From the spread of misinformation to geo-economic confrontations, discover the major risks the world faces in 2026
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The year 2026 has begun in a world that feels increasingly volatile. From wars and conflicts in all corners of the globe to geopolitical tensions, the global landscape is, arguably, becoming more unpredictable.
As such, understanding and contextualising the risks that the world is facing is becoming a more pressing matter, with several organisations creating their own reports to break down the most pertinent issues on our planet today.
Below are five of the major risks that the world faces in 2026, compiled from reports from the World Economic Forum and the Council on Foreign Relations.
1) Geo-economic confrontation
Geo-economic confrontation refers to the use of economic tools – such as tariffs, sanctions, export controls and investment restrictions – as instruments of competition between major powers. According to the Global Risks Report 2026 from the World Economic Forum, geo-economic confrontation is the most likely risk to trigger a global crisis this year, selected by 18 per cent of surveyed experts as the single biggest threat in 2026.
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Tariff escalations and sanction regimes already form part of global geopolitical tensions, with policies that restrict access to rare earths, advanced chips or clean energy technologies creating ripples across economies. Take the example of Trump’s onslaught of tariffs enforced back in 2025, that saw ricocheting retaliations from countries including Canada, China and Mexico.
Potential impacts of a geo-economic confrontation include dampening of trade, investment and financial stability, as well as issues with supply chains and disintegrating political alliances.
2) Armed conflict and escalating wars
According to The Council on Foreign Relations Preventive Priorities Survey, several conflicts across the world are likely to escalate or persist in ways that could destabilise regions and impact global security in 2026.
These include increased conflict between Israeli security forces and Palestinians in the West Bank over Israeli settlement construction, Palestinian political rights, and the war in Gaza; renewed fighting in the Gaza Strip between Hamas militants and Israeli security forces; an intensification of the Russia-Ukraine war and growing political violence in the US.
Experts note the number of armed conflicts globally has increased, with a greater proportion involving interstate clashes. Continued warfare in Ukraine and the Middle East, alongside simmering tensions in other regions, contribute to sustained instability.
Prolonged wars add to civilian suffering, displacement and humanitarian crises, while also demanding sustained military support that can strain budgets and international partnerships.
3) Societal polarisation, mis- and disinformation
Societal polarisation refers to deepening divides within and between societies that serve to weaken social cohesion and trust in institutions. Mis- and disinformation amplify this polarisation by flooding platforms such as social media with false or manipulative content.
In the Global Risks Report 2026, misinformation and disinformation, as well as societal polarisation, both rank among the top short-term risks, reflecting concerns about democratic resilience and governance capacity.
For example, election misinformation across the world has repeatedly affected public trust and democratic participation. During the 2020 US presidential election, false claims about widespread voter fraud spread widely online, eroding trust in the process and contributing to political tension. As well as this, a more recent example of misinformation spread is that which occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic. Misleading health claims – about treatments, preventative measures or vaccine safety – reduced trust in medical authorities in certain communities and jeopardised health outcomes.
4) Technological and cyber risks
Technological risks to the planet span cybersecurity threats, the misuse of digital tools and the unintended consequences of rapid AI deployment. According to the Global Risks Report, there is a rising momentum in technological hazards, particularly related to cyber insecurity, misinformation and adverse outcomes of artificial intelligence.
Cyber attacks on critical infrastructure, supply chains and government systems can cause economic disruption and societal harm. As for AI, the risks are multitudinous – including systemic bias, automated disinformation and social disruption, all climbing in severity across time.
In November 2024, Geographical reported about the rise of AI spreading misinformation, which back then was already regarded as a top short-term risk for the planet. The ways that AI can do this are insidious, ranging from hallucinations in chatbots to ‘deepfakes’ – videos or pictures of celebrities or public figures that have been altered so that they appear to be doing or saying something that did not happen.
5) Regional flashpoints and geopolitical hotspots
The risks above are systemic, but specific regional flashpoints – zones of heightened tension that can ignite wider instability – remain critical in 2026. CFR’s Conflicts to Watch in 2026 report highlights several areas where conflict dynamics are already tense and could escalate further.
These include Ukraine, ongoing conflicts and proxy wars in the Middle East, as well as political instability and diplomatic frictions in Latin America (including US-Venezuela tensions).
Regional flashpoints can draw in external powers, disrupt global markets, increase refugee flows and force strategic realigments.
