The Thai government has included Thailand’s hosting of the 2026 Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank Group (WBG) as part of the national agenda and encouraged the people to take part in hosting these meetings.

Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra on 3 February 2025 chaired a meeting on preparations for the IMF-WBG Annual Meetings, one of the world’s top economic conferences. Thailand attaches great importance to the meetings, to be held in Bangkok from 12 to 18 October 2026.

Over 18,000 representatives from nearly 200 nations, including finance ministers, central bank governors, leaders of financial institutions, as well as executives and staff of IMF and WBG, are expected to attend the meetings.

Thailand became a member of the IMF and the WBG on 3 May 1949. This will be the second occasion since 1991 that Thailand has the honor to host the IMF-WBG Annual Meetings, which will present the opportunity for participants to exchange views on global economy and finance and to discuss the most pressing concerns of policymakers. 

The Government believes that the 2026 the IMF-WBG Annual Meetings will provide opportunities for not only economic and tourism-related activities, but also for trade and investment in the long run. They will showcase Thailand's economic and financial advancements, as the country is striving to develop itself as a regional financial hub, with the use of artificial intelligence and digital systems. 

This special occasion will also serve as a platform to showcase Thailand’s “soft power,” presenting its distinctive arts, culture, and cuisine to the world, as well as its great potential in tourism and service industries.

The IMF is an organization of 191 countries, and the WBG comprises 189 member countries.