GLOBAL BUSINESS WEEK 2026 (GBW) will take place in Davos, Switzerland, from 9 to 17 July 2026, bringing together entrepreneurs, investors, policymakers, family business owners, corporate leaders, educators, innovators, youth entrepreneurs and national business delegations from more than 40 countries - Switzerland, the UK, Germany, France, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, Ukraine, Germany, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Taiwan, Australia, South Africa, the United States, Moldova, Lithuania, Georgia and other countries. 

In 2026, the GBW will be held in the unique environment of Davos Congress Centre, Switzerland, the venue globally recognised for hosting the World Economic Forum — a global meeting place associated with international dialogue and the future of business and society (davos.ch). 

The Forum will be opened by Christina Batruch, daughter of Bohdan Hawrylyshyn, co-founder and first Director of the World Economic Forum. This year marks the 100th anniversary of his birth, making the opening of the Forum especially symbolic and historically meaningful.

GLOBAL BUSINESS WEEK features a strong international line-up of speakers, entrepreneurs, educators and business leaders, including: 

The programme of Global Business Week 2026 includes a unique 8-in-1 global business experience designed for entrepreneurs, investors, young startuppers and policymakers:

✨ Davos World Business Forum GlobalBusinessWeek.com
✨ Startup World Cup Championship https://startupworldcup.biz/
✨ Global Education Forum https://education.forum-expo.org/
✨ World Woman Forum https://worldwoman.forum-expo.org/
✨ Global Country Day & Parade of Nations
✨ TOP 100 WORLD CHANGERS Award Ceremony & Gala Dinner
✨ International Networking & Strategical Family Business Retreat (after business forums)

Davos Business Diplomacy Forum 2026

The theme of Davos Business Forum GLOBAL BUSINESS WEEK 2026 is Business Diplomacy: Connections That Shape the Future. In an era of geopolitical fragmentation, trade restructuring, technological competition and rising uncertainty, business diplomacy is no longer a secondary skill. It is becoming a new infrastructure of resilience. The IMF World Economic Outlook of April 2026 projects global growth of 3.1 percent in 2026 and 3.2 percent in 2027, while highlighting the pressure of the wars in Ukraine and Middle East, rising commodity prices, stronger inflation expectations and tighter financial conditions. (IMF). The global economy of 2026 stands at the threshold of a great reconfiguration. 

Today’s economic context is shaped by several fundamental shifts. The first is the reorganisation of value chains. UNCTAD reports that global foreign direct investment fell by 11 percent to 1.5 trillion US dollars in 2024, showing that capital is becoming more cautious and that trusted international platforms for partnerships are becoming more important (UNCTAD).

The second shift is the growing role of intellectual capital. Ocean Tomo’s 2025 study states that intangible assets remained at approximately 90 % of the market value of S&P 500 companies. This means that value in the new economy is created not only by factories, commodities and physical infrastructure, but also by knowledge, brands, technology, reputation, leadership, human potential and the capacity for innovation (Ocean Tomo).

The third shift is the expansion of digital trade and services. The WTO reports that global commercial services exports reached 9.56 trillion US dollars in 2025, up 8 % from the previous year, while total trade in goods and services reached 34.65 trillion US dollars. The WTO had earlier estimated global exports of digitally delivered services at 4.25 trillion US dollars in 2023 (WTO).

Startup World Cup Championship for Young Entrepreneurs

GLOBAL BUSINESS WEEK 2026 will host one of the most exciting and unique events: Startup World Cup Championship for Young Entrepreneurs. You'll even meet startup founders as young as 7 years old. The championship will showcase startups from children aged 7-17 and young people aged 18-35. This unification of experienced and aspiring entrepreneurs creates a unique platform for the development of business culture and diplomacy for their countries and the global economy through a fundamentally new type of children's business education and networking.

Family businesses also remain a major pillar of the global economy. McKinsey reports that family-owned businesses collectively contribute more than 70% of global GDP, generate annual turnover of USD 60–70 trillion, and account for approximately 60% of global employment. (McKinsey & Company) This makes family entrepreneurship, succession, responsible ownership and next-generation leadership central to the future of global economic resilience.

Building a Culture of Women Entrepreneurship

The topic of Business Diplomacy is particularly important for women leaders – women must have a voice in solving international problems and shaping the future. To this end, one hundred of the most active women changing the world will attend the World Woman Forum as speakers and participants in the TOP 100 LEADERS YOU MUST KNOW Award Ceremony.

“GLOBAL BUSINESS WEEK is not simply an event. It is a continuously developing ecosystem for business diplomacy, trade relations and international partnerships. Our mission is to give entrepreneurs access to the global stage, to startup and business networks and to practical opportunities for cooperation,” said Andrew Azarov, President of GLOBAL BUSINESS WEEK. 

“In today’s world, women entrepreneurs are becoming bridge-builders between countries, markets and cultures. Business diplomacy is no longer an abstract concept — it is a practical leadership skill for building trust and creating long-term international partnerships,” said Larisa Miller, CEO, Phoenix Global, Exec VP, STP Capital Partners, President, Keystone Farm Future.

“The future of business depends not only on today’s leaders, but also on the next generation. By involving young people in entrepreneurship programmes, GLOBAL BUSINESS WEEK builds a culture of responsibility, creativity and leadership across generations.”,” said Dr Olga Azarova, Founder & CEO, International Business Academy Consortium, FORTUNE MPW Laureate.

Event: GLOBAL BUSINESS WEEK 2026

Dates: 9–17 July 2026

Location: Davos, Switzerland, Congress Centre

Website: https://gbw.forum-expo.org/

Media Kit: Global Business Week 2026

Main Contact: Dr Olga Azarova, 

Phone: +44-744-218-77-04 

Email: ceo@wesio.org

Media Contact: Elena Gunbeyi, Global Events Manager
Phone: +44-752-065-05-05

Email: accreditation@wesio.org

Global Events Sponsorship Manager: Andriy Panagushyn 
Phone: +44-788-610-41-45
Email: franchises@iba-consortium.com