TEDxWakeForestU is looking for six to eight speakers for its 2027 event at Wake Forest University.
This application is open to students, professionals, community leaders, creatives, and people from a wide range of backgrounds and locations. The official call does not state a residency or university-affiliation restriction.
Here’s what you need to know before applying.
TEDxWakeForestU
Location: Brendle Recital Hall at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Event Date: Sunday, March 21, 2027 at 2 PM
Speaker Availability: Selected speakers must be available in person for the full weekend of March 20–21, 2027
Application Deadline: August 17, 2026 at 11:59 PM
Theme: Threshold
Talk Length: 10–15 minutes
Speakers Selected: Approximately six to eight
The event will take place in a 600-person auditorium. Selected speakers will participate in a six-month development process that includes one-on-one coaching, feedback, rehearsals, and multiple speech submission deadlines.
TEDxWFU describes a threshold as “the space between who you are and who you are becoming.”
The theme focuses on the moment just before change, when one chapter has ended but the next has not fully begun. The organizers are interested in ideas about transition, transformation, uncertainty, possibility, and the choices we make when we find ourselves standing at the edge of something new.
Their motto is:
Stand at the edge. Then cross.
A strong application should do more than mention change in general. Think about the specific threshold your idea helps people understand.
You can read the team’s full explanation of the theme on the TEDxWFU website.
TEDxWakeForestU says it is looking for applicants from all backgrounds and perspectives, including students, professionals, community leaders, and creatives from anywhere.
There is no Wake Forest affiliation or North Carolina residency requirement listed.
The organizers say their speakers share three qualities:
Ideas over fame. You do not need a large following, recognizable name, or prestigious job. The strength of the idea matters most.
Relevant expertise. This can come from academic research, professional experience, firsthand involvement with a community issue, or lived experience that has given you a credible perspective.
Public speaking preparedness. Previous speaking experience is appreciated but not required. Applicants should be ready to commit to the development process, respond to feedback, memorize their final talk, and speak in front of a live audience.
The application also makes it clear that this is not intended as another stop for a professional or circuit speaker. Your submission should center the idea you want to share, not your speaking career, personal brand, business, or services.
TEDxWakeForestU is accepting both traditional talks and performance or demonstration-based ideas.
TEDxWakeForestU is a student-led organization based at Wake Forest University.
The event began in 2012 when student organizer Lucy Lan created a conference focused on technology and entrepreneurship. The inaugural event attracted more than 1,000 attendees.
The 2027 organizing team includes Wake Forest students studying philosophy, economics, biology, communications, history, entrepreneurship, journalism, and business. Faculty and senior advisors also support the event, including Dr. Rebecca Gill and TED Fellow Dr. Anthony Atala.
This appears to be a team that values interdisciplinary ideas. Your idea should be clear, credible, and relevant to an audience that includes students, faculty, civic leaders, and members of the wider Winston-Salem community.
The application is detailed. Given the August 17 deadline, you should start preparing asap.
For a traditional talk, this is what you’ll need to submit:
Your name and full contact information
A tentative talk title
An overview of your idea worth spreading in 100 words or fewer
An in-depth, 400–500-word description of your talk, including potential examples, evidence, data, and structure
A 100–200-word explanation of what makes the idea new or how it offers a novel rethinking of an established idea
An explanation of how the talk aligns with the theme Threshold
A 60–90-second video delivering the introduction to your proposed talk
An explanation of how your background, experiences, or identity establish your credibility
Links supporting your expertise, such as publications, a professional website, or relevant social media pages
Information demonstrating your willingness and ability to memorize and deliver a 10–15-minute talk in front of a live audience
An optional résumé or CV, but only if it provides relevant evidence of your expertise
Applicants must also confirm that they can commit to the multi-month development process, meet speech submission deadlines, communicate consistently with the organizing team, and attend the full event weekend in person.
Application Form: https://forms.fillout.com/t/q9uzwXBsv5us
Website for More Info: https://tedxwfu.org/
Social Media for Updates: https://www.instagram.com/tedxwakeforestu/
You can absolutely figure this out on your own using what I share here, but I know the process can feel a lot faster and less overwhelming when you have someone in your corner.
That’s why I offer different ways to support you depending on where you are:
Just getting started → Join the Live masterclass to understand how the process works and what to do next
Refining your idea → Book a 1:1 Idea Session to turn your topic into a clear idea
Ready to apply → Book a 1:1 Strategy + application Session to submit strong, well-positioned applications
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Whether you’re here just for the open calls or you want more hands-on support, I’ve got you.
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I’m rooting for you!
Geleen Antonio
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