TEDx Cape May Returns This October With A Fresh New Lineup

When TED Talks were first posted online in 2006, the unique series of educational, motivational, and innovative speakers became an overnight phenomenon.  Originally dating back to 1984, the famous speaker series was originally started as a technology, entertainment, and design conference.

One of Chris Anderson's innovations in the years after his Sapling Foundation acquired TED in 2001 was to make TED Talks more available to people around the world. This is the genesis of the TEDx program, which is described as:

"a grassroots initiative, created in the spirit of TED’s overall mission to research and discover “ideas worth spreading.” TEDx brings the spirit of TED to local communities around the globe through TEDx events. These events are organized by passionate individuals who seek to uncover new ideas and to share the latest research in their local areas that spark conversations in their communities."

Fall 2026 marks the 15th edition of TEDxCape May

First started in 2012, TEDxCape May offers local, self-organized events for South Jersey that according to a press release offers "ideas worth spreading". This series of speakers has been viewed by over 14 million people online.

The 2026 edition is titled "Vital Signs: Presentations on the pursuit of well-being for ourselves, our communities, and our world." On Sunday, October 4th at Cape May Convention Hall, and an open bar reception will be hosted at the Congress Hall Hotel.

Presented in conjunction with Cape May MAC, here are the speakers and topics for this year's TEDxCape May:

*Kathryn Landis (Adjunct Assistant Professor at New York University and Fortune 500 Consultant): Why the Decisions You Avoid Are the Ones That Define You
*Stephen Trzeciak, MD (Chief of Medicine at Cooper University Health Care; Professor and Chair of Medicine at Cooper Medical School of Rowan University): The Hope Effect
*Chester Elton (Best-selling author and Workplace Culture Advocate): A Grateful Life By Design
*Ryan Abbott (Professor of Law and Health Sciences at the University of Surrey School of Law; Adjunct Associate Professor of Medicine at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA): The Inventors - Artificial Intelligence and the Quest for Paradise
*Nicole Nuttall (Chair of the Board of Directors of the Completed Life Initiative): Love is a Plan - Ensuring Peace and Confidence at the End of Life
*Paula Bontempi (Professor of Oceanography at the University of Rhode Island’s Graduate School and former deputy director of the Earth Science Division at NASA): Paying Attention to Our Planet’s Vital Signs
*Leon Rainbow (founder of Jersey Fresh Jam, nationally-recognized muralist, public artist, and educator): The Vital Signs of a Neighborhood - What Walls Teach Us About Human Connection
*Liberty Denman (Marine Biologist, and Co-Founder of Kai): Trawling for Knowledge - How to Manage Our Fisheries with Science and Lived Experience

For more information on the 15th edition of TEDx Cape May, you can visit their website for ticket pricing and event details.