TEDx Forte dei Marmi 2026 speakers announced for fourth edition

The TEDx Forte dei Marmi event is returning once again to the Augustus Beach Club in the strategic hub for the nautical industry. Taking place on 30 July this year, a host of speakers have been announced, with the lineup already attracting interest from yachting and design communities who are flocking to the Italian beachfront. 

The one-day event and the only TEDx in the world held entirely on the beach, will be centred around the theme "Dreams to Design", with speakers spanning backgrounds of sustainability, technology and superyacht design.

Returning to the event this year is Italian yacht designer Giorgio Cassetta, who appeared as a guest last year. The Rome-based creative is known for merging aesthetics, engineering and human experience and his presentation, titled When Design 'Works': Beyond Taste, Toward Objectivity' is set to ask the fundamental question in the industry: what do designers mean when they say a solution "works"?

Kicking off with a famous insight by Bruno Munari about his creation of the Falkland lamp, Cassetta will investigate whether design can be objectively understood and described. The talk will take a deep dive into the relationship between intuition, experience, proportion, technical knowledge and measurable value creation, prompting a broader reflection among designers in contemporary society.

Former naval engineer, equestrian show jumper and founder of Hospitality Luxury Brand, Viola Palescandolo, will be sharing her understanding of the industry through a sustainable lens. Her talk, titled The True Luxury: Being Yourself," is centred on meaningful travel, exploring the balance between logic and dreams.

Along similar lines, physicist Emilia Konert is set to bring insights from her role as CEO of an agritech startup. Her mission to use technology as a force for good will be a focus as she masters the balance between designs that improve urban life, whilst also respecting the natural world surrounding it.

The TEDx talks have also secured multiple Olympic windsurfing champion Alessandra Sensini, who, as well as being the first woman in history to win four Olympic medals, works as the youth technical director and deputy technical director of the Italian Sailing Federation National Team. She was awarded the ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year award in 2008 and will discuss resilience and confidence when facing challenging situations.

Palmiro Noschese is another confirmed attendee who will be drawing from his career in the hospitality sector as a strategic advisor with over 40 years of experience working with brands such as Melià, International Hotels and Villa d'Este. He will open a highly topical debate: are we really facing a staffing crisis in the hospitality sector, or rather a skills crisis?

Also in the lineup is lawyer Carlo Alberto Micheli, who has been guiding entrepreneurs to create a stable legal structure for their dreams. Lastly, Michelin-star chef Valentino Casanelli will be sharing his philosophy for a culturally sensitive approach to fine dining. 

Speaking of the event, organiser Matteo Stefanini shared, "The mission of TEDx Forte dei Marmi has always been to connect, to create moments of connection between brilliant minds, dreamers and ideas that change the world. We are in a truly incredible era, from Artificial Intelligence, which is changing everything, to quantum computers, personalised medicine, energy, longevity and health."

He continues, "TEDx offers a glimpse into the frontiers of human knowledge to pique curiosity and Dreams to Design aims to be a call to action, from dream to reality, especially through the union of extraordinary people."