TEDx Forte dei Marmi 2026
On July 30, the beach event that turns dreams into projects returns
Forte dei Marmi is getting ready to host a new edition of TEDx Forte dei Marmi, the only TEDx event in the world held right on the beach. The event is scheduled for Thursday, July 30, 2026, at the Augustus Beach Club, an iconic venue in the most elegant part of Versilia, where ideas, innovation, and creativity meet the charm of the sea.
Following the success of previous editions and its recent nomination as a finalist in the Italian Tourism Awards 2025 in the Major Events category, TEDx Forte dei Marmi returns with a program dedicated to the theme Dreams to Design—a journey from dream to reality, from intuition to design.
TEDx Forte dei MarmiThis Year’s Theme: Dreams to Design
The theme chosen for the 2026 edition addresses a contemporary challenge: transforming visions and aspirations into solutions capable of generating value. A journey that spans different worlds—from design to boating, from hospitality to lifestyle—focusing on the relationship between creativity, technology, and responsibility. Not just imagining the future, but building it: this is the philosophy underlying the speakers’ presentations, as they are invited to explain how ideas are born, how they are developed, and how they can be translated into concrete, sustainable, and innovative projects. A central role will also be played by Design Valley, a platform dedicated to excellence in design, architecture, yachting, hospitality, and real estate, which uses artificial intelligence-based tools to create new connections between people, companies, and brands.
The Speakers at TEDx Forte dei Marmi 2026
The 2026 edition will feature speakers from diverse fields, united by their ability to turn visions into results.
Among the guests will be Giorgio Cassetta, one of the most talented contemporary yacht designers, who will discuss the added value of nautical design: that seemingly instinctive ability to recognize balance, proportion, and beauty, and transform it into method and expertise.
Olympic windsurfing champion Alessandra Sensini will share her insights on resilience, explaining how discipline, time management, and the ability to handle the unexpected are essential elements for achieving great goals.
There will also be a focus on sports with Luca Dotto, an Olympic athlete and the first Italian to break the 48-second mark in the 100-meter freestyle, who will discuss the more human side of performance: the courage to face difficulties, setbacks, and comebacks that lie behind every great achievement.
From the world of hospitality, Palmiro Noschese—a leading figure in the Italian and international hotel industry—will share his insights, analyzing the future of hospitality through the lens of technology, skills, and the centrality of human relationships.
Cuisine as a form of design will be the focus of the talk by chef Valentino Cassanelli, head chef at the one-Michelin-starred restaurant Lux Lucis at the Principe Forte dei Marmi. His vision celebrates local terroir, biodiversity, and sustainability, transforming gastronomy into a creative and social act.
Innovation meets nature with Emilia Konert, a physicist and CEO of the startup Cultifutura, who will explain how the future can also emerge from the simple act of growing a plant, restoring a deeper connection between humans and the environment.
Speakers will also include Viola Palescandolo, founder and CEO of Black Platinum Gold B.V., a company redefining the concept of luxury travel through personalized experiences rich in emotional value, and Carlo Alberto Micheli, an attorney and certified public accountant, founder of MyAccounting.it, who will delve into the topic of asset protection and strategies for entrepreneurs and companies.
The Design Valley Gala Previews the Connections of the Future
The TEDx event will be preceded by the Design Valley Gala, scheduled for July 29 on the beach at Forte dei Marmi. An evening dedicated to entrepreneurs, designers, leaders, and special guests, designed to forge new connections and preview the visions that will take center stage at the event. The Design Valley AI platform will also take center stage during the Gala—a digital space that uses artificial intelligence to facilitate meetings and collaborations among brands, professionals, and innovators in the fields of design, architecture, yachting, hospitality, real estate, and lifestyle. It’s a new way to build relationships, where technology and human talent come together to shape the future.
