Under the patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, Riyadh will host the fifth edition of the Saudi Media Forum in 2026.

Lamia Al-Murshid

der the patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the fifth edition of the Saudi Media Forum 2026 will convene in Riyadh from February 2 to 4 at the Hilton Hotel, under the theme “Media in An Evolving World” . The event will bring together more than 300 prominent media professionals, experts, academics, and specialists from Saudi Arabia and around the world, participating in over 150 dialogue sessions exploring the challenges and opportunities shaping the future of the media industry locally, regionally, and globally.

Minister of Media Salman bin Yousef AlDossary expressed his gratitude and appreciation to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and to His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, for their continued support of the media sector. He emphasized that the generous patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques reflects the leadership’s belief in the central role of media as a strategic partner in national development and as a soft power that mirrors the Kingdom’s transformative progress.

AlDossary noted that holding the forum in February 2026 carries exceptional significance as it coincides with the tenth anniversary of the launch of Saudi Vision 2030. He highlighted that the Vision has propelled Saudi media into a new era—transforming it from a mere transmitter of events into a driver of influence and a global showcase of the Kingdom’s maturity and progress. The forum, he added, will serve as a platform to review these achievements and explore future horizons.

“The theme ‘Media in An Evolving World’ reflects Riyadh’s leadership in shaping the regional and global media landscape,” AlDossary said, “as the Kingdom moves from content consumption to content innovation, building an advanced media ecosystem that keeps pace with geopolitical and technological shifts and reinforces its position as a global media hub where decision-makers gather to shape the future of the industry.”

For his part, Chairman of the Saudi Media Forum Mohammed bin Fahad Al-Harthi stated that the fifth edition comes in response to the demands of a rapidly evolving era—one in which media institutions must redefine their roles amid the rise of artificial intelligence and shifting audience behaviors.

Al-Harthi stressed that the Saudi Media Forum is not merely a platform for dialogue, but a global workshop designed to unpack complex challenges and convert them into sustainable opportunities. This year’s agenda, featuring more than 150 sessions and over 300 speakers from around the world, will focus on restoring trust in media amid the noise of information, and on building deeper, more impactful narratives that move beyond superficial storytelling.

He revealed a major addition to this year’s edition: the launch of the “Boulevard 2030” zone, held alongside the Future of Media Exhibition (FOMEX). The forum’s halls will transform into a dynamic window showcasing the Kingdom’s landmark achievements, including success stories from NEOM, Diriyah Gate, Qiddiya, and other megaprojects—turning the forum into a living bridge connecting media professionals and visitors with the Kingdom’s thriving development landscape.

The Saudi Media Forum has established itself as a leading platform that annually attracts media leaders and decision-makers to discuss the most pressing issues facing the sector and the pathways to navigating a rapidly changing world. It has become a pivotal event in the year of media transformation and a true embodiment of Vision 2030’s goal of positioning the Kingdom as a regional and global media and cultural hub.

The forum will highlight the role of media in shaping national awareness, adapting to artificial intelligence, enhancing deep storytelling, and exploring new dimensions of influence in the post-digital transformation era. This direction represents a strategic step toward a Saudi media sector that not only keeps pace with global change but leads it with clarity and purpose.

The forum’s alignment with Vision 2030 is direct and impactful, serving as a key instrument of soft power that showcases the Kingdom’s media transformation. This year’s edition gains added significance as it coincides with the Vision’s tenth anniversary, reflecting national progress and the engagement of participants with the Kingdom’s ambitious transformation policies.

The forum aims to strengthen the Kingdom’s position as a leading media and cultural center, support creative industries and the digital economy, empower national talent in advanced media fields, and amplify the Kingdom’s voice globally through balanced and inspiring narratives. It stands not only as a platform for dialogue but as a pioneering Saudi hub for media collaboration, innovation, and capacity-building.

Key topics to be discussed include global media challenges and strategies to address them, the role of media in energy transitions and sustainable innovation, crisis communication, digital media infrastructure, the impact of esports on audiences and media, the economics of media and entertainment, investment opportunities in Saudi Arabia, media planning in the digital era, the use of artificial intelligence in journalism and content creation, the rise of documentary filmmaking as a media platform, economic policies linked to Vision 2030, the future of Saudi content in global markets, audience engagement trends, and innovation in storytelling and visual production.

The Saudi Media Award—one of the forum’s flagship events—has expanded to include four main tracks covering fourteen categories across the media spectrum. Notably, the visual and audio content track introduces a groundbreaking category for AI-generated content, marking the first award of its kind globally within professional media competitions. This category reflects the Kingdom’s ambition to lead in integrating artificial intelligence into creative content production, opening new horizons for creators to push the boundaries of innovation.

The forum will also feature the Future of Media Exhibition (FOMEX), bringing together leading government entities and local and international companies to showcase the latest media technologies and products. The exhibition will serve as a platform for strategic partnerships and for envisioning the future of the media ecosystem, complemented by the FOMEX Theater, which will host discussions and workshops with distinguished speakers from around the world.

The forum has also launched a suite of specialized initiatives, including the Saudi Media Innovation Bootcamp (Saudi MIB), the SMF GROW UP initiative for supporting media startups, the Idea Lab for creative media concepts, the SMF Connect initiative for enhancing international media cooperation, the Forum Spotlight initiative for sustaining year-round media engagement, and the Media Ambassadors program aimed at preparing a new generation of Saudi media professionals.