TEDxVancouver to Return in 2026: Speaker Nominations Open Friday

TEDxVancouver is landing back in the city–and they’re looking for inspiring speakers to take the stage.

The storytelling-format speaker series will be making its mark on March 8, 2026—which lines up with International Women’s Day next year. Hosted at The Vancouver Club, the theme is “Clarity,” with speakers sharing ideas that explore the concept of slowing down, getting clear and doing with intention–in 18 minutes or less.

“We’re so lucky that the date is sitting on International Women’s Day for 2026,” says Anoop Virk, the event’s executive producer. “There are so many amazing women in our city, it will be incredible to honour them that day.”

The last time TEDxVancouver took place was pre-pandemic, in 2018–and Virk worked hard to bring it back to the city (meanwhile, she headed up 2023’s TEDxWhistler).

An offshoot of the popular TED Talks–a speaker conference exploring the themes of technology, education and design, which began in 1984–the TEDx program is a series of local, self-organized events that mimic the legacy of the TED experience. TEDxVancouver, in particular, has racked up more than 81 million online views.

“Being a female and a woman of colour, I’m honoured to hold the licence to bring this back to Vancouver,” she tells VanMag. “I was raised by an incredible single mom and I know how important that storytelling is.”

Virk hopes to showcase a gender-equal stage for the day-long event that celebrates and represents the creativity and diversity of the city–and the organization’s free nomination and application platform is definitely a plus. Interested speakers can apply themselves, or they can nominate someone they think would be a great addition to the day.

“I think, for women, we are always working during the day and then we have our families at night. Anything that’s for women [themselves] is the last thing on the list. That’s why I think nominating is a great idea–we are listening and we want to get the heartbeat of our city.”

So what is Virk and the TEDxVancouver team looking for in your pitch? Well–you guessed it–clarity.

“I love the theme of clarity because there is so much confusion and darkness right now,” says Virk. “I would love for TEDxVancouver to be that beacon of light and hope, and drop that seed for this next generation. Also, for TEDxWhistler, we partnered with the local Indigenous nations [Squamish and Lil’wat First Nations], and I’d love to see speakers represented from [Indigenous] communities.”

But–Virk says–there’s no limit to what pitches they’re looking for.

“TED is all about ideas, so we want to hear about ideas no matter what discipline, no matter what background,” she confirms.

Have an idea or know anyone who fits the bill?

Applications and nominations for speakers at the event open Friday, June 20 at TEDxVancouver.com 

To learn more about TEDxVancouver, visit TEDxVancouver.com or follow on social media.