iHeartPodcasts Named Official Partner for Web Summit Qatar

RADIO ONLINE | Thursday, January 29, 2026 | 3:05pm CT

iHeartPodcast Network

iHeartMedia and the Government Communications Office of the State of Qatar (GCO) have announced that iHeartPodcasts will serve as the official podcast partner for the 2026 edition of Web Summit Qatar.

The third annual Web Summit Qatar is scheduled for February 1-4 at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre. Organizers expect more than 30,000 technology and business leaders, investors, media representatives, and over 1,600 startups to attend.

As part of the partnership, iHeartPodcasts talent, producers, and executives will participate in educational sessions, live podcast recordings, and Centre Stage programming, including fireside chats, panel discussions, and audience Q&A sessions. An on-site iHeartPodcasts recording studio and attendee lounge will also be available, allowing select shows to record live from the conference floor in both English and Arabic.

Centre Stage sessions will include appearances by Conal Byrne, CEO of the iHeartMedia Digital Audio Group, along with podcast hosts and creators such as Questlove, host of "The Questlove Show," Steven Bartlett, host of "The Diary of a CEO," and Arabic-language creator Islam Fawzy, among others.

The event will also mark the official launch of iHeartArabi, iHeartPodcasts' Arabic-language show slate, reflecting the company's broader international podcasting strategy.

In a statement, Sheikh Jassim bin Mansour bin Jabor Al Thani, Director of the GCO, said the partnership aligns with Qatar's goal of expanding its creative economy and supporting digital industries as drivers of long-term development. He added that the collaboration is intended to foster knowledge exchange and provide new platforms for local and regional creators.

Bob Pittman, Chairman and CEO of iHeartMedia, said the partnership continues the company's efforts to broaden podcasting's global reach and encourage conversations that support innovation and audience growth across markets.

Additional details, including the full conference schedule and session times, are available here.