At Vancouver TED Conference, Global Crises and Trump-Era Uncertainty Spark Calls for Bold Ideas

The annual TED conference — known for spotlighting big ideas in technology, entertainment and design — returned to Vancouver this week with more than just innovation on its mind. With global political uncertainty, rising authoritarianism, and U.S. President Donald Trump’s economic threats looming large, many attendees and presenters are turning their attention to democracy and resilience.

Now in its tenth year in Vancouver, TED has often focused on scientific breakthroughs and creative problem-solving. But this year’s gathering has been shaped by a growing unease about geopolitics, particularly how Canada should respond to mounting economic pressure from its southern neighbour.

“It’s one of many elephants in the room this year,” said Ina Fried, chief technology correspondent for Axios and a long-time TED attendee. While TED has avoided overt politics in the past, Fried noted that the tension around global democracy and Trump’s return to the political spotlight is front of mind — even if not always on stage.

‘Ashamed and nearly defeated’
Teri Orr, a longtime attendee from Utah, said this is the first time she has come to TED feeling embarrassed about her country.

“I’m so ashamed and nearly defeated about the state of the United States,” said Orr, 74. “I love being in Canada. I love Canadian people.”

TED head Chris Anderson acknowledged that the pace of change — political, cultural, and technological — is straining the conference’s traditional focus.

“Hardly a day passes without an unsettling new drama,” he wrote in the event’s official program. TED, he said, is trying to remain grounded and forward-thinking, without veering into partisanship.

Democracy in crisis
Some want TED to go further. Daniel Newman, president of MapLight — a nonprofit focused on political transparency — says TED should be bringing more voices who’ve fought back against democratic erosion.

“The U.S. needs inspiration from countries that have clawed back democracy,” he said.

TED has launched TED Democracy, a conference offshoot focused on reforming civic systems and reigniting civic culture. But many hope the flagship conference will take on a bigger role as global institutions wobble.

One speaker, Bradley Tusk, received a standing ovation for his talk advocating mobile voting through secure open-source apps. His organization, Tusk Philanthropies, has already piloted mobile voting in 20 elections across seven states.

“We can end the dysfunction and polarization that plagues our society today,” he said.

Filling the aid gap
TED is also being looked to for leadership in global development. With the U.S. administration slashing around $60 billion in international aid via USAID, advocates hope TED can help fill the void.

Since 2018, TED has helped raise over $3 billion for global initiatives.

Myriam Sidibe, a global health expert and former Unilever executive, said her TED talk on corporate-backed health campaigns resonated with audiences looking for actionable hope.

“People are rallying. They want something to believe in — and TED is offering that,” she said.

Final years in Vancouver
TED leadership confirmed that 2026 will mark the final TED conference in Vancouver, ending a more than decade-long run in the city. TED will move back to California in 2027, where it began in 1992.

Monique Ruff-Bell, TED’s chief program and strategy officer, said the decision is about refreshing the experience — not dissatisfaction with Vancouver, which she praised for its beauty and partnership.

TED attendance has dipped in recent years, from 2,000 attendees at its peak to around 1,600 this year. Ruff-Bell attributed the decline to broader economic and environmental disruptions, including financial market instability and wildfires.

Orr, who has attended for nearly two decades, said she’ll miss the annual pilgrimage to B.C.’s west coast — but understands the need for reinvention.

“We are twisting and turning and shedding and trying to find new ways of looking forward,” she said.

As TED grapples with the weight of a shifting world order, many attendees agree that the conference has an even more important role to play — not just in highlighting ideas, but helping them take flight in uncertain times.