How TEDx speaking slots are filled, and why TED bars paying for one

A TEDx talk is given at a volunteer-run, licensed event, and TED's rulebook sets out who may speak, who may not, and what money may change hands.

Those rules help show whether an offer to appear is legitimate. They also set limits on what a speaker can say on stage and on what happens to the recording afterwards.

Who actually picks the speakers

TED does not choose TEDx speakers. Its guidance for speakers says TED accepts no speaker applications for TEDx events. Each event is run by a local volunteer team that holds a licence and curates its own programme.

Some teams publish an open call for speakers. TED's guidance says to apply only if a team has posted a public application form on its website or social media. Without one, the team is treated as not accepting unsolicited pitches. Speakers can look for events on the TEDx event map.

The guidance advises submitting one clear pitch. Repeated nominations of the same person do not improve the odds.

Selection is meant to rest on the idea a speaker is working on, not on a story or credentials. TED says teams look for unheard local voices with original ideas rather than polished or professional speakers. A pitch should lead with the specific idea and what the speaker is doing to make it real. A personal narrative alone is not enough.

Sponsor representatives and event volunteers cannot speak at events they support.

What a licence allows, and what it costs the organiser

A TEDx licence is valid for one year from approval. It cannot be transferred, and each later event needs a new application. A licence covers one city and one event.

Licences are sorted into tiers. The Community tier allows up to 100 in-person attendees and tickets of up to $150. Community Plus covers events above 100 attendees, with tickets up to $250, and requires attendance at a qualifying TED conference.

Summit allows tickets up to $450. To reach it, an organiser must have held at least four 100+ Standard, University, Youth or ED events and demonstrated excellence in curation. Summit adds two-day events and local broadcast distribution. Legacy has no ticket cap, is invitation-only and is in a pilot phase.

TED assigns the tier when the licence is granted, with no separate application process.

TED's rules do not give a single ticket price. They say the price follows the licence tier, and ticket income should go toward event and operating costs. Watch parties held at a separate venue may charge up to 50% of the event's ticket price.

Events may not run longer than one day unless the event type allows otherwise.

The rule on money: no payment either way

TED's rules state that TEDx events "may neither pay nor charge speakers." Its speaker guidance goes further and says speakers never pay, directly or indirectly. It describes any service that charges fees to land a TEDx talk as illegitimate and as using the TEDx brand without permission. Talks tied to a financial transaction are ineligible for publication.

Some events may cover a speaker's travel or offer networking, depending on budget. TED's guidance says no speaker receives payment.

The rules apply to organisers as well. TEDx is volunteer-run, and events may not be used to raise funds for charities or other organisations. Crowdfunding platforms and separate ticketed TEDx fundraisers are not allowed.

Sponsors are kept off the stage. Sponsors of an event cannot be speakers and can never present from the stage. They must have no editorial control or influence over programme curation. Sponsor logos cannot be permanently displayed on the stage and may appear only while the sponsor is being acknowledged.

Coaching falls under the same rule. TED's guidance says speaker coaching is provided free of charge, and speakers never pay for it.

What a speaker can and cannot say on stage

Speakers may not promote their own products, books or businesses, or those of the company that employs them.

TED's rules also bar talks with an inflammatory political or religious agenda, and talks that use polarising "us vs them" language. On science, the rules describe TED and TEDx as platforms for explaining genuine advances backed by research. Speakers should not misuse scientific language to make unsubstantiated claims.

Talks are typically under 18 minutes, most often given by one presenter, with 3 to 9 minutes described as ideal. Interviews and two-speaker dialogues may run up to 30 minutes. Talks over 18 minutes are reviewed by the TEDx team before publication. The format does not include panels or audience Q&A.

Talks should comply with TEDx Content Guidelines and Copyright Guidelines, and speakers must inform organisers beforehand of any third-party material they will use.

Who owns the recording

Every speaker signs the TEDx Speaker Release. According to TED's speaker guidance, the release gives TED exclusive rights to distribute the recorded talk free to the world, forever. TED's rules page describes the release as giving TED and others the right to edit and distribute video of their presentation. Some events add their own agreement, such as rehearsal obligations, but no financial agreement is required.

Talks are uploaded to the TEDx YouTube channel. They are published only after review against TED's content and copyright guidelines.

TEDx talks cannot be broadcast on television or on-demand TV. TEDx events cannot be streamed or incorporated into any audio programming, with the exception of a 30-second excerpt. Speakers may use up to a 60-second excerpt of their talk for non-commercial social media use only, and clips must tag the official TEDx account.

TED also notes that speaking at several TEDx events is uncommon. Genuinely new ideas may earn another invitation, but TEDx is not a platform for circuit speakers. Duplicate talks are not published.

What a pay-to-play offer looked like in Dubai

In October 2025 Khaleej Times reported on a TEDx event in Dubai in which some individuals were offering speakers "guaranteed" appearances for payment. Speakers were asked for up to $25,000, with payments taken through PayPal and Stripe. Some offers were made weeks before the event was announced.

One Dubai professional, identified only as AK, was quoted $15,000 for a "premium slot," with a promised local press write-up and an IMDb credit. AK declined. A business owner, identified as RK, received repeated WhatsApp messages promising "TEDx fame" for a quick payment.

The event had been scheduled for 16 October at a five-star hotel in Dubai Marina. It was cancelled less than 72 hours after the report, and TED revoked the organisers' licence. The organisers admitted to a "serious mistake," apologised and began refunding speakers who had paid. Receipts shared with Khaleej Times show payments reversed through PayPal and Stripe. TED opened an internal investigation.

TED said authentic TEDx events are non-commercial and volunteer-run, and that charging speakers violates its core principles. It asks that any offer of a TEDx slot in exchange for payment be reported to tedx@ted.com.

Pooja Uni, executive director and chief curator of TEDx Happiness Street, told Khaleej Times that organisers who plan events without charging speakers felt the story directly. They urged aspiring speakers to verify licences on TED.com and to avoid anyone offering paid slots.