Dubai: Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the fourth edition of the 1 Billion Followers Summit is slated to commence on January 9, 2026. The three-day event, organized by the UAE Government Media Office, will be held at the Emirates Towers, DIFC, and the Museum of the Future in Dubai, under the theme 'Content for Good'.
According to Emirates News Agency, Saeed Al Eter, Deputy Minister of Cabinet Affairs for Strategic Projects and Chairman of the UAE Government Media Office, highlighted that the summit has become the largest gathering for content creators globally. The event is part of the UAE's media ecosystem, aiming to realize the leadership's vision of positioning the UAE as a global media capital.
During a press conference at the Creators HQ in Emirates Towers, Al Eter, alongside Alia AlHammadi and representatives from major social media platforms, unveiled the agenda and key events of the summit. Al Eter noted the evolution of the summit, mentioning that it initially featured speakers with a collective following of one billion, which has expanded to 3.5 billion in the fourth edition.
Al Eter emphasized the summit's two main pillars: the transition from content creation to impact creation, and integrating AI tools into content creation. The first pillar includes a collaboration with TikTok on an educational initiative, attracting 610,000 participants and 320,000 videos with 1.8 billion views. The summit has also partnered with major platforms like YouTube, TikTok, Snapchat, X, and Meta to support impactful content.
Under the first pillar, the summit and MrBeast launched the 1 Billion Acts of Kindness campaign, encouraging content creators to perform acts of kindness. The campaign inspired 170,000 acts of kindness with 100 million views in three weeks. The top 10 creators will work on humanitarian projects with the support of Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives and the Varkey Foundation.
The second pillar focuses on AI's role in reshaping the content creation industry. The summit, in partnership with Google Gemini, launched the AI Film Award, offering a US$1 million prize. This initiative attracted over 30,000 participants from 116 countries, with five films shortlisted for the final stage.
Al Eter concluded by affirming the summit's commitment to driving change in new media by supporting content creators. Alia AlHammadi emphasized the summit's role as a laboratory for testing global trends in new media, with an agenda designed to equip creators with tools for innovation.
The summit will host over 15,000 creators and influencers and feature 500 speakers, including notable figures like Lara Trump, MrBeast, Will Smith, and Max Amini. The event will include 400 sessions, workshops, and debates, focusing on the economy, content, and technology tracks.
The summit will also reveal winners of the 1 Billion Acts of Kindness campaign and the AI Film Award. Additionally, the Creators Ventures Accelerator will fund and support creators and start-ups, offering investment opportunities up to AED 50 million.
The 1 Billion Followers Summit continues to position itself as a pivotal platform for shaping the future of the creator economy, fostering innovation and collaboration among content creators worldwide.