About
Durham, UK – September 2025 – Durham will welcome back the return of TEDxDurham on Sunday, 2 November 2025 at the Gala Durham.
The original TEDxDurham took place 12 years ago in 2013 in Northern England and then travelled abroad to Durham, North Carolina. It is proudly being repatriated back to its original UK home in 2025.
Part of the global TEDx programme, which brings independently organised events inspired by the world-renowned TED Talks, TEDxDurham will showcase “ideas worth spreading” from thought leaders, innovators, and storytellers. The inaugural event will feature 10 talks designed to spark curiosity, challenge perspectives, and inspire the regional community.
The organisers are excited to announce the first four confirmed speakers:
The Rise of India & China – Sir Vince Cable
Renowned economist and former Leader of the Liberal Democrats, Sir Vince Cable will examine the rise of India and China as global powers and what their influence means for the future of the world order.
Laughter & Leadership – Professor Sophie Scott CBE
Director of the Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience at University College London, Professor Sophie Scott will explore how laughter and humour can transform communication, leadership, and resilience.
AI & The Future of Work – Duncan Wardle
Former Head of Innovation & Creativity at Disney, Duncan Wardle will be travelling from Orlando, Florida to address how businesses and individuals can thrive in an AI-driven world of work.
Smartphone Solution? – Dr. Martha Deiros Collado
Clinical psychologist and bestselling author Dr. Martha Deiros Collado will share insights on how smartphones are shaping childhood development — and what parents and communities can do about it.
Full biographies are available on the TEDxDurham website. Additional speakers will be announced later this month.
Tickets on Sale This Week
Super Early Bird tickets will go on sale at 11:00am on Wednesday, 10 September, offering audiences the first opportunity to be part of Durham’s first TEDx experience.
Each ticket includes:
● Inspiration – 10 world-class talks curated for fresh ideas and new perspectives.
● Catering & Lunch – refreshments and meals to keep the day energised.
● Connection – the chance to meet and share ideas with 500+ fellow innovators and
changemakers.
Student tickets are available at £21.50 by emailing info@tedxdurham.co.uk from an official
student email address.
Event Details
● Date: Sunday, 2 November 2025
● Location: Gala Durham Theatre
● Tickets: On sale from 11:00am, Wednesday 10 September via www.tedxdurham.co.uk
About TEDxDurham
TEDxDurham is an independently organised TEDx event, licensed by TED, and part of the global TEDx network dedicated to “ideas worth spreading.” The TEDxDurham team is led by founder Herb Kim who has been working in the North East for over 20 years. He is one of the
world’s most experienced TEDx producers having helped found TEDxNewcastle, TEDxManchester, TEDxLiverpool, TEDxHousesofParliament, TEDxDoha in addition to leading the return of TEDxDurham.
About TEDx
In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TED Talks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection. These local, self-organized
events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.
About TED
TED is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to discovering, debating and spreading ideas that spark conversation, deepen understanding and drive meaningful change. Our organization is devoted to curiosity, reason, wonder and the pursuit of knowledge — without an
agenda. We welcome people from every discipline and culture who seek a deeper understanding of the world and connection with others, and we invite everyone to engage with ideas and activate them in your community.
TED began in 1984 as a conference where Technology, Entertainment and Design converged, but today it spans a multitude of worldwide communities and initiatives exploring everything from science and business to education, arts and global issues. In addition to the TED Talks
curated from our annual conferences and published on TED.com, we produce original podcasts, short video series, animated educational lessons (TED-Ed) and TV programs that are translated into more than 100 languages and distributed via partnerships around the world. Each year,
thousands of independently run TEDx events bring people together to share ideas and bridge divides in communities on every continent. Through the Audacious Project, TED has helped catalyze more than $3 billion in funding for projects that seek to make the world more beautiful,
sustainable and just. In 2020, TED launched Countdown, an initiative to accelerate solutions to the climate crisis and mobilize a movement for a net-zero future, and in 2023 TED launched TED Democracy to spark a new kind of conversation focused on realistic pathways towards a
more vibrant and equitable future. View a full list of TED’s many programs and initiatives.
Follow TED on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, and X.
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Find out what’s happening this week across the Culture County. From festivals and exhibitions, to sport and theatre, you’re certain to have an eventful time in Durham.
