from OpenAI, although its CEO will not be present. BlackRock CEO Larry Fink and Roche Vice Chairman André Hoffmann are serving as interim co-chairs of the forum following the departure of its long-time founder earlier this year.

Key Topics on the Agenda

This year’s meeting, themed “A Spirit of Dialogue,” focuses on five broad areas: geopolitics, artificial intelligence, climate and nature, new sources of economic growth, and societal preparedness.

Behind the scenes, however, discussions are expected to revolve around pressing global risks, including U.S. moves related to Greenland, political instability in Venezuela, and warnings from Washington about potential military action against Iran. Investors will also be watching closely for announcements from AI companies, signals from central banks and developments involving businesses shifting operations outside the United States.

Surprise Appearances and Political Contrasts

While some influential figures are staying away, Davos 2026 will also feature unexpected participants. Among them is Nigel Farage, leader of the UK’s right-wing Reform party, a politician known for building his career on opposition to political and economic elites—making his presence at the world’s most elite economic forum particularly striking.