Dubai is set to welcome over 15,000 content creators from around the world for the 1 Billion Followers Summit, scheduled to take place from January 9–11, 2026, at Emirates Towers and the Museum of the Future. Now in its fourth edition, the summit is described as “the world’s largest gathering for content creators,” running under the theme “Content for Good” with patronage from Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
Organized by the UAE Government Media Office, the three-day event has grown from its inaugural edition, which featured speakers with a combined 1 billion followers, to this year’s lineup boasting 3.5 billion followers. Saeed Al Eter, Deputy Minister of Cabinet Affairs for Strategic Projects, explained that the summit aims to harness the positive impact of content creators across multiple sectors.
This year’s agenda focuses on two main pillars: impact-driven content creation and AI integration into creative workflows. Initiatives include partnerships with YouTube, TikTok, Snapchat, X, and Meta, as well as the 1 Billion Acts of Kindness campaign with MrBeast, which inspired 170,000 acts of kindness and generated over 100 million views. Additionally, a $1 million AI Film Award in partnership with Google Gemini attracted 30,000 participants from 116 countries, demonstrating AI’s growing role in content creation.
Over 500 speakers will host 580 sessions, including 400 keynotes, workshops, and roundtables, covering Economy, Content, and Technology tracks. High-profile attendees include Will Smith, MrBeast, Lara Trump, Max Amini, Mohamed Alabbar, and Rio Ferdinand. The summit will also announce winners of the Creators Ventures Accelerator, which provides up to AED 50 million ($13.6 million) in funding to content startups.
Alia AlHammadi, Vice Chairperson of the UAE Government Media Office, described the summit as a “laboratory for testing global trends in new media,” highlighting its role in stimulating talent, accelerating technological adoption, and expanding funding opportunities for creators. The event positions the UAE as a global media capital while promoting tangible change in the creator economy.
The Educator Award, launched in partnership with TikTok, celebrates creators redefining online learning, attracting over 610,000 participants who produced more than 320,000 educational videos. Social media representatives from platforms such as Snapchat, X, YouTube, TikTok, Meta, Disney+, and Twitch will also discuss future trends, intellectual property protection, combating misinformation, and community building strategies.
