RIYADH — Under the patronage of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz, the 5th Saudi Media Forum will be held in Riyadh from February 2 to 4, 2026, bringing together global media leaders to consider the future of the industry in a rapidly changing world.
This year’s forum, themed “Media Shaping the World,” takes on added significance as it coincides with the 10th anniversary of Saudi Vision 2030, providing a venue to reflect on the nation’s achievements and the evolving role of the media in supporting the Kingdom’s long-term transformation agenda.
More than 300 media leaders, experts and decision-makers from more than 20 countries across four continents will participate, reinforcing the Forum’s status as the premier international gathering for dialogue on global media trends, challenges and opportunities.
Riyadh holds the 5th Saudi Media Forum under the patronage of King Salman, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques.
The agenda includes more than 150 specialized conversation sessions covering a wide range of topics, including the future of global media, digital transformation and artificial intelligence, building credibility and influence, economics of media and entertainment, storytelling innovation, and advanced production techniques.
Additional discussions will focus on crisis communications, digital media infrastructure, trends in audience engagement, investment opportunities in Saudi Arabia, and the evolving relationship between media and emerging technologies.
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One of the Forum’s major initiatives is the Saudi Media Awards, which includes four main tracks and 14 categories across media sectors.
Notably, the award introduces the world’s first category dedicated to AI-generated content, reflecting Saudi Arabia’s ambition to lead the way in integrating artificial intelligence into advanced content production by fusing human creativity with cutting-edge technology.
The Forum will also host the Future of Media Exhibition (FOMEX), which brings together government agencies and local and international companies to showcase the latest media technologies and products, along with panel discussions and workshops featuring world-class speakers.
Various professional initiatives will complement the Forum, including the Saudi Media Innovation Camp, the SMF GROW UP program to support emerging media companies, the Idea Lab for creative concept development, SMF Connect to strengthen international media cooperation, the Forum Spotlight initiative to maintain engagement throughout the year, and the Media Ambassador Program aimed at developing a new generation of Saudi media professionals.
Through its programs and initiatives, the Saudi Media Forum strengthens the Kingdom’s position as a center of media and creative leadership, supports the growth of the creative industries and digital economy, empowers Saudi talent in advanced media sectors, and expands the Kingdom’s global voice through balanced and compelling narratives.
