Arendal, the Venice of the North, witnessed a cultural celebration on 7 November 2025. Flags were raised, the red carpet was rolled out, and the TEDxArendal crew team warmly greeted and welcomed both speakers and attendees to the main hall of Arendal Kulturhus.
It is in peril that the true leaders of thought emerge. A constellation of brilliant speakers stood on the stage, amused, entertained, and inspired attendants with their words. The thirteen speakers, to name but a few, were Einar Duenger Bøhn, Anna Turvoll, Hedvig Montgomery, and Dominic Gorham, who came from diverse backgrounds and shared their most powerful insights with the audience. As Churchill once said,
“If you want me to speak for two minutes, it will take me two weeks to prepare. If you want me to speak for an hour, I am ready now.”
This reminds us that powerful ideas are carefully crafted, yet their impact is great when they’re shared in person. Here, I mean the words that generate an idea and wake up the conscience; the words that sharpen the mind, edify the soul and leave an effect in the heart and in the mind.
Here, I would like to quote also on the participate, Emily Michelsen, who shared her experience:
„Though I felt moved by many of the speakers, one who especially stood out to me was psychologist Hedvig Montgomery. Her message made me internally weep for my childhood self but also filled me with a certainty that I could stand tall and be the mother my children deserve, despite my history. It filled me with a love for my family and a desire to deepen my connection with them. No matter your profession or interest, this was a message of love and hope for everyone who either has or had ever been a child.”
Everyone felt great and enjoyed the talks and left with lot and lot of inspiring ideas – these ideas are just like seeds that will bloom soon.
Between TED’s former slogan, “Ideas worth spreading,” and its new one, “Ideas change everything,” lies the significance of this global event. Hosting TEDxArendal not only shines a spotlight on the city but also highlights its potential for business opportunities, long-term investments, and tourism. Arendal’s exceptional beauty and cultural vibrancy make it a unique destination, and the inspiration and energy of the event seemed to echo through every corner of the city. No wonder all 700 tickets sold out, with additional visitors arriving during the event hoping for any available seats.
Like all TEDx events, TEDxArendal is organized entirely by passionate volunteers—a true reflection of society’s spirit of collaboration, belonging, and connectedness. Around 90 volunteers from approximately 40 countries came together, giving their very best to make the event exceptional. From diversity comes unity, and as I always say, from diversity comes beauty. They worked together like a beehive forming a vibrant mosaic. Remarkably, about 50 percent of the volunteers return every year, a testament to how deeply TEDxArendal has become a valued and cherished event for the local community.
One of the moments that captivated and inspired me most when I heard that “There over 4500 TEDx around the world, TEDxArendal is one the 20s that hold a legacy license and more than all of that TEDx is about YOU” by Linn Juul-Petersen, the event organizer and Licensee. Language as a tool of expression can’t tell how great and moving it was – so the orgnizser and the crew I would say as the poet said:
You have benefited from my favors in three ways
My deeds, my words and my innermost thoughts
Rather than simply concluding with my words, I want to share that, based on my experience, I cannot recommend TEDxArendal highly enough. Everyone should seize the chance to attend this remarkable event, for reasons too numerous to count. With all the unforgettable ideas, memories, experiences, joy, and enthusiasm it leaves behind, we now look forward with eager anticipation to TEDxArendal 2026.
Nour al-Khalaf is from Aleppo, Syria. He studied English Literature and received CELTA certification from the University of Cambridge. He lives in Kristiansand, Norway. Nour is a tour guide and blogger. He was also a literary editor on the board of Global Literature in Libraries Initiative.