At TEDxSaltLakeCity, we believe great ideas can come from anyone, anywhere—even the most unexpected places. That’s why we invite anyone to apply, no matter your background, experience, or identity. If you live or work in Salt Lake City or the surrounding communities and have an idea worth sharing, we want to hear from you! We want you to be fully informed on what we are looking for, so read these helpful tips before applying.
Our Unique Selection Process
Unlike many TEDx events, TEDxSaltLakeCity selects speakers through an open application process. You don’t need to be a seasoned public speaker—we’ll support you every step of the way. Our experienced speaker team is dedicated to helping you refine your idea and develop your talk. You will feel confident and prepared when you step on stage. This process takes time and commitment from all of us in the months leading up to the event, but the result is more than just a polished TEDx talk. With more than 11 events under our belt, you’ll be joining an experienced, growing community of changemakers right here in Salt Lake City.
2025 Countdown Event!
This year, TEDxSaltLakeCity was selected to be one of 18 TEDx groups world-wide to be part of a specially funded cohort to host a Countdown Event. There were only two in the U.S. invited for this honor. We believe this is based on our past quality of talks, which are regularly selected for special promotion or even elevated to an official TED talk.
What does this mean for you? It means that this year, we are looking for ideas that align with Countdown: TED’s global initiative to tackle the climate crisis. Your talk should relate to one of these five areas:
Nature | Energy | Food | Transport | Materials
Feel free to explore some of our past TEDxSaltLakeCity talks related to climate, the environment, and the Countdown theme topics: Cynthia Bee, Tim Hawkes, Tony Pavlantos, and Dana Williamson.
What Makes a Great Idea?
Not sure where to start? Here are some questions to help you shape your talk:
- What would surprise people about your solutions that people didn’t already know?
- Is your idea fresh or a unique perspective on something familiar?
- How is your idea making an impact in the real world? In real human lives?
- What makes you passionate about this idea? Could others be inspired to think or act differently because of it, too?
- Could your idea challenge the way people think? What shifts in perspective might it create?
- Do you have a personal story that connects to your idea? How have you experienced your idea in action?
Spend some time thinking about these questions and jotting down your thoughts—you might be surprised at how naturally your idea takes shape!
The More You Know…
If you’re interested in applying please watch this video to learn the Do's and Don'ts. These increase your odds of being selected. Please disregard any dates or deadlines in the video, and refer to dates/deadlines in the application form below.
Applications are open from Saturday, March 8 until Friday, March 28, 2025, 11:59 pm Mountain Time