Global Risks 2026-2036: The Age of Competition1 As we enter 2026, the world is balancing on a precipice. The turmoil caused by kinetic wars alongside deployment of economic weapons for strategic advantage is continuing to fragment societies. Rules and institutions that have long underpinned stability are under siege in a new era in which trade, finance and technology are wielded as weapons of influence. This report analyses global risks through three time frames: 2026, 2028 and 2036. In 2026, geopolitical and geoeconomic risks dominate the risk outlook, with close to one-third of GRPS respondents selecting either Geoeconomic confrontation (18% of respondents) or State-based armed conflict (14% of respondents) as the top risk for 2026 (Figure 11). Geoeconomic confrontation has increased two positions compared to last year and is now the number one risk, with State- based armed conflict falling from #1 to #2. There has also been an uptick in respondent concern for technological risks as we enter 2026, with Misinformation and disinformation at #5 (7% of respondents), and two new entrants into the top 10: Adverse outcomes of AI technologies at #8 (4% of respondents) and Cyber insecurity at #9 (3% of respondents).The world in 2026: on a precipice1.1 0 5 10 15 20 Share of respondents (%)Current Global Risk Landscape FIGURE 11 Geoeconomic confrontation 18% State-based armed conﬂict Extreme weather events Societal polarization Misinformation and disinformation Economic downturn Erosion of human rights and/or of civic freedoms Adverse outcomes of AI technologies Cyber insecurity Inequality 14% 8% 7% 7% 5% 4% 4% 3% 3% “Please select one risk that you believe is most likely to present a material crisis on a global scale in 2026.” (top 10 risks selected by respondents) Source World Economic Forum Global Risks Perception Survey 2025-2026Risk categories Economic Environmental Geopolitical Societal Technological While societal risks have remained stable as a concern compared to last year, in particular Societal polarization at #4 (selected by 7% of respondents) and Inequality at #10 (3% of respondents), there has been an uptick in respondents selecting Erosion of human rights and/or civic freedoms, at #7, up two positions from last year. Economic downturn remains in the top 10 at the start of 2026, at #6, selected by 5% of respondents. By contrast, environmental risks have experienced a decline in share of respondents’ nominations compared with last year’s findings. Extreme weather events has moved from #2 to #3, falling by six percentage points (down to 8% of respondents) and Critical change to Earth systems has declined from #7 to #13. Global Risks Report 2026 15