Welcome to “everything TEDxPortsmouth” 2026
TEDxPortsmouth 2026 theme design by Katinka de Ruiter / Dotworks Design
Friday May 8, 2026
Arrive at 8:00 a.m., and doors open at 8:30 a.m.
↓ View full details below ↓
NOTE: All ticket purchasers will receive a “Know Before You Go” email from The Music Hall on Thursday morning, that includes QR codes for those using e-tickets. Will call tickets can be picked up at patron services before the event. If you bought tickets for your friends or co-workers, share this info with them so they’re prepared for the day!
Arrival
ARRIVE EARLY. Arrive at 8:00 a.m., and doors open at 8:30 a.m. This show is recorded live, so the doors close promptly at 9:00 a.m. Those who arrive late will have to wait in the lobby until after the opening act.
At the door, present your tickets to be scanned. If you’re coming with a group, plan to arrive together – your whole group can be scanned in with one click!
Volunteers will distribute programs and lanyards in the lobbies. You can also view or download the program as a PDF.
VIP Early Admission for Speakers, Sponsors & groups of 10+
(including Team, Speakers, Hosts, Performers)
Please check in by your name or organization at the VIP Table in front of The Music Hall Members Club, beginning at 8:00 am.
Arrive early as a group to have a commemorative photo under the Marquee taken by inspired local photographer Alyssa Duncan, enjoy coffee and donuts in the members club, or find your seats in the theater ahead of the crowd.
A limited number of VIP attendees will receive black lanyards upon entry and will enjoy access to the Members Club throughout the day.
2026 Sponsors
Kennebunk Savings, Chinburg, Eversource, Sheehan Phinney, RiverWoods, Piscataqua Savings Bank, The Gianotti Fund, and Global Seafood Alliance.
Parking
The Music Hall’s downtown campus is at the heart of Portsmouth’s eclectic and artsy shopping district, which offers a rich variety of restaurants, pubs, wine bars, and cafés. The Foundry Place Garage (100 Foundry Place) is about a 5-minute walk from The Historic Theater, and the Hanover Parking Garage (2 Hanover Street) is also within walking distance. Check out ParkPortsmouth.com for other parking ideas and let us know if you find any good spots.
An important note: Congress Street will be closed between Fleet Street and Maplewood Avenue, Wednesday, May 6, through Friday, May 8, during regular working hours. Pedestrians will still be able to access and use sidewalks in the closure area. If you are dropping someone off, please come down Porter St to do so.
Schedule
8:00 am: Registration Begins. Coffee and donuts will be available in the lobby for you to enjoy while you mingle. Sponsors, Team members, and groups of 10+ are invited to enter.
8:30 am: Doors Open for General Seating
9:00 am: Show Begins! Session 1
10:10 am: Morning Break
10:30 am: Session 2
11:45 am: Lunch. Your lunch is included, courtesy of Gather (including a dietary option)
12:45 pm: Session 3
1:45 pm: Afternoon Break
2:00 pm: Session 4
3:00 pm: Afterparty in The Music Hall lobby! Cash bar available.
TEDxPortsmouth is a full-day event with plenty of breaks built in. Like listening to a curated playlist versus a single song, this event is intended to be a fully immersive experience that you share with colleagues, new connections, family, and friends. In other words, stay for the full day- you’ll be amazed by how much you get out of the full experience!
Want to get some of that TEDxPortsmouth energy now? Check out our Uncharted playlist, curated by Jen Scumaci- aka DJ Skooch!
What Should I Bring?
We encourage you to stay hydrated by bringing your own water bottle and refilling it at The Music Hall to help us reduce waste! Lunch, snacks, and all the coffee/tea you can drink are provided with admission (including gluten-free and vegetarian options.)
Accessibility and Accommodations
- If you are getting dropped off, check the note and map in the Parking section above about the closure of Congress St on the day of TEDxPortsmouth.
- There are booster cushions available for children, as well as seat and back cushions for adults. Please come to the Box Office to request these items and provide your ID.
- There is an elevator in the lower lobby that goes to the orchestra level. The elevator does not go to the balcony. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask (info@themusichall.org).
- The Music Hall’s award-winning restrooms are located in the lower lobby of the Historic Theater.
- We love this Accessibility Guide from Access Navigators, a team of people who take to the streets to inspect restaurants and cultural attractions for physical barriers that impact accessibility. If you have specific accessibility needs, please let us know in advance by emailing info@TEDxPortsmouth.com.
A Moment of Appreciation
Whether you’ll be part of the event or not, we are truly grateful for each and every one of you who shares, discusses, and acts on the meaningful ideas of our time.
Our 100% volunteer team has spent most of the year developing this event with you in mind. Our 2026 speakers, all drawn from the greater Seacoast area, have spent months working with our writing coaches to ensure that their ideas are simple, clear, powerful, and worth passing on.
Sponsors, Partners, and our day-of volunteers from our community provide the resources needed to produce an event of this caliber and reinforce the value of events like this. What drives us more than anything is bringing people together for learning, connection, and growth (and fun!)
