The Bilderberg Group, formally known as the Bilderberg Meeting, is an annual private conference of global elites on policy issues. Established in 1954 in the aftermath of World War II to prevent future conflicts and strengthen transatlantic ties, it was founded to promote dialogue between Europe and North America; over time its agenda has shifted toward fostering consensus around free-market Western capitalism and advancing related global interests.

Typically attended by 120 to 150 participants, the meetings bring together political leaders, government officials, captains of industry, financiers, academics, and media executives. Sessions are held at rotating luxury hotels across Europe and North America and are conducted under the Chatham House Rule to keep discussions off the record and encourage open exchange; that confidentiality has, however, fueled numerous conspiracy theories alleging undue elite influence on world affairs.

Organizationally, the Bilderberg Group is structured as a Dutch foundation, Stichting Bilderberg Meetings, with an office in Amsterdam and a secretariat in Leiden. It is governed by a Steering Committee, currently co-chaired by Prof. Victor Halberstadt and Marie-Josée Kravis, which oversees invitations and agendas. Affiliated entities include American Friends of Bilderberg Inc., a U.S.-based foundation established in 1975 to represent North American interests, and the UK-registered Bilderberg Association, a charity whose trustees have included figures such as Zanny Minton Beddoes and Sir John Sawers.

The group has historical ties to intelligence communities and early organizers such as Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands and Josef Retinger. It has been variously described as a lobby group, think tank, and policy-forming body that has influenced debates on globalization, European integration, and Anglo‑American relations. The Bilderberg Group maintains that it is not a decision-making body but a forum for informal discussion of global issues—geopolitics, economics, technology, security and the like. Recent meetings (for example, the 2024 gathering) have addressed topics including U.S.–Europe tensions, China’s influence, artificial intelligence, and ongoing conflicts.

Critics point to the group’s elite composition, opaque proceedings, and potential conflicts of interest among attendees from business and politics, alleging that it shapes policy behind closed doors; while these concerns have prompted investigative scrutiny, no concrete evidence of illicit activities has been substantiated.