REGINA — A global platform built on “ideas worth spreading” is once again putting Regina’s thinkers, builders and quiet innovators on centre stage.
Set for May 29 at the historic Darke Hall, the event will feature nine Saskatchewan-connected speakers talking about everything from artificial intelligence and food security to space exploration and community leadership, all under a theme that challenges the city to look ahead.
“This is a moment,” said organizer and curator Moses Anjorin. “It feels like we’re at the tipping point of something to come.”
This year’s theme, Once Upon Our Future, is designed to spark reflection and action at the same time.
Anjorin says the idea comes from Regina’s identity as a community-first city, where the future is something built collectively.
“If we want to look forward to what the future is like for us, it’s something we need to come together to be a part of, to write it together,” he said.
“The future is not distant. It’s in the choices we make, the conversations we have, and the connections we create.”
From hidden voices to powerful ideas
TEDxRegina is not built overnight. The process begins months in advance, starting with listening to what matters most.
“We talk to people in our community, we listen to what the world is saying, what our community is saying,” Anjorin said. “Then we identify the most important conversations people are leaning into.”
From there, organizers narrow the focus to key topics, then begin searching for speakers who can bring those ideas to life.
One key rule remains consistent. Every speaker must have a connection to Saskatchewan.
“You need to understand what it feels like to be someone from here,” he said. “That’s the only way you can stand on our stage and speak ideas to our people.”
The result is a lineup that blends experience with authenticity, often highlighting voices that are not widely known.
“We’re always looking for the hidden gems. The quiet innovators doing great things.”
This year’s speakers will tackle a wide range of issues shaping both the province and the world.
Topics include food security and the relationship between land and identity, ethical artificial intelligence, space exploration, Indigenous connection and inclusion, justice system fairness, and economic innovation.
Each talk is short, focused, and carefully built.
“Our speakers have been working for seven months to create just 15 minutes on stage,” Anjorin said. “But in that 15 minutes, something can change.”
More than a conference
TEDxRegina is designed to be an experience, not just a series of talks.
“What I hope is that at least one speaker challenges you,” Anjorin said. “That you go home wanting to do better, to start something, to contribute.”
That belief is personal. A TED Talk he watched years ago helped change the course of his own life.
“It felt like she was speaking directly to me,” he said. “And I decided I was not going to be the person I used to be.”
Now, he hopes to create that same spark for others.
The impact of TEDxRegina often extends well beyond the event itself. Anjorin says past talks have led to new ideas, collaborations and even businesses.
“I hear people say, ‘That was the idea I needed to start this,’” he said. “Speakers go on to form partnerships. People challenge each other’s thinking.”
Those conversations continue long after the final talk ends, often showing up in classrooms, workplaces, and community discussions.
The biggest event yet
This year’s event marks a major step forward with its move to Darke Hall.
“It’s our biggest event yet,” Anjorin said. “Last year was great, but that puts a healthy pressure on us to do even better.”
The day will include opportunities for networking, reflection and connection, along with performances and a closing celebration.
“This isn’t just a conference where you listen and go home,” he said. “It’s a full experience.”
At its core, TEDxRegina is about inclusion.
“This is one of the few events where anyone can come,” Anjorin said. “You don’t need to be part of any industry. You just need to be part of this community.”
And that accessibility is key to the message.
“I think the most important thing is to make everyone believe they have a stake in the future,” he said. “You have a seat at the table.”
As Regina continues to evolve, TEDxRegina 2026 is aiming to do more than inspire. It is aiming to activate.
“Together, their stories, our stories, will form the beginning of a new chapter in our community,” Anjorin said.
The event runs May 29 from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Darke Hall.
