The World Economic Forum’s newly released Global Risks Report 2026 highlights a world entering a period of sustained turbulence.
Drawing on insights from over 1,300 global experts, the report underscores how geopolitical, societal, environmental, and technological disruptions are converging. Executives can use this report to evaluate what it means for their organizations for the near-term and long-term.
This annual report is issued in tandem with the annual Davos Conference hosted in Davos, Switzerland each January. The report highlights insights about emerging systemic risk challenges on the horizon that, “if they occur, would negatively impact a significant proportion of global GDP, population, or natural resources.”
The report summarizes the severity of 33 global risks over three time horizons:
- Current Concerns: 2026
- Short-Term Concerns – 2 years ahead: 2028
- Long-Term Concerns – 10 years from now: 2036
Negative Risk Outlook Ahead
Uncertainty persists among leaders as they evaluate the volatile landscape of world events rapidly unfolding. The lack of predictability of events, the erosion of traditional norms, and the perceived shifts towards a lack of respect for long-standing relationships are triggering overarching concerns about the stability of the macro environment over the years to come.
The majority of the over 1,300 respondents signal a negative global outlook for both the short-term and long-term:
- 50% characterize the short-term outlook as “Turbulent” or “Stormy”, while
- 57% characterize the long-term outlook at similar levels.
Confrontation is putting pressure on historic relationships, creating a level of angst that is threatening the overall global view.
Critical Takeaways for Executive Teams
In the table below is a summary of five critical takeaways for executive teams navigating global uncertainties. Beneath the table we provide some additional details about each of the five insights, including potential strategic responses:
| Critical Takeaway | Impact to Organizations |
|---|---|
| #1: Geopolitical instability dominates the global risk landscape. | Increased volatility in trade and regulatory environments, disrupted supply chain and cross-border challenges. |
| #2: Misinformation has become a structural threat to trust and stability. | Increased scrutiny from multiple parties, including regulators, workforces and customers. |
| #3: Societal polarization threatens market stability and workforce cohesion. | Greater fragmentation across important communities, unpredictable consumer sentiment and brand perception. |
| #4: Environmental risks will define the long-term risk horizon. | Disruptions in physical operations and supply chains, changing regulatory requirements and increased reporting. |
| #5: Technology risks — especially AI and cybersecurity — are rising sharply. | Growing potential for cyber attack disruptions, reputational damage from mismanaged technologies, ethical and operational challenges with AI adoption. |
#1: Geopolitical instability dominates the global risk landscape.
Geopolitical confrontation ranks as the top risk for both 2026 and 2028, reflecting a rise in nationalism, weakening alliances, and escalating state-based conflicts.
Strategic Response: Strengthening geopolitical risk monitoring, diversifying regional dependencies, and developing scenario plans for potential geopolitical shocks.
#2: Misinformation has become a structural threat to trust and stability.
Misinformation and disinformation appear in the top risk rankings across all time horizons, making it one of the most persistent threats identified.
Strategic Response: Investing in communications governance, reputation resilience, and robust controls to mitigate the spread and impact of misinformation.
#3: Societal polarization threatens market stability and workforce cohesion.
Societal polarization is a top-five risk today and in the short term.
Strategic Response: Emphasizing inclusive leadership, strengthening employee engagement, and monitoring shifting stakeholder concerns more closely.
#4: Environmental risks will define the long-term risk horizon.
By 2036, environmental risks overwhelmingly dominate the top of the list — led by extreme weather events, biodiversity loss, and irreversible changes to Earth systems.
Strategic Response: Integrating environmental resilience into long-term strategy, accelerating climate adaptation planning, and expanding natural-capital considerations.
#5: Technology risks — especially AI and cybersecurity — are rising sharply.
Cyber insecurity ranks among the top recurring risks across all horizons, and adverse AI outcomes emerge as a top long-term threat.
Strategic Response: Advancing cyber maturity, implementing enterprise-wide AI governance, and ensuring transparent and responsible use of emerging technologies.
Deeper Dive Into the 2026 Global Risk Report
Here is a look at the top five risk concerns across each of the three time horizons outlined in The World Economic Forum’s newly released Global Risks Report 2026.
Current Year Risk Concerns for 2026
Geopolitical concerns rise to the top of the list of current year concerns, with geoeconomic confrontation as the #1 risk concern for 2026, followed by risks linked to state-based armed conflict.
A rise in nationalism, unsettling developments among nations that have historically been allied partners, and increased conflicts among nations is raising concerns about overall stability at a global level.
Top 5 Current Year Risks:
- Geopolitical confrontation
- State-based armed conflict
- Extreme weather events
- Societal polarization
- Misinformation and disinformation
Short-Term (2 years) Risk Concerns: 2028
These same top five risks remain as the top five risks when looking out over short-term horizons (2028), with geopolitical confrontation remaining as the #1 short-term risk concern. Interestingly, that risk concern increased eight positions from its ranking last year, suggesting a noticeably elevated concern.
Similarly, concerns about economic downturn and inflation also rose eight positions from the prior year, although not in the top five. Cyber insecurity just missed the top 5 short-term risks, but is in the #6 position for 2028.
Top 5 Short-Term Risks (2028)
- Geopolitical confrontation
- Misinformation and disinformation
- Societal polarization
- Extreme weather events
- Misinformation and disinformation
Long-Term Risk Concerns: 2036
Environmental challenges dominate the long-term (10 years out) risk horizon. Three of the top five long-term risks and five of the top 10 long-term risks are environmental in nature.
Concerns about the impact of extreme weather events represent the #1 long-term risk. Forty percent of respondents describe their long-term outlook for environmental issues as “Stormy.”
Top 5 Long-Term Risks (2036)
- Extreme weather events
- Biodiversity loss and ecosystem collapse
- Critical change to Earth systems
- Misinformation and disinformation
- Adverse outcomes of AI technologies
Risks with Staying Power
When analyzing common risks across the three different time horizons (current, short-term, and long-term), there are five risks that make the top 10 list of risks in all horizons:
- Misinformation and disinformation
- Societal polarization
- Extreme weather
- Cyber insecurity
- Inequality
These risks cannot be considered in a siloed fashion. Concerns about the erosion of trust, which is a foundational cornerstone for stability, through misinformation and disinformation is closely linked to increasing societal polarization and perceptions of inequality. The lack of trust is only escalated by increasing cyber security intrusions.
Tackling these challenges will take a multi-pronged approach involving individuals, organizations, governments, societies across the globe.
About the Source and the Author
Source: The Global Risks Report 2026, 21st Edition, Insight Report, World Economic Forum, Geneva, Switzerland, in partnership with Marsh and Zurich Insurance Group (January 2026).
Mark S. Beasley, PhD, Director, ERM Initiative; Alan T. Dickson Distinguished Professor of Accounting authored this analysis of the report.
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