A speaker’s journey to the legendary TEDx stage begins long before they arrive at the historic Wortham Center for the Performing Arts. Speakers undergo a rigorous application and selection process, including multiple rounds of review with a diverse group of leaders from across North Carolina. There are a few criteria for selection: must be within a 4 hour drive of Asheville (to attend meetings, rehearsals, etc.), your idea must fit the theme, and you should be open to feedback. Once selected, speakers work with a dedicated speaker coach to craft and rehearse their talk.

This year, more than 275 people applied but only a handful were selected for the main event in 2026. Check out the bios and backgrounds of this year’s TEDxAsheville speakers below.

If you’re interested in speaking at a future TEDxAsheville event, please join our mailing list to receive updates when applications are open.