From 7 to 9 February 2026, Doha will host the 17th Al Jazeera Forum under the title, “The Palestinian Cause and the Regional Balance of Power in the Context of an Emerging Multipolar World”. The event will bring together decision-makers, researchers, experts and journalists from across the globe.
The forum takes place amid a highly complex regional and international context, following a two-year war on the Gaza Strip that has produced profound changes, bringing the Palestinian cause back to the forefront of global attention after years of decline due to political settlement processes and agreements that had weakened its presence on the international agenda. The war revealed Israeli attempts to reoccupy Gaza and impose new demographic and geographic realities, alongside growing international calls to recognise the Palestinian state as a necessary step toward ending a prolonged conflict whose outcome has not been determined through military force or successive wars.
Over three days, the forum will focus on analysing the geopolitical and strategic shifts taking place in the Middle East following the war on Gaza, and their impact on regional and international power balances. It will also look at the Arab world’s position amid these changes, taking into account internal crises, complex regional conflicts, and the weakening of collective Arab frameworks, alongside the growing influence of regional powers in security and stability matters.
Moreover, the forum will pay particular attention to the war’s impact on the regional landscape, including the reshaping of alliances, changing priorities of international actors, and the growing presence of emerging powers in the Global South, within the context of a rapidly transitioning multipolar international system. It will also examine the effects of the digital and technological revolution on the global redistribution of power and the changing nature of conflicts, whether on the battlefield or in the realm of narratives and public opinion.
The first and second days of the forum will focus on political and strategic discussions related to the Palestinian cause, regional transformations, and the future of the international system. Sessions will address post-war Gaza, the future of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, developments within Israel, and the Middle East’s position in a world witnessing the decline of exclusive international leadership and the rise of multiple centres of economic, military and technological power.
The third day will be entirely dedicated to the theme of influence and narratives, emphasising the role of influencers and content creators in shaping global public opinion on the Palestinian cause. Sessions will explore how digital content and new media can break the monopoly of traditional narratives, transform popular sympathy into effective political and humanitarian pressure, and link the Palestinian cause to intersecting global issues such as the environment, boycotts, arms trade, poverty and human rights.
The final day also includes a special screening and discussion of a documentary produced by Al Jazeera, titled The Last Doctor Standing, which addresses the human dimension of the Gaza war and examines cinema as a tool for documentation, accountability, and narrative-building that can influence public opinion and decision-makers, combining both humanitarian and political-cultural perspectives.
The 17th Al Jazeera Forum will take place at the Marsa Malaz Kempinski Hotel in the Pearl-Doha. Its sessions will be covered by numerous local and international media outlets, as well as on Al Jazeera’s digital platforms.
The forum continues Al Jazeera’s annual tradition as an open platform for dialogue and discussion, bringing together researchers, experts and decision-makers from around the world to exchange perspectives, analyse major political and strategic transformations, and address issues affecting the region and the world at pivotal moments. Through its successive editions, the forum has established itself as an intellectual space that deepens understanding, broadens the scope of debate, and raises critical questions about the future of regional and international issues.