In 1984, TED emerged in California with a radical proposition: that technology, entertainment and design were converging in ways that could change how we see the world. That idea became a global movement, and four decades later, we’re returning to our roots to begin a new chapter. Beginning in 2027, the annual flagship TED conference will make its home in San Diego, California. This decision follows a rigorous, two-year process centered on infrastructure, community and the ability to scale TED’s mission in meaningful ways. San Diego positions us at the literal and cultural crossroads of innovation: a city where biotech […]
The LEGO Group and the LEGO Foundation today announced Play@TED, a partnership with TED to drive a movement and change how people of all ages think about play. Together they want to highlight how creative play can be a game-changer in the world and lead to brighter minds, braver ideas and a more imaginative future for everyone. This collaboration, which has been funded by a grant from the LEGO Foundation in support of the UN adopted International Day of Play, seeks to spark a global conversation about the importance of play in nurturing children’s growth, fuelling innovation and inspiring cultural […]
Today I’m sharing a momentous announcement. After a nine-month global search, we have found a beautiful answer to the question of who will carry TED forward into the future. Why this moment matters When we announced this process back in February, our guiding question was simple: Who can best take on TED’s unique blend of offerings and values — not just for the next few years, but for the coming decades? Our advisers, LionTree, heard from nearly 100 thoughtful and passionate groups — spanning individuals, foundations, media organizations, technology platforms, investor groups, and universities. (We even received generous offers to […]
As 2025 winds down, take a moment to revisit the ideas that defined the year — through TED Talks that sparked curiosity, challenged assumptions and left us dreaming. TED’s end-of-year playlists gather the moments that stirred the biggest conversations and offered fresh inspiration as we head into 2026. Here are the talks everyone obsessed over in 2025 — from deepfakes and AI to breakthroughs shaping our future: Dive into the conversations that lit up 2025, sparking global debate on AI, geopolitics, parenting and more: Check out this year’s TED-Ed hits — fascinating lessons on science, myths, health and the mysteries […]
This January, TED is introducing TEDLaw, a new training experience designed to help lawyers step back from constant urgency and reconnect with the judgment, values and human insight that define meaningful legal practice. Legal work has always required rigor, discipline and technical skill. But the context in which lawyers operate has changed — rapidly and irreversibly. Over the past several months, in conversations with lawyers across sectors, we’ve heard the same thing: today’s most complex challenges are no longer solved by technical expertise alone. They require ethical judgment, collaboration across differences, cultural awareness and the ability to navigate emerging technologies […]
We live in a time of great risk — and thrilling possibility. To make sense of it all, 21 speakers and performers gathered to draft a blueprint for our future. The event: TED@BCG: Infinite Possibilities, the sixteenth event TED and Boston Consulting Group (BCG) have co-hosted to uplift forward-thinking speakers from around the globe. Hosted by TED’s head of media and curation Helen Walters. When and where: October 23, 2025 at The Lana, Dorchester Collection, in Dubai, UAE Speakers: Riyad Joucka, Suresh Subudhi, Vinciane Beauchêne, Mary Martin, Edmond Rhys Jones, Sharon Price John, Stephen Remedios, Maegan Stephens, Nicole Lowenbraun, Akram […]
Curious about what happened on day 2 of TEDNext? Think of this as your backstage pass to a day full of bold ideas, daring feats and fresh perspectives that will flip the way you think, feel and create. From using AI to enhance your life (without losing your humanity) to decoding love and flirting in a high-tech world — and from exploring the language of money to catching breakthroughs in science and creativity — here’s a taste of what made day 2 unforgettable. What exactly is TEDNext? A vibrant, three-day exploration of what’s next, propelling the “future you” to think […]
Last year, we launched something new — a fusion of traditional TED Talks paired with short-form documentary. You didn’t just watch; you showed up in force. So we’re back. Season 2 of the TED Fellows Film Series has officially arrived! We’re thrilled to share a brand-new collection of films spotlighting our 2025 TED Fellows. Meet the pilot training young African women to fly — and rewriting who gets to navigate the skies. Follow the biotechnologist turning organic waste into biodegradable plastics that could reshape our supply chains. Learn from a scientist using satellites to protect crops and fight food insecurity. […]
By Brigid Jacoby, with Amanda Lynch November is National Alzheimer’s Awareness Month, a time to pause, reflect and continue the conversation on a disease that touches millions of lives around the world. Alzheimer’s isn’t just a medical challenge — it’s an emotional one that reshapes families, identities and the way we connect with one another. Every TED Talk begins with a story. Every story begins with a memory. That is the idea at the heart of the TED Memory Project, created in partnership with Eli Lilly and Company. It’s a multi-platform, multi-month movement that explores how memory drives innovation and […]
We are thrilled to announce this year’s 2025 cohort of TED Fellows, whose work spans four continents and represents 11 countries. This year’s TED Fellows are tackling some of the world’s most urgent issues with bold and groundbreaking solutions. Among them are an entrepreneur transforming organic waste into bioplastics, a pilot teaching a generation of young African women to fly, a scientist using satellites to fight food insecurity and an illustrator capturing powerful stories that go beyond the headlines. For 16 years, the TED Fellows program has been committed to finding and supporting the next generation of innovators. The fellowship […]
TED Countdown is a global initiative to accelerate solutions to the climate crisis. Watch climate talks on our website and look for news about upcoming events, including local TEDxCountdown events near you. I’ve just returned from hosting two weeks of conversations, workshops and interviews at COP30 in Belém with TED Countdown. Much has been written about this COP’s shortfalls, frustrations and achievements — for excellent analysis, try Carbon Brief or Outrage and Optimism’s Inside COP podcast series. Instead, I want to share a few personal reflections about where we actually are — and what comes next. COP30 unfolded like a split-screen […]
For day 3 of TEDNext 2025, two magical sessions of talks put forward ideas on how to grow thoughtfully, think radically and redesign a better world. With stories from our AI-powered present (and future) as well as a healthy dose of ingenious human problem-solving, the talks of day 3 surprised, delighted and shed new light on what it means to be human right now. What exactly is TEDNext? A vibrant, three-day exploration of what’s next, propelling the “future you” to think expansively at every level, from personal to global. The second-ever TEDNext conference, held in Atlanta, continues an expansion of […]
Across the final two sessions of TED Countdown Summit 2025, experts, changemakers and dreamers explored actionable solutions to fix today’s problems, alleviate tomorrow’s and build a clean energy future. Here are some highlights from day 3: Africa’s electric vehicle revolution is leapfrogging traditional fossil fuel transit. Electrical engineer Doreen Orishaba explores how electric bus company BasiGo is using innovative financing models and locally assembled buses to conquer Kigali’s hills, limiting environmental impact and saving operators money. With 90 percent renewable energy powering these silent electric fleets, emerging companies like BasiGo show how Africa isn’t playing catch-up in sustainable transportation — it’s […]