Participants are invited to join the Opening Concert of the Annual Meeting 2026, featuring multi-Grammy award-winning artist Jon Batiste, renowned violinist Renaud Capuçon and the Mahler Chamber Orchestra.
At the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2026 Opening Concert, leaders framed music as both metaphor and method for navigating global uncertainty through “A Spirit of Dialogue.” WEF President Børge Brende argued that the Forum’s role is “not about responding to current events” but “orchestrating the right conditions that enable us to move forward,” emphasizing that dialogue is “not a luxury but really a necessity.” He used the orchestra as a model: distinct instruments “come together in perfect harmony,” suggesting progress requires celebrating differences rather than erasing them.
Co-chair André Hoffmann reinforced dialogue as active practice: “opening your ears, listening and contributing,” positioning the program’s shift from classical to contemporary as a lived demonstration of pluralism, “openness, collaboration, diversity and responsibility to future generations.” Co-chair Larry Fink tied the idea to personal experience, noting that unfamiliar music can become meaningful over time, a parallel to Davos debates that may require patience, listening, and willingness to “evolve and be better for it.”
Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. called music “one of humanity’s oldest and most powerful technologies for connection,” arguing it can “lower our defenses” and improve cooperation. Jon Batiste’s participatory set operationalized the message—“just tell the truth… everything is all connected”—turning the hall into a collective exercise in attention, empathy, and shared humanity.
Anchor Tanya Brier.
Thank you so much, ladies and gentlemen. Good evening. And a very warm welcome to the World Economic Forum's annual meeting 2026. It's both a privilege and a pleasure for me to guide you through tonight's opening concert, an evening that brings together music, creativity, and the shared spirit of global cooperation which is needed now more than ever. Well, to begin with, it's an honor to invite onto the stage the president and Chief Executive officer of the World Economic Forum, Mr. Borge Brende. And joining him, please welcome the World Economic Forum's co-chairs, Mr. Andre Hoffman and Mr. Larry Fink.
Thank you so much for. Thank you.
Great to see you all. Good evening. Welcome. Welcome to the opening concert of the World Economic Forum's annual meeting in 2026. We're really honored to have you join us at the start of such an important week, a week that promises to be both enriching and transformative and comes at a historic moment as our world undergoes profound changes. It's a moment of uncertainty, but also possibility. Not a moment to retreat, but a moment to rise. The World Economic Forum is not about responding to current events. It's about orchestrating the right conditions that enable us to move forward. Isn't this moment also when dialogue is not a luxury but really a necessity? There's no way we can move the world forward without starting to speaking with each other. That's also why we begin this week with music. Music knows no borders. It speaks no single language. A violin, a trumpet, a clarinet and a drum. They come together in perfect harmony. Each unique, each essential, each voice making the whole more beautiful. That is what we must do. Not erase our differences, but celebrate them, amplify them. Build from them. This year's theme, A Spirit of Dialogue, captures the essence of our mission. I envision the 3000 participants here in Davos working in concert to drive positive change. And I count on each of you. Thank you. And then it's my distinct pleasure to introduce one of our co-chairs, Andrea Hoffman. Andrea, floor is yours. Thank you very much. Hello. Hi. Thank you very much.
And to this introduction. I think that, Well, I suspect some of you have read your papers before coming. You know that the spirit of today, the reason we're having this annual meeting, is in the spirit of dialogue. And dialogue means opening your ears, listening and contributing. And that's why we thought that the music is something that can open these doors. And and in particular, we need to make sure that we understand that music is not just one freedom. It's not just one way of doing it. It's many different ways. And the concept of tonight, tonight is about this. We're going to start with classical music of outstanding quality with the symphony orchestra and and Renaud Capucon. But we're also going to go to a more contemporary style of music later on. And I think this, this culture of music and several differences in the music is something that's really rooted into the spirit of dialogue. We need to talk to each other. We need to continue to listen to everybody. So the evening, the evening concert reflects the principle we seek to advance throughout the week openness, collaboration, diversity and responsibility to future generations might invite us to listen more deeply to different perspectives, to shared values, and to the possibility that emerge when we engage with another in true spirit of dialogue. Thank you very much for your presence tonight, and I hope this concert will satisfy all these requirements, which are, of course, quite numerous. Thank you.
