Ashraf AboArafe
Riyadh to Host Global Dialogue on the Future of Media and Innovation from February 2–4
Under the esteemed patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the upcoming edition of the Saudi Media Forum is set to take place in Riyadh from February 2 to 4, 2026, bringing together over 250 local, regional, and international companies. The event is expected to witness significant participation from media decision-makers, tech innovators, and content creators from across the globe.
Positioned as a global platform for shaping the future of media and digital transformation, the forum aligns with Saudi Vision 2030 by promoting the knowledge economy, supporting content industries, and empowering a competitive and innovative media sector.
Saudi Minister of Media, Salman bin Yousef Al-Dosari, expressed deep gratitude to King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for their unwavering support for the national media sector. He highlighted that this generous patronage serves as a powerful incentive to enhance media performance and broaden its impact in achieving Vision 2030 objectives.
“The Saudi Media Forum, launched from Riyadh, has become a beacon for reimagining the future of media in the region with Saudi leadership and global participation,” Al-Dosari stated. He emphasized the forum’s influential role in presenting the Kingdom’s narratives and values to the world professionally and effectively, while also fostering the adoption of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and extended reality (XR).
The upcoming edition will serve as a global space for dialogue and knowledge exchange, examining the profound shifts reshaping the media industry. This year’s theme, “Media in a World in Transition,” reflects the convergence of advanced technologies with content creation, ushering in new challenges and opportunities that require innovative strategies to ensure media’s relevance and sustainability.
Mohammed bin Fahd Al-Harthi, CEO of the Saudi Broadcasting Authority and Chair of the Forum, noted that the 2026 edition will spotlight the capabilities of generative AI in content production, aiming to elevate the quality and agility of national media in step with rapid global transformations.
The forum will feature over 100 specialized sessions and workshops, alongside an innovation zone showcasing the latest technologies in broadcasting, production, and content distribution. It will also see the signing of international agreements to support Saudi talent and expand global media collaboration.
With its dynamic annual presence, the Saudi Media Forum continues to drive knowledge exchange, national capacity building, and the realization of the Kingdom’s ambitions to lead in crafting a more impactful and sustainable media future.
