iHeartMedia and Qatar Team Up for Web Summit Qatar 2026
iHeartMedia and the Government Communications Office of the State of Qatar announce that iHeartPodcasts will be the official podcast partner for the 2026 Web Summit Qatar. The third edition of Web Summit Qatar is expected to bring more than 30,000 technology and business leaders,
founders, world-leading investors, media and more than 1,600 startups to the Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre from February 1-4. iHeart Media says that this year’s Centre Stage sessions will welcome Conal Byrne, CEO of the iHeartMedia Digital Audio Group along with other leading podcast talent including Questlove, host of “The Questlove Show”; Steven Bartlett, host of the podcast “The Diary of a CEO”; Arabic sensation Islam Fawzy and more. The event will also serve as the official launch of iHeartArabi, iHeartPodcasts Arabic show slate. iHeartMedia chairman and CEO Bob Pittman comments, “At iHeart we believe in fostering conversations that lead to creative and innovative ideas and solutions, and our partnership with the GCO continues to expand the boundaries of podcasting. Our goal is to work together to generate the kind of discussions and interactions that enhance and grow the future of this medium for audiences everywhere.”
a state-of-the-art podcast studio in Qatar, accompanied by a lineup of original shows and the introduction of some of the world’s most popular podcasts to Arabic-listening audiences. It will also execute specialized masterclasses to nurture local talent and host global industry events, including Web Summit gatherings, positioning Qatar as a meeting point for the world’s top podcasting voices. iHeartMedia CEO Bob Pittman comments, “Podcasting has exploded in the US and is now a mass-reach medium. And iHeartMedia, with our expansive network as the #1 podcaster in America, is in a unique position to grow strong listenership around the globe. iHeartPodcasts features a massive catalog of original shows spanning every category and this new partnership creates an opportunity to work with a long roster of incredible creators and distribute even more content to new audiences in the Middle East.”