Good evening, everybody, and welcome. I know you're all here now to listen to me, but to hear music, so I'll be brief. I grew up in Los Angeles in the 60s and 70s, which meant I came of age at the time of Joni Mitchell, James Taylor and Neil Young. And there was also a band called love, which in fact I did love. But it wasn't until much later that I came to appreciate what you'll hear tonight jazz, classical, and other kinds of music that I didn't fully understand or connect with. But that was the fun part. Being a music fan. Back then, you flipped through the records. You go to a store, you put your headphones on, you listen to the music, and it became transformational. And music was a very important part of my life and still remains to be. But sometimes you find something different you loved right away, and other times something connected with you, not just at that moment, but over time. And that made you think, why did that connect with me so emotionally? And I think that's really the essence of this coming week, and the feeling that we need to all envelop, to have open minds, to listen, to think. And that's the goal of this year's World Economic Forum at Davos, to expose people to wider ranges of voices, to a wider range of ideas, maybe even an argument, but one that we have deeper understanding from. And I think not all of it's going to sound as good as the one that you enjoyed at that moment, like in music and like in music, you're not going to agree with everything. But if you're willing to listen, it might leave something with you inside, it might stay with you, and maybe you will evolve and be better for it. And that's the mission of the World Economic Forum this week in Davos. So with that, please enjoy tonight.
Well thank you so much to Borger, to Andre and to Larry for their opening remarks. Ladies and gentlemen, tonight's opening concert is presented to you in two parts. The first part of our program features one of Europe's most celebrated ensembles, the Mahler Chamber Orchestra, joined by the truly extraordinary artist, internationally renowned violinist Renaud Capucon. Please now join me in warmly welcoming to the stage the Mahler Chamber Orchestra. Fantastic. Thank you so much for joining me. And now, ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Mr. Renaud Capucon.
Well done.
Ladies and gentlemen.
Mesdames et messieurs.
Applause and the Mahler Chamber Orchestra. Thank you.
Well.
Thank you so much. The opening concert is a cultural highlight of every annual meeting. And these exceptional performances would not be possible without the generous and long standing support of Intesa Sanpaolo. For the past 11 years, Intesa Sanpaolo has proudly supported the World Economic Forum's opening concert. On behalf of all of us. Please join me in expressing our sincere gratitude to them. Thank you.
Well.
This evening's program brings together classical and contemporary works performed by some of the most inspiring musicians of our time. To introduce our next artist, it's a great privilege to invite a leader at the heart of the global music community. The chief Executive Officer of the Recording Academy, of course, best known for producing the Grammys. Please now, welcome to the stage, Mr. Harvey Mason Jr.
Thank you.
Good evening everyone. How are we doing? It's okay. Good. What we've just experienced from the Mahler Chamber Orchestra and Renaud Capucon is so much more than a performance. It's a reminder that music is one of humanity's oldest and most powerful technologies for connection. Long before policy, or even before markets and way before institutions. We had rhythm, we had melody. We had the instinct to listen to one another. We often look back at the masters of the past and call it a golden age. But even those artists were not just preserving tradition, they were inventing the future. They were disruptors in their time. They expanded with the world thought music could be. And that same spirit lives right now. In a moment, we'll welcome a modern day master, an artist who draws from centuries of musical history, who speaks to the urgency of the present while boldly pointing towards what comes next. Someone who reminds us that music is not just classical or contemporary, it's not local or global. It's all of that and all at once. In a time when the world feels so divided and disconnected, music is the force that brings us together. It lowers our defenses. It opens our hearts and our minds. Think about what that can mean in business, in diplomacy, in global cooperation. Music isn't just decoration or content. It's what brings us back to one another. So tonight, let us carry this feeling with us as we all begin our work here. A feeling of of openness, of imagination, of shared humanity. Ladies and gentlemen, it's now my great honor to welcome to the stage an extraordinary group of musicians that will join the Mahler Chamber Orchestra and the incredible seven time Grammy winning artist Jon Batiste.
Thank you.
One, two.
Pedrito Martinez.
Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. Oh! Oh, yeah. Oh oh. Boy. I'm already. Oh, yeah. Oh yeah yeah yeah. One. Oh, yeah. Oh oh. Secretos. Alameda. Oh, yeah yeah. Two lovers. Como. Alma.
Candela.
Candela. Candela. Candela. Calore. Candela. Candela. Calore. Ya una vez Johnson y asi Como el mago. Tomatis.
