TEDxRancho Mirage held its inaugural event last year, and the independently organized speaker event is returning to the desert this year.
Organizers are seeking speakers for the now annual event slated for later this year, following what they described as a successful kickoff in 2025.
The TEDxRancho Mirage team said this week that they’re seeking speakers in the Coachella Valley with “ideas worth spreading,” with the event’s theme announced as “Under the Same Sky.” The 2026 event will be held Aug. 25 at the Rancho Mirage Library & Observatory.
Anyone from the community is encouraged to apply, regardless of their background or prior public speaking experience.
“You don’t need to be a CEO, a published author, or a professional speaker to take the TEDx stage,” Eric Cunningham, curator of TEDxRanchoMirage, said in a prepared statement. “Our community is overflowing with so many incredible, unshared ideas and unique perspectives. We are looking for everyday people who have a compelling, fact-based idea that can spark a conversation and leave a positive impact on the entire Coachella Valley.”
The submission portal for those interested is available online at www.tedxranchomirage.com, and interested individuals must provide a short summary of their idea, a brief explanation of why they are the right person to give the talk, and an optional video link.
Speaker applications are due by April 30. Those selected will undergo a comprehensive, multi-month preparation process with dedicated TEDx speaker coaches to help them refine their scripts and polish their stage presence ahead of the August event.
The speakers at the inaugural event in August 2025 included David Catanzarite with the Green Room Theatre; Children’s Discovery Museum of the Desert CEO Cindy Burreson; entrepreneur James V. Lee; A.I. Coachella Valley founder Sat Singh; and Julie Oliff from Sensei Porcupine Creek.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Local TEDx event in Rancho Mirage seeks speakers for 2026
Reporting by Tom Coulter, Palm Springs Desert Sun / Palm Springs Desert Sun
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
