WTO 2026 Forum to Focus on Services Trade
The WTO has released the programme for its 2026 Public Forum, which will examine services as a driver of development, income, and job creation.
The World Trade Organization has published the programme for its 2026 Public Forum. The event will analyze the role of services as an engine of global development, a source of income, and a driver of job creation and empowerment worldwide, with a particular focus on women and young people.
According to the WTO, the Forum will commence with a high-level panel on what will shape the trading system of the future. This session is being organized jointly by the International Chamber of Commerce and the International Institute for Sustainable Development. Following this, the WTO will launch its World Trade Report, which examines why the multilateral trading system is at a critical juncture and why the organization's founding logic remains essential.
Day One Highlights
The opening day will include other high-level discussions. One will cover the importance of rules-based services trade from a private sector viewpoint. Another will explore digital services as an enabler for economic growth. The Peterson Institute for International Economics will lead a concluding discussion on trade's role within a new world order.
Programme Format and Features
Days Two and Three of the Forum will feature more than 100 sessions. These will cover a wide spectrum of issues affecting services trade and broader macroeconomic topics. The WTO states that innovative features will include a Trade Policy Hub, which connects researchers and policymakers, and a WTO Chairs Programme (WCP) Research Hub.
For the first time, the Forum will host a series of "Curated Conversations." These are organized in partnership with the Geneva Trade Platform and are designed to create an opportunity for candid policy exchanges on key topics important to the international trade community. Other programme elements include Meet the Author presentations, podcast sessions, and networking receptions allowing participants to benefit from informal discussions on trade policy.
Event Logistics
The Public Forum is an in-person event scheduled for the WTO headquarters in Geneva. For those unable to attend, the WTO website will livestream many of the sessions. The organization notes that registration is now closed and no new registrations can be accepted.
The full programme is available on the WTO's website.
