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 2012
Radical Openness
Jun 25 – Jun 29, 2012
Edinburgh, Scotland
Learn more »
TED Live
Become a TED Live member to watch TED and TEDGlobal in your home, office or school.
Learn more »
TED2013
The Young. The Wise. The Undiscovered.
Feb 25 – Mar 1, 2013
Long Beach, CA
Learn more »
TEDActive 2013
The Young. The Wise. The Undiscovered.
Feb 25 – Mar 1, 2013
Palm Springs, CA
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)
TEDActive memberships (Palm Springs, CA)
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 | $3,750 (2012)$2,500 (2013) | $5,000(2013) | $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 | x |
| Kindle Fire | 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 | $2,000 (2012) / $2,500 (2013) |
$2,500 | $2,500 | $2,500 | $12,500 |
| Tax-deductible | $695 / $2200* |
$1,750* (2012) / $0* (2013) |
$2,500* | $5,000* | $12,500* | $112,500* |
*Check with your tax professional