Dubai: The 1 Billion Followers Summit has confirmed its fourth edition in Dubai, strengthening its role as the world’s largest event dedicated to the creators economy.
Organized by the UAE Government Media Office, the summit has highlighted a packed agenda featuring initiatives designed to empower content creators and expand the digital economy.
Scheduled to run from January 9 to 11, under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, the 1 Billion Followers Summit will be hosted across Jumeirah Emirates Towers, Dubai International Financial Centre, and the Museum of the Future. Themed ‘Content for Good,’ the summit aims to reinforce Dubai’s position as a global hub for purposeful content creation.
For creators, by creators. No one held back in at the 1BFS 2026 Retreat, setting the stage for the upcoming 4th edition.#1billionsummit pic.twitter.com/7bdbzuP2fT
— 1 Billion Followers Summit (@1billionsummit) August 27, 2025
A key highlight of the upcoming edition is the launch of the world’s largest prize for AI-generated films, valued at $1 million, in partnership with Google Gemini.
The prize has been designed to encourage the production of short films entirely generated by artificial intelligence, focusing on storytelling, realism, and humanitarian messages. The winning entry will be awarded during the summit, while the top 10 films will be showcased.
In addition, the 1 Billion Followers Summit has announced the allocation of AED 50 million through the Creators Ventures Program to support innovative projects by content creators and startups.
The program provides funding for initiatives with cultural and social impact, joint ventures led by creators, and accelerator programs for the next generation of digital entrepreneurs. Supported by Creators HQ in collaboration with 500 Global, the program will incubate individual creators and companies competing for financial backing.
The summit’s preparatory meetings have gathered CEOs of major social media platforms, industry experts, and leading content creators with a combined reach of more than 3 billion followers. Participants have discussed strategies for storytelling, combating misinformation, monetization, and building cross-border partnerships.
Another milestone announced is the launch of the Content Creation Companies Pavilion, which will host around 100 SMEs, including startups founded by creators who have transitioned into entrepreneurship. Through 10 dedicated display platforms, the pavilion will offer opportunities for creators to showcase ideas, attract investments, and expand their global reach.
The summit has also appointed five ambassadors for its fourth edition: Simon Squibb, Alexandra Mary Hirschi (Supercar Blondie), Khalid Al Ameri, Omar Farooq, and Ammar Kandil. These figures reflect the global diversity and impact of the content creation community.
With partners including SEE Holding, Emirates, MBC Group, Sony, and Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy, as well as global digital platforms like Google, Meta, YouTube, TikTok, Snapchat, and Instagram, the 1 Billion Followers Summit is expected to expand its international presence.
Building on the success of its third edition in January 2025, which attracted over 15,000 creators, 420 speakers, and 30,000 attendees, the upcoming summit seeks to further accelerate creative transformation worldwide by fostering collaboration, innovation, and purposeful content creation.
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