TED Idea Search: Meet the thinkers competing for a spot on the biggest stage for ideas
Over the past year, TED has been traveling the world (literally!) in search of powerful ideas — and the people bold enough to share them.
The result? A 9-part series that pulls back the curtain on what it’s actually like to deliver a TED Talk.
In each episode, you’ll step into a new city and meet the speakers bringing their ideas to the red circle and competing for a spot on the main stage at TED2026 in Vancouver. You’ll go backstage with them into rehearsal rooms and witness the nerves, the breakthroughs and the moments when an idea finally comes into focus.
From a rock balancer and a disability specialist to a whale scientist and a bad-breath researcher, see the people shaping the future in their own communities — and learn what it takes to bring those ideas to the TED stage.
Sydney: Inside a theatre tucked in a library, a whale scientist and an Olympian took center stage — a reminder that compelling ideas can come from anywhere (and anyone).
Mumbai: In this episode, speakers explore everything from rock balancing to healthcare innovation, reflecting the range of ideas that make it to the TED stage.
Athens: Athens has celebrated big ideas for millennia — and it’s still not done. From the science of bad breath to the factories of the future, this episode moves from the deeply personal to the forward-looking.
Lagos: With one of the most electric audiences of the series, Lagos delivered talks ranging from renewable energy to the art of tailoring that celebrates a small town’s craft.
Watch the latest episodes of TED Idea Search on YouTube or TED.com, and stay tuned for new releases from London, Singapore, Chicago, Buenos Aires and Amman in the coming weeks.
(P.S. You can see talks from the winners of our Idea Search in person at TED2026!)