The human mind, electric, embodied, relational, is among the most extraordinary forces on Earth. It dreams, adapts, remembers, intuits and wonders. Long before machines could mimic cognition, the cortex was creating symphonies, solving problems, navigating love, grief, complexity and meaning.
In a world increasingly enchanted and entranced by artificial intelligence, TEDxSydney 2026 turns its gaze toward natural intelligence: the astonishing system of biological and social thinking that defines us. We’ll explore the frontiers of neuroscience, intuition, culture, psychedelics and creativity, and hear from those working at the intersection of mind, body, and collective wisdom.
Yes, we’ll reckon with AI too. Not just its novel tools, but its deeper human implications. What happens when we outsource memory, attachment and meaning-making to autonomous systems? Which societal vulnerabilities lie ahead as we embed these technologies into our daily lives, economies and even biology? How can we steward this evolution wisely?
Amid this uncertainty, we return to what is ancient and awe-inspiring: the human capacity for wonder, imagination, empathy and insight. Cortex is a celebration of consciousness. Not only what we can build, but what we must protect.
This year’s event will be deliberately smaller and more intimate, held within the historic walls of the State Library of NSW.
Fewer seats. Deeper conversations. A room designed for presence not scale.
If you believe the most important intelligence worth defending is still human, secure your seats for TEDxSydney 2026: Cortex.
A gathering of minds, natural and otherwise.
Event Timings
5:00pm – Registration & Networking
Enjoy catered refreshments by Laissez Faire
5:45pm – Auditorium Doors Open
6:00pm – Event Commences: Talks, Film & Performances
8:00pm – Event Concludes
Networking & Drinks Available or purchase
9:00pm – Venue Closes
Introducing the 2026 Speakers
Layne Beachley, AO
Layne Beachley AO is a force of nature. Seven-time world surfing champion, the only surfer (male or female) to win sex consecutive world titles, and a woman whose impact reaches far beyond the surf.
Her journey from adopted baby to global icon wasn’t a smooth ride; it was forged through grit, guts and a deep commitment to growth. Layne’s lived experience with mental health challenges, injury and personal loss has become the heartbeat of her message: Choice, not chance, determines our destiny.
Layne understands something profound about the mind under pressure, about fear, flow, resilience and finding your edge when the conditions are wild.
Dr Paul Liknaitzky
What if something currently prohibited in much of the world held the potential to help heal and even expand the potential of the human mind?
Dr Paul Liknaitzky is Head of the Clinical Psychedelic Lab at Monash University and founder of Australia’s first dedicated psychedelic research laboratory. He has been instrumental in establishing the nation’s leading psychedelic trials and therapist training programs.
Paul stands at the frontier of how altered states of consciousness reveal the human mind as an ancient, embodied, and deeply ecological system.
His work investigates how carefully administered psychedelic therapies may offer new pathways for people experiencing depression, trauma and other challenges. At the same time, he is helping to build the rigorous ethical, clinical and educational frameworks needed to ensure this emerging field develops safely, responsibly and accessibly.
