July 9, 2026
TEDxVictoria expands to UVic's Farquhar Auditorium for its most ambitious event yet
VICTORIA, B.C. — TEDxVictoria has announced the theme for its 2026 event, Uncharted, taking place Oct. 7, 2026, at the University of Victoria's Farquhar Auditorium. Early bird tickets are now available.
It is Victoria's most ambitious TEDx event to date, in scale and in program. For the first time, TEDxVictoria moves onto UVic's campus for a full day of talks, performances and community activations exploring what comes next when the old maps won’t work.
"Climate instability. Technological disruption. Social transformation. The maps we inherited, economic, environmental, professional, no longer show us the way forward," said Marco Pimentel, TEDxVictoria Licensee. "Uncharted invites us to challenge that fear, turning our anxiety about the unknown into curiosity about what we can build together.”
Following TEDxVictoria’s sold-out 2025 event in the 770-seat McPherson, the move to the 1,200-seat Farquhar Auditorium isn't just an expansion in seating; it places TEDxVictoria inside a campus that is itself charting new territory. In February, the B.C. government invested $1.9 million in UVic research spanning quantum computing, clean technology, climate and ecosystem science, and life sciences, naming the university a hub for discovery still being mapped in real time. For an event built around the unknown, hosting it where that work happens is no coincidence.
“Ideas start at UVic and travel far, making a difference in Greater Victoria and around the globe. New paths are bound to emerge when curious researchers connect with creative community members at TEDxVictoria this fall,” said Alexandra D’Arcy, UVic’s Associate Vice-President Research.
TEDxVictoria will bring artists, environmental innovators, academic leaders and boundary-pushers from across British Columbia and beyond to the Farquhar stage. The full speaker lineup will be announced mid-July; email subscribers will be the first to know.
Early bird tickets are available now at https://tedxvictoria.ca/. General tickets go on sale July 21, 2026.
Wednesday, October 7, 2026, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Early bird pricing:
This event takes place on the traditional territory of the Lekwungen and W̱SÁNEĆ peoples. TEDxVictoria respectfully acknowledges their stewardship of this land and is grateful for their participation.
TEDxVictoria is an independently organized TEDx event dedicated to sharing ideas worth spreading in Victoria, B.C. Operating under licence from TED, TEDxVictoria brings together thought leaders, innovators and community members to explore ideas that challenge, inspire and move us forward.
In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TED Talks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized. (Subject to certain rules and regulations.)
TED is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to discovering, debating and spreading ideas that spark conversation, deepen understanding and drive meaningful change. TED champions curiosity, reason and wonder in the pursuit of knowledge.
What began in 1984 as a conference focused on Technology, Entertainment and Design has evolved into a global community that welcomes people across disciplines and cultures to connect and engage with ideas exploring science, business, education, art, current affairs and more. Each year, thousands of independently run TEDx events bring people together on every continent. TED drives global impact by sparking ideas and action on the world’s most urgent issues—accelerating climate solutions through TED Countdown, advancing self-determination through TED Democracy and supporting early stage innovators through TED Fellows.
In addition to the TED Talks curated from its conferences, TED produces podcasts, video series and educational lessons (TED-Ed) that are translated into more than 100 languages. Through The Audacious Project, TED has helped catalyze billions in funding for projects that support bold solutions to the world's most urgent challenges. View a full list of TED's programs and initiatives.
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Natalie Martin
(778) 386-2994
natalie@nmcommunications.ca
This event takes place on the traditional Coast Salish territory and we respectfully acknowledge the Lekwungen and W̱SÁNEĆ People of this region. With gratitude, we live, work, and play on this beautiful land.
This independent TEDx event is operated under license from TED.
This event takes place on the traditional Coast Salish territory and we respectfully acknowledge the Lekwungen and W̱SÁNEĆ People of this region. With gratitude, we live, work, and play on this beautiful land.
This independent TEDx event is operated under license from TED.
