CNN has announced that its flagship event series, Global Perspectives, will be held in Doha on October 29, 2026, marking the first time the summit will take place in the Middle East and Gulf region.
The event, titled Global Perspectives: In Doha, will be hosted at the Rosewood Doha in partnership with Media City Qatar and will bring together political leaders, business executives, policymakers and cultural figures for discussions on geopolitics, technology, media and culture.
The new date was confirmed following a meeting between Mark Thompson and Sheikh Abdulla bin Ali Al Thani. The event had originally been scheduled for April 20 but was postponed due to developments in the region.
CNN journalists including Christiane Amanpour, Richard Quest, Becky Anderson and Eleni Giokos will lead discussions with regional and international leaders. The conversations will focus on the Gulf’s growing role in global economic development, technological innovation and cultural influence.
CNN said editorial content and interviews from the summit will be featured across its global platforms.
The Doha edition follows the success of Global Perspectives: On Africa and the network’s programming at the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos. CNN plans to host two editions of the event series this autumn, with summits scheduled in Doha and Bangkok.
The event also highlights CNN’s expanding presence in Qatar. Since launching operations in Doha in 2025, the network has introduced initiatives including CNN Creators and talent development programmes in the country.
Media City Qatar will serve as the event’s host partner, while Dangote Group has been announced as the first additional sponsor. The company will receive branding and advertising opportunities linked to the event and its related content across CNN platforms.
