PHILADELPHIA, PA — Visit Philadelphia and TED have opened an international search for speakers to take the stage at TED Democracy Philadelphia: Founding Futures, a marquee event scheduled for June 13, 2026, at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts. Applicants worldwide are invited to submit ideas through November 30, with selected participants set to deliver original TED Talks examining democracy’s past, present, and future.
The day-long event will mark the conclusion of Visit Philadelphia’s three-year partnership with TED, launched in 2024 as part of the lead-up to America’s 250th birthday. The collaboration has already included panel discussions, fireside chats, and community programming, reaching more than 1,200 participants. The 2026 event will be livestreamed nationwide.
“Philadelphia has long been a place where bold ideas about democracy shape our nation’s history,” said Angela Val, president and CEO of Visit Philadelphia. “This partnership redefines destination marketing, creating platforms that invite the world to not only visit where democracy began, but actively participate in shaping its future.”
To promote the speaker search, Visit Philadelphia has committed $250,000 in international advertising across London, Berlin, Paris, Montreal, and Vancouver. Selected speakers will work with TED’s curation team to prepare their talks for the June program.
The initiative also introduces Dear Democracy, a mobile installation that will travel to cities including Philadelphia, New York, Chicago, and Atlanta through 2025. The activation invites participants to submit handwritten reflections on democracy, beginning at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia.
The Pew Charitable Trusts, a major supporter of the event, is funding TED Democracy Live, which will bring livestreams of the Kimmel Center program to more than 50 libraries nationwide in partnership with the American Library Association.
“TED knows the power of ideas,” said Jay Herratti, CEO of TED. “With TED Democracy Philadelphia in 2026, we look forward to highlighting ideas that will inspire hope, ignite action, and celebrate how far we’ve come as a nation as we strengthen democracy for the future.”
Tickets for TED Democracy Philadelphia: Founding Futures will go on sale October 28.
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