Will the majority (over 50%) of the 2026 G20 Summit be held virtually, with national leaders attending via high-fidelity telepresence systems?

G20 Summit: Majority Virtual via Telepresence in 2026

While advanced telepresence systems exist, high-level international diplomacy like the G20 Summit heavily relies on in-person meetings for backroom negotiations and personal relationship building. This prediction states that the majority (over 50%) of the 2026 G20 Summit will be conducted virtually via high-fidelity telepresence systems.

The Necessity of Handshakes

The strong 'No' vote is based on the immutable needs of politics: the most sensitive and important negotiations require privacy, immediate physical feedback, and the ability to pull leaders aside—all of which are compromised in a virtual environment. A 'Yes' scenario would require:

• **Global Health Crisis:** A major new pandemic or health crisis necessitating travel restrictions.
• **Geopolitical Safety:** Extreme security concerns for the host country making travel too risky for multiple heads of state.
• **Technological Perfection:** The telepresence system must achieve a near-perfect sense of shared physical space, instantaneous translation, and absolute security encryption.

Without an external crisis, the political necessity of in-person negotiation will override the technical convenience.