World Governments Summit 2026 in its largest edition

The World Governments Summit (WGS) 2026, held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, from 3-5 February, centred on the timely theme of “Shaping Future Governments,” has ended with the largest international participation in the Summit’s history.

This year’s event represents the most significant international and leadership assembly since the forum’s inception, drawing a massive audience of heads of state, government ministers and global thought leaders. 

The summit was specifically designed to tackle rapid global transitions, exploring how governments must evolve to better support community development and foster international collaboration in a fast-paced world.

Largest edition

The 2026 World Governments Summit, in its largest edition yet, with the participation of more than 150 governments, 500 ministers, and over 60 heads of state and government,”  underscoring the summit's role in facilitating high-level diplomacy.

 In total, the event convened upwards of 6,250 decision-makers and intellectuals, all focused on building unified strategies to improve governance and strengthen partnerships across borders.

This Summit brought together governments, international organisations, thought leaders, and private sector leaders from around the globe to foster international cooperation and identify innovative solutions for future challenges, ultimately inspiring and empowering the next generation of governments.

At the summit, community is built on collaboration, innovation, and a shared vision of a better future. It is made up of pioneering partners and engaged members who are committed to driving change and making a global impact.

Achievements

Organisers highlighted that the 2026 edition has achieved the highest level of leadership attendance in the summit’s history.

The forum welcomed more than 60 heads of state and government, along with their deputies, creating a powerful concentration of political influence.

The summit’s programme was vast, featuring more than 445 sessions and over 450 global speakers who shared insights on technology, economics, sustainability, and public services.

The diversity of participants extended beyond government sectors, with more than 700 CEOs from major global corporations in attendance. 

Additionally, the event was enriched by the presence of 87 laureates of prestigious scientific awards, including the Nobel Prize, and representatives from over 80 international, regional, and academic organisations.

The roster of world-leading corporations and knowledge institutions at the global forum includes the International Monetary Fund (IMF), International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of The World Bank, as well as more than 35 heads of state, government delegations, and 150+ governments.

World-class forums

WGS 2026 also hosted multiple world-class forums, notably the New Silk Road Forum, the high-level IFC-led Investment Forum — Latin America & the Caribbean, the 10th International Cooperation Conference in collaboration with the Association of Caribbean States, and the Future of Economy Forum.

Comprising more than 320 sessions, the summit hosted over 100 international and regional organisations and 450+ global figures, including presidents, ministers, experts, thought leaders and decision-makers.

The 2026 agenda of the summit focused on shaping a better future for humanity across five main themes, Global Governance and Effective Leadership, Societal  Wellbeing and Capacity Building, Economic Prosperity and Emerging Opportunities, Urban Futures and Evolving Demographics and Future Realities and Next Frontiers by featuring 25 specialised global forums dedicated to anticipating future trends across the vital sector and more than 45 high-level ministerial meetings.

 Key outcomes

A key outcome of these sessions was the publication of 36 strategic reports, developed in partnership with international knowledge leaders to provide actionable data for policymakers.

Furthermore, the summit saw the launch of the third Global Ministers Survey, an essential tool for identifying and understanding the emerging policy priorities that are currently shaping governments around the world.

The World Governments Summit 2026 also served as a platform to recognise outstanding contributions to public service and global progress.

Several major honours were presented, including the prestigious Best Minister Award, which was won by Abdoulie Jobe, the Minister of Tourism and Culture of The Gambia. 

Other notable accolades included the Most Reformed Government Global Award, the Dubai International Best Practices Award for Sustainable Development, and the Global Teacher Prize, all celebrating innovation and dedication in their respective fields.

Vote of confidence

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, celebrated the successful conclusion of the World Governments Summit (WGS), characterising the event as a significant vote of confidence from the international community.

Through a statement on his X account, he noted that the summit has reached a level of global prestige that solidifies its status as a premier platform for international cooperation.

His Highness emphasised that the achievement belonged to the collective efforts of the UAE’s national team and the trust placed in the nation by global partners.

The 2026 edition of the summit marked its largest iteration to date.

Sheikh Mohammed shared impressive statistics regarding the event’s reach, noting the involvement of more than 150 governments.

The gathering brought together over 500 ministers and more than 60 heads of state and government, highlighting the immense scale of the dialogue, underscoring the summit’s role in facilitating high-level diplomacy.

His Highness expressed his gratitude to the participating world governments, the dedicated national team, and the President of the UAE. He reaffirmed the summit’s trajectory of growth and its commitment to becoming an even more influential force in global governance.

“The success of the summit is a success for the national team and a vote of confidence from countries around the world. It further establishes the summit as one of the most important global gatherings of governments,” he added.

Looking forward, he concluded with a promise of continued excellence, saying, “We will see you next year as we return bigger, better, and stronger.”

Future Realities 
The pace of change continues to accelerate, bringing both extraordinary opportunities and profound uncertainties.

Governments will be central in shaping ethical pathways, bold policies, and cooperative frameworks to ensure that the exploration of emerging frontiers remains responsible and inclusive.