The secret to turning curiosity into connection

When people think of TED, they picture the iconic red circle, where masterful talks spark ideas that ripple around the world. But what you might not know is that there’s another kind of magic that often happens beyond the stage. It happens in the in-between spaces where curiosity turns into connection.

Right now, our team is hard at work putting the final touches on TEDNext — happening November 9-11 in Atlanta, GA — and we might be biased, but it’s looking amazing. Alongside thought-provoking talks, a whole new world of discovery and connection is taking shape just beyond the theater doors.

At TED, some of the most meaningful experiences you will have are spending time with other humans discovering and working through ideas. From immersive activations to intimate dinners to late-night celebrations, this journey of co-creation is made possible by our strategic partners who share our belief in the power of ideas to spark change. Together, we’re creating experiences that invite people not just to listen, but to truly live the ideas they encounter.

9 ways to turn curiosity into connection: 

When you join us at TEDNext, you might have one — or more — of the following experiences: 

1. A memory of a moment in time

Our memories are a vital part of who we are and the richness of the human experience. That's why TED is partnering with Eli Lilly and Company to create the TED Memory Project, a collective visual archive of our most treasured moments. In custom memory booths, participants will share a favorite memory that comes to life on a large-screen gallery, each one becoming part of a tapestry of our shared humanity.

Every recollection is a step toward awareness, understanding and a future where fewer memories are lost because of Alzheimer’s disease. This is a powerful reminder that remembering is not just about the past, but about visualizing a future we want to create. 

An idea to explore: Take a quiet moment to recall a memory that shaped you. What lesson still lives inside it, and who might need to hear that story today?

2. Connections with depth

Networking often feels transactional, but at TED it’s built around shared curiosity. Forget the awkward business card exchanges and rehearsed sales pitches. We've partnered with Chase Sapphire Reserve for Business to build the Chase Braindate Lounge where meetings are done differently. 

Here, you connect one-on-one or in small groups around specially curated and community-driven topics or ideas that you unpack together. The result of this fan-favorite experience? Purposeful exchanges that turn strangers into collaborators and casual chats into rich dialogue.

An idea to explore: Create your own Braindate experience by asking the next person you meet: What’s an exciting project you’re working on?

3. An homage to your roots 

Since its start in 2010, TEDWomen has been a force for visibility and belonging, amplifying the ideas and voices that shape a more equitable world. At TEDNext, that legacy continues in the TEDWomen Lounge, created in partnership with Pivotal Ventures , as a space for connection, reflection and community. 

That same spirit will carry into the TEDWomen Dinner where attendees will honor Misty Copeland with the inaugural TEDWomen Trailblazer Award. As the first Black woman to become principal dancer at the American Ballet Theatre , Misty embodies what it means to break barriers and pave the way for others. This will be a special moment to reflect on how far we’ve come and imagine a future where every story and voice is seen and celebrated.

An idea to explore: Think of a trailblazer whose courage helped make your path possible. How can you carry that strength forward and make space for others to do the same?  

4. Lessons to redefine fulfillment 

Our relationship with money shapes more than our finances. It influences how we plan, dream and define a life well-lived. Northwestern Mutual , TED’s long-standing financial planning partner, is helping us explore one essential question: What makes a fulfilling life?  

Over a special dinner, we’ll dive into conversations to align ambition with intention and design a future rooted in purpose, balance and meaning. Together, we’ll look beyond the numbers to uncover what truly sustains us over time.

An idea to explore: What would change if you planned your future around fulfillment, not achievement?

5. Artistry as a force for reinvention

If you didn’t know, the E in TED stands for Entertainment — and how could we go to Atlanta without celebrating its creative pulse? This year, we’ll hear from hometown visionaries Jermaine Dupri and Sean Bankhead, two artists who have shaped culture through music, movement and vision that transcends boundaries.

We’re also thrilled to announce that St. Vincent will join the lineup, bringing her signature creativity and fearless attitude to a special performance. Alongside hit maker Jason “Poo Bear” Boyd and genre-bending pianist ELEW, TEDNext is a celebration of artistry as a force for reinvention.

An idea to explore: Let yourself wander toward what intrigues you most. What artist, sound or story has sparked your curiosity lately? 

6. Spaces that expand the mind 

Back by popular demand, the Next Stage offers something completely different from the iconic TED stage. Intimate and in-the-round, it is designed for candid dialogue and authentic exchange, where the lights feel softer, the seating is relaxed — yes, the red beanbag chairs are returning (iykyk) — and every voice has a place. Here, attendees are not just watching a program, they are part of it, shaping the conversation, fueling curiosity and experiencing ideas as they unfold in real time.

An idea to explore: Designate a spot in your home just for thinking, reading or reflection, and make time to utilize it. Protect that time like you would any other important meeting.

7. A bridge between creative worlds

As part of TED’s second year of the POSCA artist residency with uni Brands Corporation , Senior TED Fellow Lope Gutierrez-Ruiz will unveil a new installation that invites us to look closer, question more deeply and rediscover creativity as a bridge between worlds. A designer, curator and storyteller, Lope’s work lives at the intersection of art and inquiry, inspiring us to see beauty, connection and possibility in the spaces between. 

An idea to explore: Take five minutes today to notice something ordinary and ask: What makes this beautiful, useful or worth seeing differently?

8. Tools to awaken new passions 

TEDNext isn’t just about listening — it’s about doing. Through Discovery Sessions, participants will be whisked into intimate, expert-led workshops and excursions that ignite curiosity. Past sessions have included welding, graffiti tours and playing with robots. This year’s lineup includes:

• Eric Liu on sparking a civic revival
• Mary Poffenroth, Ph.D. on using neurohacking to manage stress
• Phoebe Tickell on rebuilding our moral imagination
• Tori Dunlap on rewriting your financial story
• Royal Ramey on fireline lessons for leadership and mobilization
• Kathryn Valentine on negotiating for what you want
• Jessica DeAngelo on unlocking ideas in nature
• Shamichael Hallman on designing community engagement from the ground up
• And many more!

An idea to explore: Set aside one hour this week to try something completely new. Follow your sense of wonder without expectation and maybe you'll uncover a new passion waiting to be explored.

9. The joy of belonging

The TEDNext celebration party will be a joyful gathering where conversation turns to laughter, music fills the air and the community comes alive. It’s a space to dance, connect and be surrounded by the kind of energy that reminds us why we gather in the first place: to feel part of something bigger.

An idea to explore: Make time to celebrate with people who bring you joy. The more you share laughter, stories and connection, the stronger your sense of belonging becomes.

A time to learn, grow and connect awaits you

We’re excited about the brand new venue for TEDNext, The Signia by Hilton Atlanta which will become your home and campus for learning and growth. Here, talks, dinners, music, art, experiences and learnings intertwine in a unique symphony with one goal: to help you grow into the best version of yourself and to meet the people who are ready to grow with you. 

You in? There’s still space for you to join us as we shape the future together.

What kind of experiences make you feel most connected? (Tell us in the comments!)