The radical power of slowing down in a world that never stops

In a time defined by uninterrupted connectivity, escalating demands for attention and the ever-quickening tempo of digital life, THE BUS – a visionary new project by world-renowned artist Marina Abramović – presents a radical alternative: the intentional act of stopping.

The project, which is making its global debut at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2026 in Davos, asks us to step out of the current of perpetual acceleration and sit still long enough to encounter our own presence again. Abramović invites participants to disconnect from the constant noise of modern existence and begin an inward journey, one that privileges awareness over efficiency, reflection over reaction and presence over performance.

As conflict intensifies, polarization deepens and information overload becomes a defining condition of daily life, Abramović asks a provocative question: Could slowing down, and fully inhabiting the present moment, be the most powerful path towards awareness, empathy and unity?

This is the invitation she brings to world leaders and participants in Davos, where THE BUS will formally launch. Grounded in the belief that unity has become a fragile and rare resource, Abramović calls on participants to engage with the Abramović Method, creating space for shared presence and fostering the possibility of common ground.

Developed in collaboration with the Marina Abramović Institute (MAI) and the Mirjam Varadinis Art Agency, THE BUS extends Abramović’s lifelong pursuit of dissolving boundaries between art and audience. It is an immersive exploration of presence and time, an experiment in how silence can reshape perception, and how stillness can shift collective consciousness.

We live in a moment marked by unprecedented speed. Digital technologies shape every aspect of daily life, from financial transactions to communication, mobility and entertainment. The pressure to perform “more, better, faster” has become pervasive. Today, depending on age group, people check their phones hundreds of times per day.

THE BUS interrupts this cycle.

Upon entering, participants are required to lock away their phones, laptops and watches, initiating a brief yet meaningful digital detox. “It’s a journey into yourself, a deliberate slowing down in a world that never stops,” explains Marina Abramović.

This act, though simple, is radical: slowing down in a culture wired for acceleration. At the same time, THE BUS offers a setting where people from diverse backgrounds can gather, reflect and engage in a shared experience. With geopolitical tensions at their highest levels since the Cold War and global conflict intensifying, Abramović proposes a platform for unity, one rooted not in debate, but in silence. She invites us to look inward before looking outward, and to rediscover our capacity for empathy.

Abramović’s powerful creative statement reminds us of art’s ability to cultivate a more conscious, compassionate and connected society. In a world that rarely pauses, perhaps the most transformative act is simply to stop and listen.

Abramović, along with collaborator and curator Mirjam Varadinis, chose to premiere THE BUS at the Annual Meeting with clear intention: it is one of the rare global stages where leaders, decision-makers and influential thinkers gather with a shared mandate to shape the future.

“The scale and influence of the World Economic Forum create a unique opportunity for meaningful impact,” Varadinis explains. “Introducing THE BUS in Davos, at the nexus of global dialogue and within the Forum’s official arts and culture programme, feels both urgent and deeply aligned with the project’s purpose.”

Following its debut in Davos, THE BUS will travel to Zurich in the summer of 2026, presented in collaboration with the University of Zurich and the University Hospital. This next chapter will focus on digital detox and mental well-being, pressing issues for young adults and adolescents. Abramović will conceive dedicated workshops for these groups, while THE BUS will remain open to the wider public in a central Zurich park throughout the summer.

From there, THE BUS will continue its journey across regions, transforming public spaces into settings for reflection and connection. As it moves from one community to the next, it will function as a mobile sanctuary, inviting people to share silence, experience art beyond traditional institutions, and rediscover conversation without the need for conclusions. In a world that seldom allows for pause, THE BUS offers a timely reminder of the clarity that emerges when we do.

For more information on the project, visit: www.the-bus.world.