Every January a collection of the world’s top business and political leaders head to the Swiss town of Davos for the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum. The event is a week of panels and networking meant to promote dialogue among elites. But a scandal last year threatened to overshadow the 2026 meeting, which begins in a few days. Critics have also questioned the event’s relevance in a changing world. The FT’s Switzerland and Austria correspondent, Mercedes Ruehl, explains the problems the WEF has faced and shares her reporting on how this year’s event is shaping up.

Clips from the World Economic Forum, Instagram: @christinelagarde

The FT does not use generative AI to voice its podcasts.

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For further reading:

Microsoft and McKinsey pay up to $1mn each to back Donald Trump’s Davos hub

Davos assured Trump ‘woke’ topics were off the agenda

The Davos set in decline: can the World Economic Forum save itself?

‘A family enterprise’: WEF founder Klaus Schwab on alleged wrongdoing at Davos

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Follow Mercedes Ruehl on X (@mjruehl), or on Bluesky (@mjruehl.bsky.social) Michela Tindera is on X (@mtindera07) and Bluesky (@mtindera.ft.com), or follow her on LinkedIn for updates about the show and more.

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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Davos’ fight for relevance

Behind the Money