Yes. All the way, all the way.
Hello, Davos. The answer, my friend, is blowing in the wind. You are my sunshine. My only sunshine. You make me happy when skies are gray. Yeah, yeah, yeah. It's a lot of talking going on. While I sing my song. But do you hear me? I said do you hear me? It's a lot of chatter in here. But let me make myself clear. I said, can you hear me? I said, tell it like it is. Love how you live. When you're doing what you do. Just tell the truth. Just tell it like it is. Love how you live. When you're doing what you do. Everybody just tell the truth. It's a lot of ideas exchange going on over here in Davos. A lot of money flowing around and exchanging hands. But just remember everything is everything. Everything is all connected. And when you're doing what you do, like my grandmamma said, just tell the truth. Tell the truth. Are.
Here we go. Are. My daddy had a small house up on the east side. All. Willy down the block through me. The peace sign. Oh. Move to the big city. Now we sit and kill him. Come on now, everybody, put em right there. Right. Get up out your seat. My daddy loved up when times was hard and gritty. Move your body and your mind will follow. Free your body. Your mind will follow. And you're looking for fame. Before you go off. Better know the game. Oh, he said tell it like it is. Love how you live. When you're doing what you do. Just tell the truth. Tell it like it is. Love how you live. When you're doing what you do. Just tell the truth. I'm thinking bout my papa. Now that I'm a star. All right. Lost in translation. People all across the nation. There you go, I see you.
Oh, yeah.
Just say it plain and simple. Amongst the complication. But I. I'm packing all my sneakers. I never had a car. Come on, Mala, before you drive off, you better know who you are. Said, tell it like it is. Love how you live. I'm telling you, when you're doing what you do, just tell the truth. Tell it like it is. Love how you live. When you're doing what you do. Just tell the truth. Oh my. Everybody free your body. Your mind will follow. This is more than a performance. This is a spiritual practice. And I need to see y'all turn it up. Are you ready, Davos? Are you ready? Davo? Are. You. I'm talking to you. I'm talking to you.
I, I. I.
I am not stopping until we break the forcefield of the spiritual life force energy that is surrounding all of us. We gotta lift it up. Come on. Come.
I'm.
Just tell it like it is. Love how you live. When you're doing what you do. Just tell the truth. Just tell it, just tell it, just tell it, just tell it, just tell it, just tell it, just tell it, just tell it, just tell it. Tell it, tell it, tell it, tell it, tell it, tell it. When you doing what you do. Just tell the truth.
It's the only way that I know how. When we play this kind of music, where I'm from, everybody gets down. When I move my body just like this. I don't know why, but I feel like up and my hands on to take me back. And I let go with so much. And come on kiss. Cause it's my freedom. Who are you talking? You're speaking my language. The way that you walk. You can't contain it. Is it the shoes jumped up. Kangaroo. We're overdue for a little more friends. Now is your time. It's your right. You can shine. It's alright if you do. I'ma do to. When I move my body. Just like this. I don't know why, but I feel like freedom. Freedom? Yeah, I hear songs that take me back. And I let go. With so much freedom. Sweet lips and come on give. The reason we get down is to get back up. If someone's around, you won't let me love. You can't stand me. Say no more that you feel like money. Now it's your time. It's your right. You can shine. It's alright if you do. I'ma do to. Cause when I look up to the stars. Stars I know exactly who we are. Everybody put your hands in the air. Everybody say oh yeah. Come on now. Let's go with the, with the, with the, with the, with the whole team. Let me see you wobble with the whole thing. With the with the with the whole team. Let me see you shake the ocean. I'ma give you the ocean. Let me see you wobble. Hold on with the, with the, with the whole team. Hello. This marvelous.
Collection of souls in this room, this constellation of life experiences, all culminating to this one moment. And we're here to celebrate life itself. And when we play this kind of music, where I'm from, people are not as still as y'all are.
UN peu plus vous. Donc. I encourage.
You where you are right now.
Stand right there. That's your dance floor. The dance floor.
With your mama gave you a.
Are you ready?
One, two.
The hotel with the with the hotel. Let me see you I. Let me see you dance. Let me see you wobble. Can you make it free? And see a while? I love you, I love you, I love you. And God love you too. Hey, let me see you wobble. Can you make it break? Yeah. When I move my body just like this I don't know why, but I feel like freedom, freedom, freedom, freedom freedom freedom freedom freedom freedom freedom freedom freedom. Live. And I don't get cause it's my freedom. I love you.
