World Summit on the Information Society 2026

The WSIS Forum serves as the central multistakeholder convening platform mandated to advance the implementation of the WSIS Action Lines and support global digital cooperation. Anchored in the renewed UNGA mandate, the Forum brings together governments, the private sector, civil society, technical communities, academia, youth, and international organizations in a uniquely inclusive environment for dialogue, collaboration, and action.

As part of the WSIS+20 review process, the United Nations General Assembly recognized the central role of the WSIS Forum as a global platform for advancing the WSIS vision. Through resolution A/RES/80/173, the General Assembly acknowledged the work of ITU, in collaboration with UNESCO, UNCTAD and UNDP, in establishing the annual WSIS Forum.

The Forum remains the principal mechanism for reviewing, gathering multistakeholder input and advancing the WSIS Action Lines, including their annual roadmaps. The International Telecommunication Union leads the coordination of the event, co-organized by ITU, UNESCO, UNDP and UNCTAD, in partnership with more than fifty United Nations entities.

A defining component of the Forum is its High-Level Track, which convenes ministers, regulators, chief executives, civil society heads, mayors, ambassadors and heads of UN agencies. The ministerial roundtables give Member States an opportunity to articulate national digital priorities, exchange policy experiences, and identify areas for collective action.

The Forum has established itself as a global hub for innovation, emerging trends and forward-looking discussions — artificial intelligence, frontier connectivity, digital public infrastructure, cybersecurity, digital inclusion and multilingual digital ecosystems — while providing a structured space to examine emerging risks such as online safety, misinformation, data governance and widening digital divides.