Join us in welcoming the 2026 class of TED Fellows! These innovators are reimagining the systems that shape our lives, and turning hope into action. From a philosopher challenging our dependence on AI prediction to a young mayor reshaping democracy, the medical professionals advancing human health and more. We’re thrilled to welcome them to the TED community. ✨
If someone tells you a prediction is a fact, philosopher and @TEDFellow Carissa Véliz says that’s a red flag. In her TED Talk, she breaks down how algorithms and tech leaders use the word “inevitable” to silence debate — and how describing the future can be a veiled attempt to control it. Visit the link in @TED ’s bio to watch her full talk on the power of prediction — and what to watch out for.
We’re all trying to make sense of a complex world. These books from TED Fellows explore power, identity, science, and the unknown — from the inside out — offering perspectives that stay with you long after the last page. Featuring work from @janemarie.chen , @yasikak , @erika.hamden , @tdanino and @zygaro .
Which one would you start with?
What a week. 🎉 At #TED2026, we celebrated our Fellows community, welcomed the 2026 cohort and filled the stage with bold ideas — from main stage talks to Night of the Fellows entertainment. We also brought Season 3 of our Fellows Films to life — capturing new stories and experimenting with fresh social concepts. And we’re not done yet.
Now, the conversation continues at Skoll with @tedx_official and @tedfellow — as our communities come together to share, challenge and build what’s next.
Building a more sustainable future will take more than one solution — it will take many ways of seeing the world. These 5 TED Fellows are working across industries to reimagine what’s possible for life on a changing planet. From clean transportation to climate justice and new ways of understanding nature itself, their work reminds us that solutions often come from unexpected places.
They’re here. 🤗 We just debuted the 2026 TED Fellows on stage at TED2026 — a new cohort of 10 innovators from 9 countries whose work is shaping the future of climate, health, justice, education and technology. This year, you’ll meet a philosopher rethinking our reliance on AI prediction, a vaccine inventor preparing for future pandemics, a technologist preserving human rights evidence, and more. Follow along to get to know each Fellow throughout the year!
What does it take to prepare for a TED Talk? In this behind-the-scenes moment from TEDNext, Pulitzer Prize-winning author and TED Fellow Mitchell S. Jackson (@mitchsjackson ) takes us inside the final stages before stepping on stage — where ideas are refined, rehearsed, and distilled into their clearest form. From rehearsals to finalizing slides, he shares a glimpse of what it’s like in the moments before a talk that will be seen around the world. Watch his full TED Talk, out now.
When schools and families work together, children are more likely to thrive — but too often, language and communication barriers get in the way. In her TED Talk, education technology entrepreneur and TED Fellow Heejae Lim (@heej86 ) shares how a family’s love for their child is one of the most powerful resources in education. She explains how simple tools can help teachers and parents stay connected, break down language barriers and support children’s learning both inside and outside the classroom.
The way your favorite NBA players dress on and off the court matters more than you think. In his TED Talk, writer and @TEDFellow Mitchell S. Jackson (@mitchsjackson ) shares how 6 eras of NBA fashion — from Allen Ezail Iverson styling hip-hop to LeBron James wearing words of activism — reflect and challenge the players’ experiences of the world around them. Visit the link in @TED ’s bio to watch the full talk. (edited)
What if the objects around us could reshape how we live? Meet @aditalela , TED Fellow, sustainability designer and founder of @criaterra , whose work blends indigenous knowledge and sustainable design to create new relationships between people, materials and the environment. From eco-tiles made from agricultural waste to a wind-powered lighting system, Ela builds alternatives that challenge outdated systems and continually rethinking how design can be more efficient, holistic and impactful. 👉 Swipe through to see her reflections.
Meet Brittany Young (@cntknockbhustle ), an engineer, educator and TED Fellow who’s turning dirt bike culture into a gateway for STEM, opportunity, and real change in Baltimore. From rejecting burnout culture to building pathways where none existed, she shares what it takes to create a career — and a community — on your own terms. “Breaking through means being yourself, not being confined by others’ ideas of you,” she says. “And truly winning because you have the morals, integrity, and foresight to accomplish anything you set your mind to.”
👉 Swipe through to hear her reflections on breaking through, building new systems, and the real foundations of success.
Keeping a room warm shouldn’t require drilling miles into the earth, shipping fuel across the world, and running pipelines beneath our feet — but today, it does. @tedfellow and geothermal entrepreneur, Kathy Hannun takes us on a journey through the hidden complexity and risks of modern heating — from fossil fuels buried in the Arctic to pipelines under our cities — and shows a safer, planet-friendly alternative: Tapping into the geothermal energy right beneath our feet. Visit the link in @tedcountdown ’s bio to learn more about how we can power our world without fossil fuels.
