When speaker applications close, we don’t just get a list of proposals – we get a snapshot of what people believe the world needs to hear right now.
This cycle, TEDxOrlando received an amazing 636 applications. That’s hundreds of talk titles, thousands of words, and a huge amount of courage from people willing to put an idea forward for the stage.
As Nick Rogers shared in our curation-process update, respect, democracy, and transparency are core values in how we approach speaker selection – and those values also shape how we look at the themes that emerge from applications.
So, for everyone who applied (and for anyone considering applying in a future cycle), here’s what we noticed in the big picture – and what it might teach you about the kinds of ideas people are hungry for in 2026 and beyond.
An open call creates a real picture of a community
We’ve always believed in an open call for speakers. Even when a small portion of our lineup may be handpicked, the heart of TEDx is opening the opportunity to the doers, thinkers, and innovators in the local community.
That’s exactly what happened here in Orlando – and the volume of applications reflects something important:
There is no shortage of ideas in Central Florida.
The challenge is curating a lineup that fits the scale of the stage.
For the flagship event, our goal is to select 12 speakers, while also building a strong pool of speakers for future salon events. That reality makes the process selective – not because ideas lack value, but because the stage has constraints.
The recurring themes: what people are most compelled to talk about
Many applications naturally touched more than one theme. That’s normal – real life doesn’t arrive in neat categories. But across titles and outlines, several clusters showed up again and again.
Connection, communication, and relationships
A huge portion of proposals centered on how we speak, listen, repair, and connect – in families, friendships, workplaces, and communities.
Purpose, meaning, and how we live
Many talks explored meaning-making, values, identity, legacy, and the choices that shape a life.
Resilience, healing, and transformation
We saw a strong wave of proposals shaped by lived experience – grief, recovery, hardship, reinvention – turned into insight others could use.
Leadership, culture, and burnout
From team dynamics to workplace systems, a lot of applicants want to address the pressure people feel – and what healthier, higher-trust cultures can look like.
Change, transitions, and “what’s next”
This theme showed up constantly: uncertainty, new chapters, pivots, and how people navigate the space between where they’ve been and where they’re going.
Learning, creativity, and human potential
Many proposals focused on how we learn, how we teach, how we develop talent, and how creativity fuels problem-solving.
Technology – especially AI – through a human lens
A notable segment of applicants proposed talks about AI and the future, often grounded in a very human question: what do we keep, protect, or strengthen as systems accelerate?
What this tells us: even in a world of noise and novelty, applicants are drawn to ideas that help people live better, connect better, and lead better – especially under pressure.
Where applicants came from
Because this is a community-rooted stage, we were curious to see where applications came from – and the data tells a clear story: most applicants were U.S.-based, with a strong concentration in Florida and Central Florida.
Country breakdown
- United States: 607 applicants (95.4%)
- Canada: 16 (2.5%)
- Other international: 13 (2.0%) across 11 places (including the UK, France, Switzerland, the Netherlands, UAE, Portugal, Jamaica, Costa Rica, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Puerto Rico)
U.S. applicants by state (top)
Within the U.S., the largest groups came from:
- Florida: 386 (60.7% of all applicants)
- California: 39
- Texas: 30
- Georgia: 16
- Virginia: 13
- New York: 13
Central Florida stood out
Within Florida, the single largest city group was Orlando with 93 applicants (14.6% of total).
And when you look at the broader Greater Orlando / Central Florida area (Orlando + nearby cities), we saw a strong local cluster of 227 applicants — roughly 59% of Florida applicants and 36% of all applications.
What this tells us: the local appetite to share ideas is real – and it reinforces why we’re committed to foregrounding voices from within our community, while still staying open to outstanding perspectives from beyond it.
How people found the application
This was one of the clearest indicators that community sharing is working. We asked applicants how they found the speaker application, and the top sources were:
- Friend or colleague: 243
- Social media: 235
- TED / TEDx website: 164
- Word of mouth: 66
- TEDxOrlando email newsletter: 61
- Community group/organization: 25
What this tells us: the speaker pipeline is built through relationships and visibility. People apply because someone shared the link, tagged them, forwarded a post, or said, “This is for you.”
Flagship vs. Salon interest
We also asked which event format applicants were open to:
- Flagship + Salon: 482 (75.8%)
- Flagship only: 143 (22.5%)
- Salon only: 11 (1.7%)
Most applicants wanted to be considered for both, which we appreciate. And it’s worth saying clearly: salon events are a real TEDx stage and a key part of our speaker community-building, not a “second tier.” The scale we’re aiming for means our Salon stages are bigger than many TEDx event ‘flagship’ events.
A quick note on application completeness
One of the most encouraging stats: 621 applicants (97.6%) included a short intro video link (YouTube/Vimeo). That matters, because TED-style talks are not only about an idea on paper – they’re also about how clearly and compellingly that idea can be communicated out loud.
We also saw a number of entries that exceeded the recommended word limits in the application. That’s not a deal-breaker – but TEDx talks are built through editing, and brevity is one of the clearest indicators of talk readiness.
A quick note on what we’re curating for (and why it matters)
As Nick shared in the curation-process post, our volunteer curation team is intentionally diverse – bringing different backgrounds and perspectives to the table – and we recently met for a detailed discussion to decide which applications to move forward.
Our job isn’t just to select “great speakers.” It’s to curate a lineup of ideas that can stand alongside the very best TEDx events, and create an experience that helps the audience think differently and act differently.
That’s why, in reviewing applications, we’re consistently looking for factors like:
- Originality
- Credibility
- Understanding of TEDx format and guidelines
- Coachability
- Charisma and clarity
- Location and community relevance
After careful reflection, we identified 53 applicants to move forward to interviews.
The big takeaway for future applicants: specificity wins
Because so many applications orbit big human themes – purpose, resilience, identity, leadership, connection – the strongest proposals tend to do one thing especially well:
They take a broad theme and make it specific.
Not just: “My story of overcoming hardship.”
But: “Here’s the idea hardship taught me – and here’s how it changes the way you see (or do) something.”
If you want a simple test for your next application:
What is the one sentence your audience will repeat after hearing your talk?
If it’s clear, specific, and surprising – you’re on the right track.
To everyone who applied: thank you
Submitting an idea takes courage. The fact that we can only move forward with a small number of applicants reflects the constraints of our stage – not the quality of thinking in our community.
We’re excited for what comes next, and we’re grateful to everyone who raised their hand.