This year's World Investor Week 2026 campaign by the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) focuses on strengthening investors' financial resilience and protecting them against emerging forms of digital deception. As part of its ongoing initiatives to educate and protect the public, the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) is joining forces with regulatory authorities and other organisations from more than 100 countries worldwide and will actively participate in the global campaign (5-11 October 2026) through a broad programme of awareness-raising and educational activities.
CySEC is participating in the campaign for the eighth consecutive year and has planned a range of activities, including educational presentations at primary, lower and upper secondary, and technical schools across Cyprus, as well as lectures at universities. A dedicated social media campaign will also highlight the campaign's key messages and practical guidance, alongside appearances on television and radio programmes and the publication of interviews and articles. In addition, CySEC will develop and publish a new Guide for investors and a Smart Investor Handbook, while mobilising regulated entities, partners, universities and other organisations to participate in and help disseminate the messages of WIW 2026.
The school presentations form part of the sixth cycle of CySEC's school lecture programme, with a particular focus on this year's campaign themes, and will run from October through December. During previous cycles, CySEC officers visited 88 schools and provided financial education to 3,450 students in primary, lower and upper secondary, and technical schools across Cyprus.
All educational and awareness material produced as part of the campaign will be available through the Financial Education Portal, the dedicated section of CySEC's official website for the public and investors.
CySEC Chairman George Karatzias said: "This year's IOSCO themes go to the heart of the challenges investors face today. As technology evolves, investors must contend not only with market volatility, but also with increasingly sophisticated forms of digital deception. To remain resilient, people should conduct their own independent research before deciding to invest, avoid offers that promise high returns with no risk, and deal only with licensed professionals."
Among IOSCO's core messages this year, particular emphasis is placed on Investor Resilience, which calls for discipline, portfolio diversification and the avoidance of impulsive decisions. At the same time, the Digital Deception and Scam Alert themes aim to help the public recognise the warning signs - or red flags - associated with today's online scams.
CySEC's research findings indicate that there is still significant ground to cover in helping the public in Cyprus identify online scams at an early stage. In this context, CySEC has developed interactive online quizzes to enable people to assess their knowledge before making investment decisions.
Financial education has long been a strategic priority for the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission. CySEC's initiatives are aligned with the National Strategy for Financial Literacy and Financial Education in Cyprus and with the work of Thematic Working Group 4 of the Cyprus Financial Literacy and Education Committee (CyFLEC), which CySEC chairs.
