Dubai is about to host the fourth version of the 1 Billion Followers Summit in January 2026, underneath the patronage of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, with a landmark announcement — the launch of the world’s largest prize for AI-generated movies, valued at $1m.
Organised by the UAE Authorities Media Workplace, the occasion reinforces the UAE’s place as a world hub for content material creation and digital economic system development.
Operating from January 9 to 11, 2026 throughout Jumeirah Emirates Towers, Dubai Worldwide Monetary Centre, and the Museum of the Future, the summit will probably be held underneath the theme “Content material for Good.”
1 Billion Followers Summit 2026 in Dubai
The preparatory conferences for the summit introduced collectively CEOs of main social media platforms, international content material creators, and trade specialists to set the agenda.
Key discussions included AI adoption, mental property instruments, monetisation methods, and combating misinformation.
Mohammad Abdullah Al Gergawi, Minister of Cupboard Affairs, mentioned: “The content material economic system is an financial energy with limitless horizons. As we speak, the UAE is just not solely conserving tempo with its developments however can also be main and charting new instructions inside that economic system”.
The successful AI-generated brief movie will probably be honoured on the summit, whereas the highest ten entries will probably be showcased. Movies should be created completely with AI, with storytelling, creativity, and alignment with humanitarian themes as key judging standards.
Along with the AI movie prize, the summit unveiled important funding programmes to help content material creators and startups.
- AED50m ($13.6m) has been allotted to the Creators Ventures Programme, providing grants and funding for initiatives with cultural and social influence
- A brand new Content material Creators Accelerator Programme, supported by Creators HQ and 500 International, will present mentorship, funding, and instruments for the subsequent era of inventive entrepreneurs
- The launch of a Content material Creation Corporations Pavilion will give 100 SMEs and startups a platform to showcase their improvements, safe offers, and set up a presence within the UAE
The summit additionally introduced 5 new ambassadors: Simon Squibb, Alexandra Mary Hirschi (“Supercar Blondie”), Khalid Al Ameri, Omar Farooq, and Ammar Kandil — every representing distinctive tales of inventive entrepreneurship and international attain.
Key companions for the 2026 version embody SEE Holding, Emirates, MBC Group, Sony, and Dubai Chamber of Digital Economic system, alongside international tech giants akin to Google, Meta, TikTok, YouTube, X, Snapchat, and Instagram.
The upcoming version builds on the momentum of the 2025 summit, which attracted greater than 15,000 creators, 420 audio system, and 125 international CEOs, producing 1.5bn digital interactions and 542m social media views.
With its expanded agenda and document funding commitments, the 1 Billion Followers Summit 2026 goals to speed up international inventive transformation, cementing Dubai’s popularity as a world-leading hub for the creator economic system.