Disney+ Joins 1 Billion Followers Summit 2026 As Strategic Partner

The 1 Billion Followers Summit has named Disney+, the streaming platform of The Walt Disney Company, as Strategic Partner for its fourth edition. The UAE Government Media Office will host the event from 9th to 11th January 2026 in Dubai. Venues include Emirates Towers, DIFC, and the Museum of the Future, under the theme "Content for Good".

The alliance is designed to draw major international companies into the content creation economy and raise quality benchmarks. It supports creators seeking global reach, stable revenue, and access to global expertise. The organisers also link the partnership to the UAE’s plan to grow its digital media and wider creative economy, using Dubai as a regional and international base.

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The upcoming summit builds on the previous edition, held in January 2025, which delivered strong participation and audience engagement. That edition drew more than 15,000 content creators and influencers, alongside 420 speakers. It also brought together 125 CEOs and global experts, generating over 30,000 in-person attendees and 1.5 billion digital interactions across platforms.

Organisers have already outlined several large-scale programmes for the 2026 summit that target both creators and startups. These include a US$1 million award for the world’s largest AI-generated film, developed with Google. Another initiative is the Creators Ventures Accelerator, part of the second Creators Ventures programme, run by Creators HQ with support from 500 Global.

Financial backing for creators and early-stage firms also features strongly in the 2026 plans. Up to AED50 million is allocated to participants competing for funding and incubation through the Creators Ventures Accelerator. The summit will also introduce a dedicated pavilion for content creation companies for the first time, giving young creators direct exposure to businesses built by established influencers.

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Tamim Fares, Director of Disney+ Middle East, underlined the strategic importance of the tie-up for both sides. "We are proud to take part in the 1 Billion Followers Summit—an important global platform that brings together leading creators and storytellers from around the world," Tamim Fares, Director of Disney+ Middle East, said. "Content creation today is a fundamental pillar of the entertainment industry. At Disney+, we see first-hand the impact that talented creators have in shaping how audiences discover and engage with stories," he added.

Fares linked the agreement to Disney+ plans to deepen work with creators in regional markets. Fares said the collaboration would open new pathways for Disney+ to work with—and support—creators in the Middle East. "It reinforces our commitment to fostering meaningful, culturally resonant content that, in turn, inspires the next generation of voices shaping entertainment in the region."

From the organiser’s side, Alia AlHammadi highlighted the value of Disney+ expertise in production and talent development for summit participants. "Disney+ brings extensive expertise in creative content production and talent development. Through this tie-up, we aim to enhance the capabilities of summit participants, equipping them with the tools, knowledge, and experiences that will help them create purposeful content that meets global standards," she said. AlHammadi emphasised that the summit continuously seeks to build new collaborations that integrate global expertise with local talent, enabling content creators to expand their reach across diverse markets.

AlHammadi also linked the arrangement to broader changes in digital media. "This collaboration reflects the rapid evolution of the digital media sector and keeps pace with the ongoing transformations shaping the global content industry." For business audiences in the Middle East, the 1 Billion Followers Summit and Disney+ partnership signals continued investment in digital content, creator skills, and new commercial models across the content creation economy.

With inputs from WAM