Program overview

4 exciting changes

First and foremost, we're moving to a spectacular new location: Vancouver, Canada, one of the world's great cities, combining a thriving culture of innovation, with glorious nature. There's a new convention center there in the harbor that takes our breath away. It's across the street from three terrific hotels, with more options within a short walk, and offers majestic 360-degree views of water and mountains.

Second, we're reducing the audience size. You heard that right. From 1,400 in Long Beach, we plan to reduce to just 1,200 attendees. Every successful conference has to find a balance between scale and intimacy. Vancouver could comfortably hold the same number or more. But we think this is the year to nudge back a little smaller, so that in-depth human connection will be easier.

Third, we're inviting back to TED2014 one hundred of the best TED speakers of all time. Not necessarily for the main stage ... but to join us in the audience, and contribute to breakout groups, lunches and dinners. TED2014 will feel like a glorious reunion, and a wonderful opportunity to connect one on one with the people who've done so much to shape how we see the world.

Finally, we're pulling in some of TED's greatest design talents to help us create a new kind of theater space. The convention center includes a beautiful open area that is perfect for us to install a custom-designed-for-talk-theater we have long dreamed of -- one whose sole goal is connect speaker with audience as powerfully as possible. Nothing quite like this currently exists.