Key takeaways: What to expect from the 2026 Summer Davos in Dalian

As a premier global gathering at the forefront of economic innovation, the 2026 Summer Davos is counting down to its opening.

Also known as the 17th Annual Meeting of the New Champions of the World Economic Forum (WEF), this year's forum will be held from June 23 to 25 in the port city of Dalian, northeast China's Liaoning Province.

While the global economy is navigating rising economic uncertainty, geopolitical tensions and rapid technological changes, the event will convene over 1,700 representatives from business, government, social organizations and academia, as well as fast-growing companies to focus on practical solutions to new growth challenges.

"The WEF has always brought leaders together to tackle the biggest challenges affecting the world and used dialogue and collaboration to look at solutions," said Alois Zwinggi, interim president and chief executive officer of the WEF.

Here are things to know about the 2026 Summer Davos.

Five key questions on the agenda

Under the theme "Innovating at Scale," this year's forum will examine how emerging technologies can be transformed into broad-based economic and social progress.

The agenda is built around five key themes – shifting trade, China's next chapter, technology in the real economy, jobs for the next generation, and the energy transition as a source of competitiveness.

Speaking ahead of the meeting, Gim Huay Neo, managing director of the WEF, said rapid advances in artificial intelligence, robotics, quantum technologies, bio-manufacturing and other frontier innovations are reshaping industries ranging from manufacturing and transportation to healthcare and media.

"Technology has fundamentally changed how we produce, consume, work and live, pushing the boundaries of what was once considered science fiction," she said, noting that achieving innovation at scale requires coordinated efforts in policymaking, infrastructure, talent development and cross-sector partnerships.

The forum will spotlight the practical application of artificial intelligence through MINDS, a program that identifies and showcases artificial intelligence solutions.

Human interaction, including trust, communication, collaboration, and teamwork, is becoming more important than ever amid rapid technological progress, Neo said.

Days before the forum, the WEF has announced its 2026 Technology Pioneers and is set to soon release its latest Top 10 Emerging Technologies report.

In addition to technology, discussions will explore how to cultivate entrepreneurship and future-ready skills, accelerate the global energy transition and restore ecosystems while maintaining economic competitiveness.

The forum has launched the Energy Transition Index 2026, the 17th edition of its kind, which assesses countries' readiness for energy transition by evaluating factors such as policy, standards, infrastructure, capital, talent and technology.

A first-hand look at China's economic landscape

With particular attention given to China and Asia's rapidly evolving innovation landscape, the meeting is also expected to offer international participants a first-hand look at China's economic transformation and its continued commitment to high-level opening up.

Neo noted that Asia contributes around 60% of global economic growth, and roughly two-thirds of the world's manufacturing bases are in the region, with China accounting for about 40%.

Asian markets are vibrant and vast in scale, making them ideal for testing various innovative ideas and technologies, she added.

In more than 200 sessions held across the forum's five themes, discussions will include China's economic development strategy and the implementation of its 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030), alongside two sub‑forums on venture capital cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative.

Gao Weiqi, deputy director-general of the Department of International Cooperation at China's National Development and Reform Commission, said the forum provides an important platform for China to share its development opportunities with the rest of the world.

She noted that 2026 marks the first year of China's 15th Five-Year Plan period, during which the country will continue to pursue high-quality development by promoting both sustainable economic growth and industrial upgrading.

The blueprint for the 15th Five-Year Plan demonstrates China's confidence in its long-term development, Gao said, adding that the country's strong economic fundamentals, resilience and innovation capacity will continue to provide greater certainty and new momentum for the global economy.

Dalian opens doors as a global innovation hub

As the Summer Davos Forum is being held in Dalian for the ninth time, the event once again places the coastal city at the center of global attention. Leveraging its strengths in marine industries, advanced equipment manufacturing, and the digital economy, Dalian is welcoming global guests with openness and an innovative outlook.

Green development has been placed at the heart of this year's event.

According to Li Qiang, mayor of Dalian, the forum's main venue and other core facilities will operate entirely on renewable electricity, reducing carbon emissions by an estimated 800 tonnes.

The forum will also feature a predominantly new energy vehicle (NEV) fleet for transportation services, including 44 electric shuttle buses, 16 hydrogen-powered buses and six autonomous buses, with NEVs accounting for more than 80% of all service vehicles. The fleet will provide zero-emission, intelligent transportation across the core event area.

The Summer Davos Forum has become a powerful engine for Dalian's economic transformation and high-quality development, said Li, noting the city has attracted 50 major foreign-funded projects and 48 major domestic investment projects between 2015 and 2024. Global companies, including SK Group, Volkswagen and Pfizer, have expanded their presence in Dalian, helping optimize the city's industrial structure through technology spillovers and stronger industrial supply chains.

The city's research and development spending has risen from 1.39% to 3.12% of its GDP, while the added value of Dalian's core digital economy industries exceeded 75 billion yuan (about $10.4 billion) in 2025.