Federal Council programme announced for WEF Annual Meeting 2026
Bern, 16.01.2026 — The 56th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) takes place in Davos next week, with four members of the Federal Council in attendance. President Guy Parmelin will open proceedings on Tuesday, 20 January, alongside the two interim co-chairs of the Board of Trustees, André Hoffmann and Larry Fink, and WEF President and CEO Børge Brende.
The Annual Meeting in Davos will provide members of the Federal Council with opportunities for numerous contacts and discussions, with at least 40 bilateral meetings scheduled. The programme is subject to change at short notice.
President Guy Parmelin, head of the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research (EAER), will use the WEF Annual Meeting to discuss key economic and trade policy issues for Switzerland with his counterparts. He has meetings lined up with heads of state and government, ministers and senior figures from business and international organisations. Talks will centre on the tense geopolitical situation, international economic developments and trade policy issues. On the multilateral front, Mr Parmelin will open an informal meeting of WTO ministers.
Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis, vice president of the Federal Council and head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), will focus his bilateral meetings on the current geopolitical situation, particularly developments in Ukraine and the Middle East. European policy and Switzerland's relations with its partners across the continent will also feature prominently in his talks. Security and international cooperation will be discussed in the context of Switzerland's OSCE chairpersonship this year.
Federal Councillor Karin Keller-Sutter, head of the Federal Department of Finance (FDF), will meet various finance ministers in Davos. The talks will focus on international financial and tax issues.
Federal Councillor Martin Pfister, head of the Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport (DDPS), will focus on issues of resilience and defence, based on the Federal Council's security policy strategy. He will meet with defence ministers in attendance and discuss developments in the geopolitical situation with them. Mr Pfister will also visit the troops and meet with part-time military personnel who are assuring security on site to commend them on their efforts.
The House of Switzerland at WEF Annual Meeting 2026
Once again this year, Switzerland will be officially represented at the WEF Annual Meeting with the House of Switzerland. Run by Presence Switzerland of the FDFA and with support from the Federal Office for Buildings and Logistics of the FDF, the House of Switzerland offers a central venue for talks and exchanges with facilities for meetings hosted by members of the Federal Council, the Swiss delegation and their international guests and partners. A varied programme of events will be organised in collaboration with various federal offices and other stakeholders from politics, business and science. This programme covers a wide range of topics, including multilateral cooperation, international AI governance, global cybersecurity, sustainable space economy, innovative financing models for humanitarian aid and long-term energy security.
www.houseofswitzerland.org