What is the Doomsday Clock, and what time will the announcement take place?

12:11, Tue, Jan 27, 2026 Updated: 12:42, Tue, Jan 27, 2026

The Doomsday Clock 2026 announcement is set to take place on Tuesday. The annual event sees leading scientists reveal how close they believe humanity is to global catastrophe, with midnight symbolising disaster for civilisation.

The symbolic clock has become one of the world’s most recognised measures of global risk, often used to reflect political instability, conflict and technological change. With wars continuing and tensions rising across the globe, many will be watching closely to see whether the clock is moved closer to midnight.

The announcement will be made during a live press conference watched around the world.

What is the Doomsday Clock?

The Doomsday Clock is a symbolic measure of how close scientists believe humanity is to global catastrophe, with midnight representing disaster for civilisation.

The closer the clock is to midnight, the greater the perceived threat to the future of the world.

It is not a literal countdown, but a way of communicating complex global risks in a simple and striking format.

The clock reflects concerns about issues such as nuclear war, climate change, pandemics and emerging technologies, and is designed to warn the public and world leaders about the dangers facing humanity.

Who sets the Doomsday Clock?

The Doomsday Clock is set by the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, a non-profit organisation founded by researchers involved in the development of nuclear weapons.

Its Science and Security Board includes experts in global security, climate science and emerging technologies, and they also consult with Nobel Prize-winning scientists.

The group reviews major world events before deciding whether the clock should move closer to or further away from midnight.

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What was the Doomsday Clock set at in 2025?

In 2025, the Doomsday Clock was set at 89 seconds to midnight, the closest it has ever been since it was first created in 1947.

Scientists said the decision reflected growing global instability, nuclear risks, climate change and concerns around emerging technologies.

At the time, experts warned the world was facing an "unprecedented" level of danger.

When was the Doomsday Clock created and why?

The Doomsday Clock was created in 1947, in the aftermath of the Second World War and the development of nuclear weapons.

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It was designed by scientists who had worked on the Manhattan Project and wanted to warn the public and world leaders about the dangers of atomic technology.

The clock was created as a simple visual symbol to communicate the risk of global destruction and encourage action to prevent future catastrophes.