2026 World Internet Conference To Spotlight AI, Global Digital Cooperation

China will host the 2026 World Internet Conference Wuzhen Summit from November 2 to 5, with artificial intelligence, global internet governance and digital innovation expected to dominate discussions at the international gathering.

The World Internet Conference Organisation disclosed this on Tuesday, September 29, during a press briefing for international media in Beijing, where organisers presented the major programmes and focus areas for this year’s summit.

The summit, to be held in Wuzhen, Zhejiang Province, is themed “Openness and Collaboration: Working Together to Build a Community with a Shared Future in Cyberspace.” It will feature an opening ceremony, a main forum and 27 sub-forums addressing global internet governance, AI cooperation, robotics, intelligent technologies, global innovation and green digital development.

One of the major highlights will be the Wuzhen Dialogue on Artificial Intelligence, which will bring together representatives of leading technology companies, open-source AI developers and AI scientists to explore the development of a global open-source AI ecosystem. Organisers also said research on AI safety and governance would be unveiled during the summit.

The programme will further feature the Light of Internet Expo, the “Straight to Wuzhen” Global Internet Competition, the World Internet Conference Leading Science and Technology Award and the Outstanding Contribution Award. Activities targeting young and emerging internet talents will also form part of the summit.

Organised by the World Internet Conference and hosted by the People’s Government of Zhejiang Province, the summit will receive support from international organisations, including the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, the World Intellectual Property Organisation and GSMA.

World Internet Conference Secretary-General Ren Xianliang attended the press conference alongside Zhejiang Provincial Party Committee member Li Yanyi, Tongxiang Party Executive Deputy Secretary-General Liang Hao and Tongxiang Party Secretary Wang Jian.

Responding to questions from international journalists, the organisers highlighted the Light of Internet Expo as a major feature of the 2026 summit, saying it would showcase the integrated development of internet technologies and artificial intelligence.