إطلاق الجائزة السعودية للإعلام 2026 في نسختها الجديدة

The President of the Saudi Media Forum, Mohammed bin Fahd Al-Harithi, announced the launch of the "Saudi Media Award 2026" in its new edition, as part of the activities of the Saudi Media Forum and the Future of Media Exhibition (FOMEX), which will be held from 14-16 Sha'ban 1447 AH, corresponding to February 2-4, 2026.

Al-Harithi explained that the Saudi Media Award embodies loyalty and appreciation for creators and intellectuals, and serves as a message of encouragement for the new generation of media professionals, with the support and sponsorship of the Minister of Media, Salman bin Yusuf Al-Dosari, and in partnership with the Ministry of Media and the Human Capacity Development Program, one of the initiatives to achieve the Kingdom's Vision 2030.

He affirmed that the award has become a solid national platform to celebrate influencers and those who provide added value and new ideas to the media scene, noting that the continuous support from the Minister of Media has contributed to enhancing the award's status and expanding its scope year after year.

Al-Harithi stated: "We are moving towards establishing a media environment that elevates content, enhances the Saudi media identity, and contributes to the development of professional practices and the expansion of the Kingdom's presence regionally and internationally."

This edition represents an extension of the pioneering national role and the integration between the media sector and the Human Capacity Development Program in keeping pace with rapid transformations and enhancing the professional and impactful content industry, through honoring institutions and individuals who have contributed to presenting media works of presence and value throughout the year.

This year, the award expands through four main tracks that include sixteen branches covering various fields of media work. In the television track, the award includes branches for sports programs, social talk shows, and television talk programs. In the radio and audio track, there are branches for radio talk shows and podcasts. The digital track highlights AI-generated content, which represents a notable qualitative addition to the award and a significant shift in the media industry; it is the first global award specialized in this field within the media awards system, reflecting official recognition of creative content produced using modern technologies, and confirming Saudi Arabia's direction towards leading the use of artificial intelligence in producing advanced content that integrates human imagination with advanced technical capabilities. This award represents a pioneering path that redefines the quality of digital content according to standards of innovation and intelligence, stimulating the production of works capable of competing with advanced international content, thereby solidifying the Kingdom's position in leading the digital transformation in media. Finally, the journalistic track includes branches for journalistic reports, journalistic articles, journalistic interviews, and the regional opinion column award.

The award includes several special branches, namely: honorary awards, the most prominent of which is the Media Personality of the Year award, the Global Competitor award, in addition to awards that honor the best media campaigns during the three national days: Founding Day, National Day, and Flag Day, reflecting the enhancement of national belonging and highlighting distinguished media efforts during national occasions. These special branches contribute to instilling values of positivity and resilience among participants by encouraging innovative ideas and healthy competition among institutions and individuals, reflecting the comprehensiveness of the award and its ability to keep pace with the rapid development in the content industry and its expanding national and regional impact.

The Saudi Media Award aims to elevate content quality and enhance professional standards, instilling a spirit of positive competition among institutions and individuals, contributing to presenting high-impact works that express the story of the Kingdom and its transformations with an innovative vision. The award continues its role in empowering national talents and building a knowledge-based community that facilitates the exchange of experiences and stimulates innovation in various forms of media production, while enhancing values of positivity and resilience across all media tracks and practices.

Submissions will be accepted starting November 21, 2025, with the registration closing on January 1, 2026. The shortlist of nominees will be announced on January 13, 2026, and the winners will be announced and the most prominent participating media works will be honored on February 4, 2026.

The award is held annually in conjunction with the Saudi Media Forum and the Future of Media Exhibition (FOMEX), achieving wide attendance in the sector in its previous editions and contributing to highlighting pioneering initiatives and professional models, thereby enhancing its position as a national platform that celebrates content and its creators while keeping pace with the rapid transformations in the media industry locally, regionally, and globally.