Agenda

Twenty years after the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) reached its landmark WSIS+20 milestone, the global community enters a new chapter for digital cooperation. The adoption by consensus of the United Nations General Assembly WSIS+20 Outcome Document (A/RES/80/173) reaffirmed the enduring value of the WSIS vision and extended the WSIS mandate through 2035, recognizing the Forum as a central platform for advancing an inclusive, people-centred, and development-oriented digital future.

WSIS Forum 2026 marks the first global gathering of the WSIS community following this historic decision. It provides a unique opportunity to move from reflection to action, translating renewed commitments into concrete outcomes, strengthening multistakeholder collaboration, and accelerating progress toward universal and meaningful connectivity, digital inclusion, sustainable development, and emerging technologies.

Over the past two decades, digital transformation has reshaped societies and economies worldwide. Internet use has grown from 1 billion people in 2005 to more than 5.5 billion today, mobile networks have evolved from dial-up connections to 5G and beyond, and digital technologies have become essential tools for education, healthcare, commerce, public services, and innovation. These achievements reflect the collective efforts of governments, international organizations, the private sector, technical communities, academia, and civil society working together through the WSIS framework.

As we embark on the WSIS Action Lines vision toward 2035, WSIS Forum 2026 serves as a platform to operationalize the outcomes of the WSIS+20 Review and will bring stakeholders together to exchange knowledge, showcase innovations, build partnerships, and shape the next decade of digital cooperation.

• Opening Remarks by co-hosts: ITU and Swiss Confederation
• Co-organizers' Remarks: UNESCO, UNDP, and UNCTAD
• Handover of Chair and the Appointment of Chair of WSIS Forum 2026
• Spotlight Session
• High-Level Dialogue Multistakeholder