Dubai has just thrown down a challenge to the world’s creatives: think bigger, bolder, and with a little help from AI. At the lead-up to the 1 Billion Followers Summit 2026, Minister of Cabinet Affairs Mohammad Al Gergawi announced a $1-million prize for films generated by artificial intelligence—the first and largest of its kind. In partnership with Google Gemini, the award will celebrate short films that don’t just look clever but manage to weave together strong storytelling, technical execution, and a humanitarian message. Ten finalists will see their work screened at the summit in January 2026, with the finer details of submissions set to be revealed in September.
It’s not about AI for AI’s sake. This is a chance to show what’s possible when creativity and technology work hand in hand. The jury won’t only look for slick visuals but for films that use AI as a tool to amplify imagination and bring human-centered narratives to life.
And that was just the first announcement of the day. Alongside the film award came news of a Dh50-million Creators Ventures Programme, designed to supercharge the influencer and creator economy. The initiative will bankrollinnovative projects, mentor new talent, and back collaborations with global platforms like TikTok and Snapchat. The initiative goes beyond boosting follower counts. It’s designed to give creators the resources to scale their ideas into sustainable ventures. A dedicated accelerator will even let individuals and content companies pitch directly to investors, opening the door to international growth.
All of this builds toward a summit that keeps getting bigger. Running from January 9 to 11, 2026, across Jumeirah Emirates Towers, DIFC, and the Museum of the Future, the 1 Billion Followers Summit will bring together more than 400 speakers and debut a pavilion for content creation companies, giving around 100 SMEs space to showcase, network, and strike deals. With an estimated global reach of over three billion people, the event is set to reinforce Dubai’s position as a city that doesn’t just host the conversation about content, but it drives it.
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