Attendance at a TED conference is by application. If you'd like
to come to TED, apply to attend. We read every application,
and actively seek out leading thinkers and doers across a
wide range of fields.
To attend the TED Conference, TEDGlobal or TEDActive, you
must submit an application.
Applications are approved only if:
- There is availability in the membership category being applied for
- The applicant is likely, in our judgment, to be a strong contributor to the TED community and/or the ideas discussed at TED and/or the projects and TED Prize wishes that come out of the conference and website.
There are several categories of conference membership:
- TED Conference, TEDGlobal and TEDActive memberships afford entrance to a TED event
- Donor and Patron memberships are for attendees who would like to make an additional contribution to TED initiatives
- TED Fellowships are awarded to promising attendees
- TED Live memberships include a live webstream of the conferences to one computer, as well as other benefits.
The TED Conference, TEDGlobal and TEDActive are considered separate events.
TEDGlobal 2013
Thing Again
June 10 – 14, 2013
Edinburgh, Scotland
Learn more »
TED Live
Become a TED Live member to watch TED and
TEDGlobal in your home, office or school.
Learn more »
TED2014
The Next Chapter
Mar 17 – 21, 2014
Vancouver, Canada
Learn more »
TEDActive 2014
The Next Chapter
Mar 17 - 21, 2014
Whistler, Canada
Learn more »
Levels of conference membership
Everyone can join TED.com as a website member, free.
The TED Live membership brings the TED Conference experience to your home, school or office.
TED Conference memberships (Long Beach, CA/ Vancouver, Canada)
TEDActive memberships (Palm Springs, CA/ Whistler, Canada)
TEDGlobal Conference memberships (Edinburgh, Scotland)
TED Live membership
TED Conference membership comparison table
| TED Live | TEDActive | TEDActive Donor |
TED | TED Donor |
TED Patron | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $995 / $2500 | $2,500 (2013) $3,750 (2014) |
$5,000 (2013) n/a (2014) |
$7,500 | $15,000 | $125,000 |
| Term in years | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 |
| Conference, meals, events | x | x | x | x | x | |
| TED Book Club (4x/yr) | x | x | x | x | x | |
| Online social network | x | x | x | x | x | x |
| Early access seating | x | x | x | |||
| Standby seating | x | x | ||||
| Onsite private event | x | x | x | |||
| Recognition in program guide |
x | x | x | |||
| Recognition on TED.com | x | x | x | |||
| Flexible registration policies | x | x | ||||
| Purchase 1 companion ticket/year at conference rate |
x | x | ||||
| VIP Hotel Assistance | x | |||||
| Special hotel room allocation | x | |||||
| Invite to speakers reception | x | |||||
| Onsite meeting room access | x | |||||
| Membership auto-renewal | x | |||||
| TED Books Subscription | x | x | x | x | x | |
| iPad Mini | x | |||||
| Web access to full conference |
x | |||||
| TED Live custom gifts | x | |||||
| Tax receipt at year end | x | x | x | x | x | x |
| FMV | $300 | $2,500 | $2,500 | $2,500 | $2,500 | $12,500 |
| Tax-deductible | $695 / $2200* |
$0* | $2,500* | $5,000* | $12,500* | $112,500* |
*Check with your tax professional