1 Billion Followers Summit 2026 To Open In Dubai On January 9

The fourth edition of the 1 Billion Followers Summit is all set to kick off on January 9, 2026, under the patronage of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

Organized by the UAE Government Media Office, the three-day event will be hosted across Emirates Towers, Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), and the Museum of the Future under the theme “Content for Good,” bringing together creators, platform leaders, investors, and media professionals to examine the evolving content creator economy. 

The Summit is expected to host more than 15,000 creators and influencers from the Arab world and beyond, alongside representatives from global platforms including Snapchat, X, YouTube, TikTok, Meta, Disney+, and TWITCH. The program includes more than 580 sessions and workshops, delivered through 400 keynotes, roundtables, fireside chats, debates, and workshops across three tracks: Economy, Content, and Technology.

Additionally, more than 500 speakers will take part in the Summit, including over 150 chief executive officers and professionals working across the creator economy and new media technologies. Confirmed speakers include content creator James Stephen Donaldson (better known as MrBeast), Hollywood actor and producer Will Smith, comedian, producer, director, and podcaster Max Amini, and television producer and host Lara Trump. Other participants include British investor Simon Squibb, English footballer-turned-entrepreneur, Rio Ferdinand, and Emaar founder Mohamed Alabbar.

Commenting on the event, HE Saeed Al Eter, Deputy Minister of Cabinet Affairs for Strategic Projects and Chairman of the UAE Government Media Office, noted that, over the past four years, the Summit has become a key meeting point for content creators, serving as a reflection of the UAE leadership’s vision to develop the country as a media hub. “The 1 Billion Followers Summit is committed to driving tangible change in new media by supporting content creators," he said. "The world is undergoing rapid changes, with content, media, and cinema evolving at a greater pace. If we are not at the heart of this evolution, we risk being left behind. Our goal is to actively shape this industry.” 

Alia AlHammadi, Vice Chairperson of the UAE Government Media Office and CEO of the 1 Billion Followers Summit, described the event as a platform for examining global trends in new media, noting that the fourth edition continues to build on this approach with an agenda focused on providing creators with practical tools to develop their work. She added that the event works toward its objectives by developing talent, encouraging the use of technology, and expanding funding and investment opportunities, which together support the growth of the creator economy. “In its fourth edition, the 1 Billion Followers Summit writes a new chapter of global success in the heart of the UAE, moving forward with a clear vision to solidify the nation’s status as a global hub for the creator economy," she added. 

Al Eter also highlighted that this year's edition of the Summit will focus on two pillars: one, the shift from content creation to impact creation, and two, the use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools for content creation. As part of the first pillar, the Summit, together with YouTuber MrBeast, launched the 1 Billion Acts of Kindness campaign. The initiative has inspired 170,000 acts of kindness by content creators and garnered 100 million views over the course of three weeks. At the Summit, the top 10 creators will be selected to work on a humanitarian project with support from Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives (MBRGI) and the Varkey Foundation.

Also part of the impact creation pillar, the Summit is collaborating with TikTok to launch its educator-focused awards to drive the production of edutainment content. 

Meanwhile, as part of its AI pillar, the Summit launched the AI Film Award in partnership with Google Gemini, which will feature a grand prize of US$1 million. The summit has shortlisted 12 films from 3,500 submissions based on public votes, with the top five films set to be announced and screened during the event. 

The Summit will also feature the Creators Ventures Accelerator, which has attracted 1,131 applications from more than 70 countries. Organized by Creators HQ in collaboration with 500 Global, the program supports content creators and creative startups pitching venture ideas to investors, with winning pitches receiving investment opportunities and funding of up to AED50 million ($13.61 million) from Creators HQ and investors active in the content creation industry. Program winners will be announced on the third and final day of the event. 

Pictured in the lead image is a scene from an earlier edition of 1 Billion Followers Summit. Image courtesy of 1 Billion Followers Summit.