Being Human

Friday, May 10, 2024 at The Music Hall

One of the biggest TEDx events in the country, TEDxPortsmouth is an immersive, full-day event showcasing a diverse lineup of inspiring speakers, rousing artistic performances, local food and more. This 100% volunteer-run annual event is where the Seacoast comes together to connect and explore big ideas — science, the arts, the environment, humanity, entrepreneurship — in a shared experience emphasizing community, conversation, and inspiration. TEDxPortsmouth garners not only a huge local following, but a global reach with speaker videos generating more than a million views (and counting!).

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“The speakers were informative, intriguing, and entertaining. I left smarter, wiser, and more aware.“

“I have already recommended TEDxPortsmouth to colleagues and friends. It was an inspiring experience. Every year I say, “That was the best TEDx I’ve been to.” And every year it gets better.”

“Engaging ideas and people. This is how communities grow and develop.“

“I was blown away by the content provided by all the other speakers as well. I traveled from another state and took several days off from work to attend. Wonderful experience.”

“For someone who is community-minded and intellectually curious, there is nothing like it.“

“I think anytime someone has the opportunity to attend, they should.“

“I would go back again tomorrow if they were hosting another but guess I’ll have to wait until next year.“

“The Portsmouth coordinators did a fabulous job of putting on a professional event with a wide variety of informative, inspirational, and entertaining talks and performances!“

From our Blog

Where are our TEDxPortsmouth speakers now: Catching up with Kartik Sakthivel

by Jeff Symes | Apr 14, 2023

Sakthivel’s 2019 talk (“The Technology Age – Thriving Through Disruption”) focused on the profusion of technology, its never-ending and ever-quickening development, and the need to adopt a “learning mindset” to thrive in this environment, if not just to keep pace. It turned out to be a timely theme – within six months of Sakthivel’s talk, the Covid pandemic upended everything we knew.

Sponsor Spotlight: With Kennebunk Savings’ Community Relations & Social Responsibility Manager, Liz Torrance

by Michelle Morrissey | Apr 27, 2021

At Kennebunk Savings, being ‘purpose driven’ isn’t a mere marketing tagline — it’s a business philosophy that has the bank deeply rooted as an active member of the southern Maine...

Important Update on TEDxPortsmouth

by Michelle Morrissey | Apr 19, 2020

TEDxPortsmouth is pressing pause on its 2020 event, originally planned for September 25 at The Music Hall in Portsmouth due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

Last year, as a true community-driven event,...

Meet the 2023 Speakers

See our amazing line-up

Watch talks from our last event

Get excited for this year

What is TEDx?

In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TED has created a program called TEDx. TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. Our event is called TEDxPortsmouth, where x = independently organized TED event. At our TEDxPortsmouth event, TED Talks video and live speakers will combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events, including ours, are self-organized.