THE THEME
Metamorphosis
Metamorphosis: The Beauty of Change
Change is everywhere. In nature, science, technology, societies, and in ourselves. It is constant and often unavoidable.
Our 2026 theme, Metamorphosis, was inspired by the natural world. There’s a lesser-known fact about caterpillars: fewer than 2% actually become butterflies. Transformation is demanding, uncertain, and never guaranteed.
That same pattern appears far beyond nature. Scientific breakthroughs, social change, cultural shifts, and technological progress all move through unstable phases before something new can take shape.
At TEDxPraça Gil Eanes 2026, we explore serious forms of change, past, present, and future, through research, evidence, lived experience, and new perspectives on how transformation really happens.
A full day of bold ideas, transformative conversations, and immersive experiences
THE EVENT
2026 Event Programme
Welcome
08:30 - 09:30
FOYER
Registration & Connect
Claim your badge and kickstart new connections with TEDx.
09:30 - 10:00
MAIN STAGE
Welcome
Opening remarks and event highlights on the iconic TEDx stage.
The beginning of change
10:00 - 11:30
MAIN STAGE
Performance
Nenad9 Konstantin (Nesha_music)
Rafael Reis
The Art of Mastering Chaos: We Were Never Meant to Be in Control (ENG)
Idilia Ramos
Stillness: Permission to Stop (ENG)
Marcos Bravo
The Many Mes: How Identity Evolves Through Context (ENG)
11:30 - 12:00
COURTYARD
Coffee Break
Recharge with fresh coffee while networking during this short interval.
Breakdown and rebuilding
12:00 - 13:30
MAIN STAGE
Rose Hes
Rewriting the Story You Never Chose (ENG)
Aischa Tomasoa
Becoming a Mother: The Transition We Forgot to Hold (ENG)
Alexandra Pereira
How to Outsmart the Menopause Lie and Own Your Future (ENG)
Alicia M. Rodriguez
The Radical Question: Stop Looking for Answers (ENG)
Performance
Sarah Donkor - Music as My Compass (ENG)
13:30 - 15:00
COURTYARD
Lunch Break
Refuel with a hot catered lunch while building valuable peer connections.
Lunch Break
Refuel with a hot catered lunch while building valuable peer connections.
The metamorphosis in motion
15:00 - 16:30
MAIN STAGE
Performance
Rancho Folclórico e Etnográfico de Odiáxere
Eva Monteiro
Counting Butterflies for a Societal Transformative Change (PT)
Nick Madge
Leave Anxiety Behind. Reconnecting to Nature in the Digital Age (ENG)
Miguel Barbosa
Why Should Engineers Be on Medical Teams? (ENG)
16:30 - 17:00
COURTYARD
Coffee Break
Recharge with fresh coffee while networking during this short interval.
Integration and new worlds
17:00 - 18:30
MAIN STAGE
Joaquim Neves
The Natural Learning Method (ENG)
Ana Sofia Machado Ferreira
Near Death Experiences and Self-Knowledge (PT)
Pedro Machado
Are We Alone? Searching for Life Beyond Earth (ENG)
Performance
Luiza Dedisin, Canta Choir
18:30 - Late
MAIN STAGE +
COURTYARD
Closing
Final remarks and key takeaways to send you home inspired.
After Party
Celebrate at a nearby venue in Lagos with a complimentary drink and delicious food. *tickets required
THE EVENT
What you can expect
INSPIRING STAGE
16
Talks
4
Artistic Showcases
Hear from a diverse mix of researchers, creatives, educators, and performers, offering perspectives across disciplines.
STUNNING VENUE
*
Seated Theatre
*
Outdoor Courtyard
Set in the beautiful Centro Cultural de Lagos, it offers an immersive environment for conversation, creativity and innovative ideas on the stage and during networking breakouts.
Inspiring speakers
A carefully curated lineup exploring big questions and new perspectives across diverse disciplines.
Ideas that stay with you
Talks designed to challenge assumptions, spark curiosity, and open up new ways of seeing the world.
A beautiful setting
Hosted at Centro Cultural de Lagos, an inspiring space made for creativity, conversation, & new ideas.
Two languages
Talks are delivered in European Portuguese and English, with live translation available on the day
(*bring your headphones!).
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THE LOCATION
Where you can find us