As I like to say I love you even if I don't know you. Because that's how I know that the world can be. We have the.
Power to make. Being who you are pouvoir de ici. Continue to abrir la lumiere dans la vie n'oubliez pas nous faisons tous ensemble. Nous sommes. L'idée. IL n'y a un monde. C'est Notre, c'est Notre maison commune. IL NE faut pas moi. Je fait. J'ai été créé pour sa spiritual.
Doing what they're meant to do.
Chacun qu'il la affair et je vous Aime meme. Si je vous connaissez pas. Merci.
Take a deep breath. Drink water. Take a deep breath. Drink water. You know that these streets just don't calm down. Take a deep breath. Drink water. You know that these streets.
We're at right now, we're at right now in the east and the west. Louisiana down south.
I'll be there with the cleats. I'll be there with the squeaks. If you stuck, if you stuck, if you stuck, set you free.
Everybody put your lights in the air. Put your lights in the air.
Take a deep breath. Drink water. You know that these streets just don't come. Yeah. The water come down o. Come down o. Come down. Please. Welcome to the stage from Lagos, Nigeria.
Fireboy.
Relax and calm down. You got the man now. Man now. And I know you messed up right now. When you are down, dance to my song. My sound. You know. Say I know Fisher. When the light, when the light reach out I call you. When they try. When they try. You know that I'll be there for you. Take a deep breath. Drink water. We know that these streets just like. Calm down. Take a deep breath. Drink water. You know that these streets. Just calm down, calm down, calm down. Whenever you feel like you might try. No man down, calm down. Yeah, yeah I set you free. Take me to the river. Take me to the hoop. Take me to the river. Wave over me. Go and take me to the hoop ocean. Oh. Take me to the river. Take me to the hoop. Take me to the river. Wave over me. Go take me to the water. Go down over I. Oh, let's go. Take a deep breath. Drink water. District. Just calm down, calm down, calm down I see you. My troubles gone. Down, down. Take a deep breath. Clean water. Just take a deep breath. In water. Calm down, calm down, calm down. My channel. Calm down, calm down. Drink water. Take me to the river. Take me to the hoop. Take me to the river. Wave over me. Take me to the ocean. Shine.
Fireboy.
When it comes to loving me. Don't stop. I know there ain't no guarantee. But don't stop. Let's keep it shaking while we can. You don't need another man. We'll keep rolling with the plan. Don't stop. When it's near to closing time. Don't stop. Just put your hand in mine. Don't stop. We'll dance the night away. Don't care what people say. No pass. Press play. Don't stop. Don't stop dreaming. Don't stop believing. Cause you know that our time is coming up. So with all you've got. Don't stop. There's a reason that you're here. So don't stop. You ain't got nothing to fear. Don't stop. This train has left the station. And who knows what destination. But this love is for the taking. So don't stop. Don't stop dreaming. Don't stop believing. Cause you know that our time is coming up. Let's soak up the day. And dance the night away. So all you've got don't stop. So with all you've got. Don't stop. I heard there was a secret chord Ingrid Silva, everyone. That David played. And it pleased the Lord. But you don't really care for music, do ya? It goes like this. The fourth, the fifth, the minor fall in the major lift. The baffled king compose it high. I. II. Alleluia. I. II. We are. Everybody.
Now we've become family. So everybody put your lights in there one last time. And we're going to sing this together. And we're going to send out this healing energy right now. Put whoever you know in the world right now, wherever in the world right now, that you want to send this energy to, you want to send this healing to put it in your mind's eye right now, we're going to send it out. Right now, we're going to sing this together. Everybody stand on your feet and lift your lights in the air, symbolizing that inner light that's within you. Since the beginning, since before you were born. Put it in the air. We're going to sing together. We're going to proclaim the light. Here we go.
I. I.
One more time as loud as you can. The joy of living is available to all of us. Here we go. I. I Alleluia! Oh, God. Yeah. Oh! Da da.
Da da da da da da da da da.
Da da. Thank you everybody. We'll see you on the other side. We love you. How about one more round of applause for the Mahler Chamber Ensemble? Thank you so much. My name is Jon Batiste.
Da da da.