Saudi Media Forum

The Saudi Media Forum is a cultural and media event that brings together professionals and stakeholders in the media sector from within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and abroad, with the aim of exchanging ideas and perspectives that contribute to the development of the sector. Its first edition was launched in 2019, followed by the second in 2023, the third in 2024, the fourth in 2025, and the fifth in 2026. The forum is held in Riyadh. 

Objectives of the Saudi Media Forum

The forum aims to develop media content, employ and benefit from modern technologies to support media professionals, ensure the sustainability of work in the sector, and enhance the quality of content delivered across media platforms. 

Saudi Media Forum 2019

The first edition of the forum was held on December 2, 2019under the theme “The Media Industry: Opportunities and Challenges”.With the participation of a number of media stakeholders, including chief executive officers, officials, and the heads of national, regional, and international media organizations.

The forum featured more than fifty panel sessions, meetings, and workshops, and was attended by over one thousand media professionals. Among the sessions held were “The Role of Journalism in Leading Change,” “Media Content and Audience Behavior,” and “The Responsibility of Journalism in Fast News in the Digital World.”

The forum included a session on "Using Journalism to Build Bridges of Communication", a session titled "Youth and Opinion Polls", and another titled "Thirty Years in Saudi Journalism". These sessions resulted in the presentation of numerous proposals and initiatives aimed at developing the media industry.

Saudi Media Forum 2023

The second edition was launched on February 20 ,2023 under the theme "Media in a Shaping World"It featured sixty panel discussions and workshops, during which more than one hundred papers were presented, addressing themes related to media content development and the media industry. The forum brought together local and international experts and specialists to discuss and exchange experiences and expertise in the field.It was attended by more than 1,500 academics and media professionals, in addition to local and international ministers and officials, who engaged in discussions on various aspects of the media sector, examining its current state and future prospects.Over the two days of the forum, attendance exceeded ten thousand visitors.

Saudi Media Forum 2024

The third edition of the Saudi Media Forum was held on February 20–21, 2024, under the theme “Media in a Shaping World.” It was organized by the Saudi Broadcasting Authority in cooperation with the Saudi Journalists Association, with the attendance of approximately two thousand media professionals from within Saudi Arabia abroad.

The third edition included sixty specialized media sessions and workshops, delivered by around 150 speakers, including ministers, officials, experts, and local and international specialists. The sessions discussed developments in media work worldwide across its various forms—visual, audio, print, and digital—along with showcasing local and international media experiences. Topics also covered the importance of digital media and marketing, mobile journalism, television and print journalism, news editing arts, the state of Arab media, and many other media-related issues.

The Year of Media Transformation

The opening session of the forum witnessed the announcement of 2024 as the year of media transformation in Saudi Arabia, and the strategies for the year of media transformation are based on four pillars: Data, Indicators, Passion and Action.During the session, three strategies were announced, which represent a roadmap towards the future media in Saudi Arabia: The Media Sector Strategy, the Strategy of the Saudi Broadcasting Authority, and the Strategy of the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).

Saudi Media Forum 2025

The fourth edition of the Saudi Media Forum was held from February 19–21, 2025, under the theme “Media in a Shaping World.” It featured the participation of two hundred organizations and two thousands media professionals and speakers from within Saudi Arabia and abroad, and included eighty sessions discussing the latest trends and challenges, including the impact of technology on shaping the future of media, opportunities and challenges in the media economy, innovation and creativity in content production, global media trends, cultural identity and responsibility in media, and sustainability and media. 

Saudi Media Forum 2026

The fifth edition of the Saudi Media Forum will be held from February 2–4, 2026, in Riyadh under the theme “Media in a Shaping World.” It will feature the participation of 250 local, regional, and international companies, three hundred speakers from around the world, and 150 panel sessions and workshops. The forum will also include an Innovation Zone showcasing the latest technological solutions in broadcasting, production, and distribution. For the first time, the “Boulevard 2030” zone will be launched alongside the Future of Media Exhibition (FOMEX), highlighting the stories of major national projects such as NEOM, Diriyah Gate, and Qiddiya. The Saudi Media Forum 2026 achieved a world record in the Guinness World Records, with 65,603 attendees, making it the largest global media event in terms of attendance.