Singapore has been selected as one of just nine global stops for TED’s highly anticipated 2025 Global Idea Search, positioning us as a crucial hub for surfacing world-changing concepts. This major milestone for the local community will culminate in TEDxSingapore: Dreaming City, an exclusive evening showcasing a total of twelve inspiring local speakers and featured voices.
The event, which is a search across six continents to find the best ideas and speakers, places Singapore alongside a handful of major cities worldwide chosen to host this significant preliminary search.
The evening’s focus is on eight key speakers who will each share a six-minute idea that could potentially land them on the main TED 2026 stage in Vancouver. A noteworthy speaker to watch would be Li Hongyi, the grandson of Singapore’s Founding Prime Minister, the late Mr. Kee Kuan Yew and current Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong.
Scheduled for Tuesday, 18 November 2025 (tomorrow), the Dreaming City event will take place from 7:00 PM to 9:30 PM (doors open 6:30 PM) at the iconic Capitol Theatre, 17 Stamford Rd, Singapore 178907.
The theme, Dreaming City, is a celebration of ideas that shape who Singaporeans are and who they can become, exploring the possibilities that are yet to be imagined, from the dreams of our past to the realities we have built today.
Spotlight on the Eight Global Idea Search Speakers
The diverse line-up represents various sectors and fields, with these eight changemakers vying for a spot on the TED mainstage:
- Li Hongyi, Technologist: Director of Open Government Products, focused on building digital tools for public good to make everyday life simpler and smarter for citizens.
- Angjolie Mei, Funeral Director: Founder of The Life Celebrant, a second-generation funeral director redefining farewells through compassion, innovation, and dignity.
- Yung Raja, Rapper: Known for his bilingual rap that fuses Tamil and English, celebrating Southeast Asian identity and inspiring new generations to embrace their roots.
- Shanice Stanislaus, Performer/Theatrical Clown: Uses humour and play to explore vulnerability and courage, inviting audiences to rediscover the joy of imperfection.
- Foo Say Ming, Music Director: Leads re: mix, an ensemble of classically trained musicians reimagining classical music through bold collaborations and inventive performances.
- Nikki Tan, Conservation Filmmaker: Uses film to explore stories of our ocean and climate, collaborating with NGOs to inspire action and strengthen impact storytelling across the region.
- Dr. Hortense Le Ferrand, Researcher: Leads research in creating sustainable materials inspired by nature, exploring how engineering and design can shape a more regenerative future.
- Mohamed Faizal, Malay Guzheng Artist: Blends traditional Chinese strings with global rhythms, showcasing how music can bridge cultures and stories.
These eight changemakers will be joined by four other local voices, including Alecia Neo (Participatory artist exploring care), Andrew Ong (Advocate for second chances and co-founder of Break the Cycle), the team behind Dakota Dreams (A not-for-profit bookstore), and Leon Boey (Leading coral reef restoration with Livingseas Foundation), bringing the total number of featured ideas to twelve.
Do save the date and be a part of this global search for ideas that will awaken, challenge, and inspire our collective imagination.
Tickets for the event are available now online.
