Web Summit Qatar 2026 Overview

As global technology ecosystems continue to expand toward emerging innovation hubs, the Middle East has rapidly positioned itself as a strategic destination for investment, entrepreneurship and digital transformation. Web Summit Qatar 2026 – set to take place from February 1–4 at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Center (DECC) – represents the region’s most significant convergence of founders, investors, policymakers and global tech influencers.

Building on the momentum of last year’s event, which drew thousands of participants and extensive international media attention, the 2026 edition promises to be Web Summit Qatar’s most influential edition to date. With a diverse lineup of global leaders across artificial intelligence, venture capital, the creator economy, digital media and consumer technology, Doha is preparing to host a pivotal moment for the regional tech landscape.

Speaker Lineup Highlights

Web Summit Qatar 2026 features an impressive roster of speakers, reflecting both global leadership and emerging regional technological ambition:

Global Tech Founders & CEOs

• Alexandr Wang, Founder, Scale AI – one of the defining figures in applied AI and frontier model infrastructure.

• Aidan Gomez, Founder & CEO, Cohere – a leading voice in enterprise AI and LLM implementation.

• Amjad Masad, Co-founder & CEO, Replit – championing AI-powered software creation tools.

Media, Culture & Creative Economy Leaders

• Will Smith, Actor & Musician – representing the growing intersection of entertainment and digital innovation.

• Jay Shetty, bestselling author and podcast host – focusing on digital storytelling and audience engagement.

• Malcolm Gladwell, journalist and author – exploring narratives shaping society and technology.

Business & Investment Titans

• Eduardo Saverin, Co-Founder & Co-CEO, B Capital – spotlighting global investment trends.

• Alexis Ohanian, Founder of Seven Seven Six & Reddit Co-founder – examining early-stage innovation ecosystems.

• GV Ravishankar, Managing Director, Peak XV – discussing emerging markets and startup acceleration.

Industry Shapers

• Carla Zakhem-Hassan, CMO, J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. – marketing leadership in a digital-first financial world.

• Kevin Mayer, Co-CEO, Candle Media – redefining digital entertainment.

• Blake Chandlee, President Global Business Solutions, TikTok – highlighting short-form video’s economic impact.

Arab Region Leadership

• H.E. Sheikha Hind bint Hamad Al Thani, Vice Chairperson & CEO, Qatar Foundation – championing regional innovation, education and talent empowerment.

Regional Significance

Qatar’s expanding role as a global innovation hub is increasingly evident. Strategic investment in education, digital capacity building and world-class infrastructure allows Web Summit Qatar to serve as a bridge between:

• Middle Eastern founders and global investors

• Local talent and multinational technology organizations

• Regional policy frameworks and international digital standards

Doha is positioning itself as a launchpad for the next wave of startups benefiting from AI, cloud computing, fintech, sports tech and creative media.

What to Expect in 2026

1. AI Takes Center Stage

With leading AI founders headlining the event, the discourse will likely focus on:

• Enterprise adoption of generative AI

• Regulatory frameworks and responsible AI

• Advancement of multimodal and real-time applications

• AI’s impact on global workforce transformation

2. New Investment Opportunities

The presence of heavyweights like B Capital, Peak XV and Seven Seven Six suggests the emergence of new cross-border investment dialogues and interest in GCC-based startups.

3. Media and Creator Economy Acceleration

Speakers from TikTok, Candle Media, Vox Media, The New York Times and Paramount will highlight how content creation, distribution and monetization strategies are evolving in 2026.

4. Hardware & Deep Tech Momentum

Executives from Qualcomm, Snap, Cerebras Systems and Picsart will address:

• AR and spatial computing

• Sustainable semiconductor innovation

• Accelerated computing for AI workloads

• Democratized content creation tools

5. Social Impact & Global Voices

With participants such as Mo Farah and Motaz Azaiza, the summit will also spotlight the intersection of technology, activism, and societal progress.

Why Web Summit Qatar Matters

The Guardian once described Web Summit as “Glastonbury for geeks,” while Al Jazeera called it “the largest gathering of international start-ups in the Middle East.”
Qatar’s strategic hosting of Web Summit reflects:

• Strong ambitions to become a regional innovation capital

• Government-level support for tech entrepreneurship

• A fast-growing pool of local talent and academic institutions

• Increasing global trust in Doha as a nexus for international collaboration

For startups, investors, corporate leaders and technologists, Web Summit Qatar 2026 is more than an event—it’s a launch point for partnerships, ideas and technological breakthroughs.

Conclusion

As anticipation builds, Web Summit Qatar 2026 is shaping up to be a transformative moment for the Middle Eastern tech ecosystem. With a world-class speaker lineup and strong regional backing, the summit will set the stage for new collaborations, bold innovations and global conversations that define the next era of technology.

Doha is ready—and the world will be watching.