TEDxGosport 2026 is just one week away, with speakers putting the finishing touches to their talks ahead of the event at GoSport Activity Centre on 5th September.
This year’s event is centred around the theme of Connection, exploring the many ways we connect with ourselves, each other, our communities and the world around us.
From connecting with the hidden gold within conflict to performing beyond the stage to showcase authenticity, the day brings together a diverse range of speakers and talks, each with its own perspective and story to share.
For Dr Aditi Bhalla, whose TEDx talk explores the connection crisis hiding in plain sight, “connection starts within. If you are fully connected to yourself, you can create better connections with others.”
For the speakers, the event is not simply an opportunity to deliver a talk, but a chance to connect with an audience and share an idea that they hope will stay with people long after the event has finished.
TEDx speaker Jodie Goodchild, whose talk explores the cost of performance, hopes “the audience takes away the thoughts [she is] going to get them to think about in relation to performance, and that we are performing every day in our lives without even realising it”.
TEDxGosport has given a voice to local people on the global stage, allowing them to share their ideas, expertise and wisdom with the people of Gosport and beyond.
2026 speaker Laura Gowers, whose talk is about our connection with the hidden world of microbes, said she is “connected to Gosport because [she] lives here, and [she] loves living in Gosport, and so do [her] microbes”.
With the event now just one week away, anticipation is building as speakers prepare to put on an amazing show for the audience, who can expect a day filled with ideas, stories and conversations designed to inspire new ways of thinking.
Jimmy Young’s talk, “Adulting Is Tough, Go Climb a Tree”, explores the importance of stepping outside our comfort zones. He said the reason he is doing this is to “push [himself] out of [his] comfort zone, to show [his] 15-year-old daughter why pushing yourself out of your comfort zone is so important. [Jimmy has] always believed resentment sits in the space you feel most comfortable, and opportunity comes from being uncomfortable. This whole experience… is completely rewarding in a way in which [he] didn’t expect it would be.”
For TEDxGosport Licence Holder Annelies James, bringing together such a diverse group of speakers and an audience to explore this year’s theme is at the heart of the event.
She said: “The day itself will be a full day, running from roughly 10am to 5pm, and it welcomes local artists, including musicians, creating ambience in the most beautiful heritage building in Gosport, on the creek — GoSport Activity Centre at Brodrick Hall.
We are going to have 13 amazing talks covering topics under the theme of Connection, including the success scripts we follow, how we are part of our community, how we can connect through conflict, how to showcase ourselves, be more visible and show up for ourselves. We have local people who advocate for climbing trees and tackling the problem of adulthood, speakers who explore the reality of queerness and living their authentic selves, and we talk about legacy, our natural environment and our health.
We have so many topics under the umbrella of Connection that should speak to different community members in Gosport about their own lives, helping them to shape their lives and make their lives better.”
Adele Deasy, Panellist and Speaker Coach for TEDxGosport, said: “It’s such a privilege for the second year running to be a part of TEDxGosport. What an amazing event. The speakers this year have got so many great ideas worth spreading, and there is a real sense of team belonging, which is fabulous to work alongside.
There are so many volunteers who are putting their energy and their time into making this a fabulous event. And it really does sum up the connections that are already present in Gosport and will definitely be showcased on 5th September. I can’t wait — it’s going to be a great event.”
For more information about TEDxGosport 2026 and the full speaker programme, visit the TEDxGosport website.