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What To Know
- The final day of the summit will announce the winners of the AI Film Award and the 1 Billion Acts of Kindness campaign, supported by Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives and the Varkey Foundation.
- Saeed Al Eter, Deputy Minister of Cabinet Affairs for Strategic Projects and Chairman of the UAE Government Media Office, addressed the media at a press conference hosted at Creators HQ in Emirates Towers.
- Alia AlHammadi, Vice Chairperson of the UAE Government Media Office and CEO of the summit, described the event as a testing ground for new media trends, funding pathways, and creative formats shaping the creator economy.
1 Billion Followers Summit 2026 brings creators platforms and global media to Dubai
Dubai will host the fourth edition of the 1 Billion Followers Summit from January 9 to January 11, 2026, confirming the city’s role as a meeting point for the global creator economy. The event brings together 15,000 creators, influencers, platform leaders, media executives, and policymakers for three days of talks, sessions, and announcements focused on content, technology, and social impact. Organised by the UAE Government Media Office, the summit takes place at Emirates Towers, DIFC, and the Museum of the Future under the theme Content for Good. The 2026 edition follows a steady expansion of the summit’s scope, speaker list, and international reach.
A Summit Backed By The UAE Media Leadership
The summit is held under the patronage of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. Saeed Al Eter, Deputy Minister of Cabinet Affairs for Strategic Projects and Chairman of the UAE Government Media Office, addressed the media at a press conference hosted at Creators HQ in Emirates Towers. He stated that the summit has developed into the largest global gathering focused on content creators and new media. According to Al Eter, speakers participating across the editions collectively represented one billion followers at launch, later reaching a combined total of 3.5 billion followers by the fourth edition.
Education Social Impact And Creator Responsibility
A central focus of the 2026 summit is the shift toward impact-driven content. One major initiative involves collaboration with TikTok on an education-focused programme promoting edutainment content. The initiative attracted 610,000 participants who produced 320,000 educational videos, generating 1.8 billion views on the platform. The summit has also announced five strategic partnerships with YouTube, TikTok, Snapchat, X, and Meta aimed at supporting content with educational and social value. The programme includes 580 sessions and workshops featuring 500 speakers addressing financial literacy, healthcare, education, entrepreneurship, and digital media.
AI Film Award And The Future Of Media
Artificial intelligence plays a major role in the 2026 agenda. In partnership with Google Gemini, the summit introduced the AI Film Award with a grand prize of $1 million. The competition received 30,000 submissions from 116 countries, with five films selected for the final stage. Saeed Al Eter stated that the award represents a direct investment in new forms of storytelling shaped by AI tools. Alia AlHammadi, Vice Chairperson of the UAE Government Media Office and CEO of the summit, described the event as a testing ground for new media trends, funding pathways, and creative formats shaping the creator economy.
Global Speakers Funding And Flagship Announcements
The summit hosts 15,000 creators and influencers from the Arab world and international markets, alongside 500 speakers, including 150 CEOs and global experts. Confirmed speakers include Will Smith, MrBeast, Lara Trump, Max Amini, Simon Squibb, and Mohamed Alabbar. The programme features 400 keynote sessions, workshops, roundtables, and debates structured around Economy, Content, and Technology. One of the flagship initiatives is the Creators Ventures Accelerator, organised by Creators HQ in collaboration with 500 Global, offering funding of up to AED50 million. The programme received 1,131 applications from 70 countries.
The final day of the summit will announce the winners of the AI Film Award and the 1 Billion Acts of Kindness campaign, supported by Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives and the Varkey Foundation. With its confirmed dates, venues, speakers, and initiatives, the 1 Billion Followers Summit 2026 sets the agenda for content creation, technology adoption, and social responsibility within the creator economy. Dubai once again serves as the stage for a global conversation shaping how content influences culture, education, and media worldwide.
