World News
Davos Tightens Security as World Economic Forum 2026 Gets Underway
Davos has effectively gone into lockdown as preparations peak for the opening of the World Economic Forum (WEF) 2026 on Monday, transforming the quiet Alpine town into one of the most heavily secured places in the world.
Davos has effectively gone into lockdown as preparations peak for the opening of the World Economic Forum (WEF) 2026 on Monday, transforming the quiet Alpine town into one of the most heavily secured places in the world.
Even before the forum officially begins, visitors arriving by train are met with an unmistakable sign of heightened security: Swiss Army air-defence cannons positioned near key locations. According to Swiss daily 20 Minuten, these measures signal the start of Davos’ annual high-security phase, aimed at safeguarding global political leaders, business executives and international delegations.
The scale of the transformation becomes especially evident near Davos Lake, where a helicopter landing pad carved into the snow lies ready for high-level arrivals. Nearby, Oerlikon 35-millimetre twin anti-aircraft guns—first introduced in 1963—stand as a stark reminder of the extraordinary security arrangements surrounding the forum.
Along the Promenade, Davos’ main street, hotels, shops and even churches have been temporarily repurposed as national and corporate showcases. Entire buildings have been leased by countries and companies, turning the area into a continuous exhibition zone. One of the most prominent presences this year is Saudi Arabia, which has branded the Migros building next to the Congress Centre, effectively converting the supermarket into a Saudi pavilion for the duration of the forum.
Despite the intense preparations, Sunday passed relatively quietly. Roads near the Congress Centre remained open, security checkpoints were in place but not yet fully operational, and locals, tourists and security personnel shared the streets under clear winter skies. The calm was briefly broken in the afternoon when fire engines rushed toward a hotel on the Promenade, only for the incident to be declared a false alarm caused by a fire detection system.
Further along the Promenade, the English Church has assumed a new role. For the first time, it is officially being used by the United States, which plans to mark the 250th anniversary of its founding under the theme “Freedom.” Events are expected to focus on artificial intelligence, space exploration and emerging technologies, though it remains unclear whether the US President will attend.
India once again has one of the largest presences in Davos, while Ukraine is using its pavilion to brief delegates—often dubbed the “Davos men”—on the realities of Russia’s war. The WEF has repeatedly noted that many such pavilions operate independently and are not formally part of the forum programme.
As speculation continues over possible stays by world leaders in high-security hotels nearby, guarded by elite security teams and legacy air-defence systems, Davos settles into its familiar annual rhythm—balancing the weight of global power politics with life in a small mountain town under lockdown.
