Dubai hosts the 1 Billion Followers Summit from January 9-11, 2026, bringing over 15,000 creators to Emirates Towers and Museum of the Future. The fourth edition of what organizers call "the world's largest gathering for content creators" runs under the theme "Content for Good" with patronage from Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
The UAE Government Media Office organizes the three-day event, which has grown from speakers with a combined 1 billion followers in its inaugural edition to speakers with 3.5 billion followers in this fourth iteration. Saeed Al Eter, Deputy Minister of Cabinet Affairs for Strategic Projects, stated the summit's mission is to "harness the positive impact of content creators across all sectors."
This year's agenda focuses on two pillars: shifting from content creation to impact creation, and integrating AI tools into creative workflows. The first pillar includes five strategic partnerships with YouTube, TikTok, Snapchat, X, and Meta to support impactful content.
A TikTok education initiative already attracted 610,000 participants who created 320,000 educational videos amassing 1.8 billion views. The summit also launched the 1 Billion Acts of Kindness campaign with MrBeast, which inspired 170,000 acts of kindness generating over 100 million views in three weeks.
The second pillar centers on AI integration through a $1 million AI Film Award partnership with Google Gemini. The competition drew 30,000 participants from 116 countries, with five films shortlisted for the final stage. The award has established itself as a landmark initiative that demonstrates AI's power to reshape the content industry, Al Eter said.
Over 500 speakers will address 580 sessions across Economy, Content, and Technology tracks. High-profile participants include Will Smith, MrBeast, Lara Trump, comedian Max Amini, investor Simon Squibb, Emaar founder Mohamed Alabbar, and former footballer Rio Ferdinand.
The summit features 400 keynote sessions, roundtables, and workshops. It will announce winners of the Creators Ventures Accelerator, offering up to AED 50 million ($13.6 million) in funding to content startups. The accelerator received 1,131 applications from more than 70 countries.
Alia AlHammadi, Vice Chairperson of the UAE Government Media Office and CEO of the summit, described the event as "a laboratory for testing global trends in new media." She emphasized its role in stimulating talent, accelerating technological adoption, and expanding funding opportunities across the creator economy.
The 1 Billion Acts of Kindness campaign will select ten creators to work on humanitarian projects supported by Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives and the Varkey Foundation. These creators will collaborate with MrBeast's team on worldwide initiatives documented through his YouTube channel.
Social media platform representatives from Snapchat, X, YouTube, TikTok, Meta, Disney+, and Twitch will explore the future of the creator economy. Discussions will cover intellectual property protection, misinformation combat, analytics implementation, and community building strategies.
The summit aims to position the UAE as a global media capital while driving what Al Eter called "tangible change in new media." He warned that "if we are not at the heart of this evolution, we risk being left behind" as content, media, and cinema evolve at accelerating pace.
With 150 CEOs and global experts among its 500 speakers, the event represents the UAE's commitment to fostering what AlHammadi described as "a vibrant content creator community." The government has allocated resources and facilities specifically for content creation development.
The Educator Award, launched in partnership with TikTok, celebrates creators reimagining online learning. This first-of-its-kind global initiative attracted over 610,000 applicants who produced more than 320,000 educational videos.
