TEDxWarsaw – an independently organized event within the TEDx program, taking place in Warsaw since 2010. It is the first and largest TEDx event in Poland. It operates under a license granted by the TED organization, but is organizationally independent from it.
The mission of TEDxWarsaw is to create a space where people from various backgrounds, professions, and generations can share ideas worth spreading. The format of the event is based on short - maximum 18-minute - talks focused on one specific idea, delivered from the characteristic red dot on the stage.
History and characteristic TEDxWarsaw was founded in August 2009 by Ralph Talmont, Adam Liwiński, and Maciej Michalski. The first edition took place on March 5, 2010, in the Old Library of the University of Warsaw and gathered around 350 participants. In subsequent years, the event grew systematically - the 2014 edition attracted around 1,400 people live, and the online stream was watched by a total of around 42,000 viewers worldwide (peaking at over 14,000 simultaneously). In the same year, the TEDxWarsawPresidentialPalace edition also took place at the Chancellery of the President of the Republic of Poland - the first TEDx event in Poland organized at the headquarters of the head of state.
Speakers Over 250 speakers have performed across various editions of TEDxWarsaw. Among them were representatives of science, culture, activism, and business.
The stage has featured, among others, actress and philanthropist Anna Dymna (2010), psychotherapist Wojciech Eichelberger (2011), tech entrepreneur Martin Varsavsky (2011), Chief Rabbi of Poland Michael Schudrich (2012), politician Rafał Trzaskowski (2012), nature journalist Adam Wajrak (2013), and mountaineer Leszek Cichy (2025).
Organization TEDxWarsaw is organized entirely by volunteers.
The organizational team consists of individuals responsible for speaker selection, technical support, marketing and PR, participant registration, and attendee experience during the event.
Since 2022, the Curator of the event has been Ewa Turek.
In accordance with TED licensing rules, financial and in-kind partners have no influence on speaker selection or the event's content.
Side events In addition to the annual main edition, the TEDxWarsaw team organizes other events under the primary TEDxWarsaw license:
TEDxWarsawWomen – an event focused on women's topics within the global TEDxWomen program TEDxWarsaw Youth – an edition aimed at younger participants, organized by youth TEDxWarsawSalon – intimate gatherings focused on specific ideas TEDxWarsawPresidentialPalace – the only TEDx event in Poland organized at the seat of the head of state
Past Events Date Venue Main Theme 1March 5, 2010Old Library, University of WarsawCollaboration2March 24, 2011Copernicus Science CentreLooking In Looking Out3March 22, 2012Multikino, Złote TarasyInspire to be Inspired4March 21, 2013Multikino, Złote TarasyPoke the Comfort Zone5March 13, 2014Multikino, Złote TarasyEmbrace the Other6March 18, 2015Polish Theatre in WarsawThe Little Things7March 31, 2016POLIN Museum of the History of Polish JewsIn a Heartbeat8March 23, 2017Multikino, Złote TarasyCrunchtime9March 22, 2018Multikino, Złote TarasyMen&Women 10June 13, 2019Mała WarszawaDare 2020not organized11June10, 2021Kinoteka, Palace of Culture and SciencePolarization2022not organized2023not organized2024not organized12June 6, 2025Multikino, Złote TarasyWczoraj. Dziś. Jutro.13May 15, 2026Multikino, Złote TarasyMiędzy algorytmem a intuicją
TEDx Program Rules As a licensed TEDx organizer, TEDxWarsaw adheres to TED guidelines, which include four content rules: no commercial, political, or religious agendas, and presenting only claims based on verifiable, peer-reviewed scientific research.
Talks take the form of short, carefully prepared presentations focused on a single idea.
External Links
TEDxWarsaw official website TEDxWarsaw profile on ted.com
References