Stories to Watch 2026

For more than 20 years, WRI has identified annual “Stories to Watch.” These are the year’s moments, issues and decisions that we believe will shape the future trajectory of the world.

Stories to Watch 2026 explores how the choices we make can deliver real benefits for people—not just decades from now, but today.

• Will the energy transition stall economic progress or ignite a new era of inclusive prosperity?

• Will climate action deepen today’s cost-of-living and housing crises—or become a pathway to affordability?

• Will jobs in the new economy open doors to a brighter future for families everywhere—or leave too many behind?

Past Events

^{Preview image by Hasnoor Hussain/Reuters}